During World War II the Jewish quarter was emptied of its residents as the Nazis rounded them up and sent them to concentration camps.

The exhibition included works by Wolfgang Suschitzky, Max Liebermann and Oskar Kokoschka.

In 1969, Dutch performers Johnny Kraaykamp and Rijk de Gooyer had a hit single with the song "Oh Waterlooplein".

The Dutch lyrics, written by Herman Pieter de Boer, using the pseudonym Johnny Austerlitz, describe the flea market.

A French adaptation "Les Champs-Élysées" written by Pierre Delanoë in 1969 and released by Joe Dassin received most traction.