One man’s poison is another man’s meat. We don’t need Oscar Wilde to tell us that. The environmentally conscious and genetically frugal Dutch people have filled this country with many options to turn your spullen (stuff) into cash.
It’s good conscience to help in the recycling and reusing of items lying about at your home — and the pocket money sure doesn’t hurt either. 😉
But where can you sell your stuff? How do you go about it? Here is my list of places to unload your stuff — in descending order of effort required.
Selling your stuff on Marktplaats in the Netherlands
There are many online marketplaces that let you post your items and sell them for a small fee. Marktplaats is the Dutch place to go for everything from your beat-up car to your wedding gown.
My Dutch friends have excellent experience with it. However, I have to say, as an English speaker, it can be difficult to use. English descriptions will almost get zero interest in your items unless you give away stuff for free.
Also, Dutch customers are hard bargainers. They do not even start their bids for your item at fifty cents. They ask you to throw in a free HD flat-screen TV and deliver everything to their place to compensate for the inconvenience caused by purchasing a pair of old branded underwear (an example of what people sell on the platform) from you.
— Marisss (@MarisssQ) February 21, 2023Marktplaats be like:
Klant: “Ik wil het wel hebben voor €10.” (Helft van de vraagprijs en een vierde van originele prijs)
Ik: “Prima hoor, wanneer wilt u het komen ophalen?”
Klant: “Overdag?”
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Translation: Marketplace be like: Customer: “I want it for € 10.” (Half the asking price and a quarter of the original price) Me: “Fine, when would you like to pick it up?” Customer: “During the day?”
How to sell stuff on Marktplaats
Now, how do you actually make a sale on Martkplaats? Of course, you have to start by posting your stuff.
Here’s how:
1. Make an account if you don’t have one yet
2. Select Plaats advertentie (place ad) in the top right corner
3. Choose a category for your item, give your listing a title, and a short description
4. Upload up to 24 photos of your item
5. Set a price
6. Hope for the best!
How to close a deal successfully? You need to possess some tenacity in not giving in to people’s slash-throat bargaining.
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Once you make a sale, you can arrange shipment or time and place of transactions with the seller — and ka-ching! 💸
While not limited to Marktplaats, it’s worth noting that the whole process can be quite time-consuming. It may take a couple of reposts before people discover your items and buy them. It can be frustrating, so be warned!
Selling your stuff on Facebook
Go on Facebook, join one of those buy-sell groups and post about your items. Sounds easy enough. Many of us have experience doing that.
From casual observations, two groups of people are especially interested in reading posts about a bargain: students and expats.
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Both live intemporary living circ*mstances and suffer aconstant need for stuff they would otherwise have access to when they can no longer scream “Mom, help!” anymore and have their problems fixed just like that.
Besides selling your stuff in Facebook groups, you can also post them on Facebook’s very own marketplace.
How to sell stuff on Facebook
Selling your stuff on Facebook is easy as taart (pie).
To get started, you will need to have a Facebook account. If you’re posting in a Facebook group, you’ll have to join the group (duh), post your items, and talk to potential buyers in your Facebook messenger.
If you’re selling using the Facebook Marketplace feature, it basically works the same as Marktplaats: You take your photos, upload them to the platform with a description, and set your price.
Selling second-hand things on Vinted
Another easy way to sell your second-hand things is with Vinted. This app was mostly made for selling clothes, but people also use it to get rid of home care, kitchenware, books, accessories, games, and pet care.
Vinted is international, so people from all over Europe can buy your stuff. To make sure more people understand my listings, I always keep my descriptions simple and in English, for example: “Sweater from Zara. Size S. Worn only a few times.”
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There are many instances when people will like your item, but not make an offer — but don’t fret! Either message them asking if they’re interested, be patient, or you can also make a deal with someone to exchange your item for something they have.
How to sell stuff on Vinted
Selling your stuff on Vinted is super easy, especially if you have their mobile app. After that, you can simply:
1. Take photos of what you want to sell (good lighting is key)
2. Describe the item you’re selling,
3. Set your price.
Naturally, branded stuff usually sells the quickest on Vinted — not many people will go for that old H&M sweater you listed for €3. 😉
Once sold, Vinted will provide you with a shipping label. You then have five days to print the label (if needed, sometimes a QR code is enough), and ship it off at your local post office. Happy selling!
Selling your stuff at a vlooienmarkt (flea market) in the Netherlands
After having lived in the Netherlands for a while, I can tell you that there are two things that Dutch people like: all-you-can-eat buffets and yard sales.
Since so many people are interested in re-entering their stuff into the economic cycle, yard sales have become hundreds of flea markets, run by organisations that go “on tour” with their brands of flea markets. And they’re a great way to get rid of your stuff in the Netherlands!
There is virtually no negative social stigma in the Netherlands on peddling old stuff on the streets (or in the park or a hall; locations differ depending on seasons) — and of course, you should always clean your second-hand stuff anyway.
These markets are very popular, so keep in mind that you will need to book a stall as soon as the organiser opens spots. Setting a calendar notification for the registration date may help you to get a spot. 📆
And, of course, a busy market also brings many potential customers who may want to snag your deals!
How to sell stuff at a flea market in the Netherlands
If you want to sell your things at one of the Netherlands’ flea markets, you’ll usually have to pre-register to rent a kraam (stall). Needless to say, there is also a small cost associated with renting your spot for the day.
You can check the flea market calendar to find the next flea market closest to you. There could be as many as twenty flea markets running on the same day around the country on a good day.
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Setting up according to the organisers’ rules, opening the shop and cleaning up can be a bit of a hassle, but out of all options, selling stuff on the flea market has been the most fun way of getting rid of old stuff I ever had.
Selling your stuff on Koningsdag (King’s Day) in the Netherlands
The King’s Day markets are perhaps some of the coolest markets you will ever witness in your life. The whole Netherlands practically turns into an (orange) open marketplace on this day.
The Dutch call it the vrijmarkt (free market). In some places, adults can be seen marking the prime spots with chalk ahead of time. Kids can be seen camping with their stuff to get spots.
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While there are always die-hard enthusiasts for everything, for regular sellers like you and me who likely want to get rid of a small quantity of stuff without spending too much effort, it should still be fine to get to the market between 9 AM to 10 AM.
This is especially so when you live in the city with ample spaces in the various squares/parks. There should be no lacking space for even the late risers who partied past midnight, drinking lots of cheap beers and dancing to cheesy Dutch music.
This is true only, of course, when the weather is good, and it is not raining. You may want to be there early on rainy days (360 days of the year), to secure a spot that is covered. 😉
How to sell your stuff on King’s Day
The thing with selling stuff on King’s Day is that the chance of you getting a good price for your stuff is relatively low. That’s because practically everyone is out here, and your customers are just going to walk away if the price is not right and look for something else.
Also, the chance of items being ruined by the rain or mud kicked up from the road by crowds of people passing by is quite high. Therefore go prepared, mentally and physically (by bringing a transparent plastic sheet to cover your goods).
The key to selling stuff on King’s Day is to be patient. Though it may take some time to sell, chances are you’ll get lucky eventually — even if it’s just a drunken Dutchman who is buying your stuff to flirt with you.
So, grab a beer, an orange hat, and your belongings, and off you go!
Making some money, being environmentally conscious, AND decluttering your home? It truly doesn’t get any better than that.
Thanks to the many options for selling your stuff in the Netherlands, you’ll never have to struggle with finding a new loving home for your belongings.
What are your experiences with selling your belongings? Tell us in the comments below!
Anna Chow
Anna Chow is a consumer researcher based in Rotterdam. Originally from Hong Kong, she has worked in China, the United States, and Germany before ending up in charming South Holland. She has been around since 2012 and is loving it.
