Buying Second-Hand in Netherlands: Expat Guide

The Netherlands has a wide choice of platforms and shops for second-hand goods, where expats can furnish a home, kit out a kitchen and find a bike for less than new — if they know where to look.

This guide covers the main platforms and shop types, with practical tips for each.

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Quick answer: Buy second-hand in the Netherlands as an expat: Marktplaats, Vinted, 2dehands, Facebook Marketplace, kringloopwinkel, bikes, furniture, avoiding scams.

Why Second-Hand Makes Sense for Expats

Before diving into the platforms, a quick note on why second-hand is especially worth considering as an expat.

Short-term uncertainty: if you arrive on a fixed-term contract, you may not know yet whether you will stay. Buying good-quality second-hand items means you are not out of pocket if you need to sell everything before leaving.

Moving costs: Shipping furniture internationally is expensive. Buying locally when you arrive and selling locally when you leave can work out cheaper than bringing things from home.

Unfurnished rentals: rented homes are sometimes unfurnished or only partly furnished, so you may need to buy furniture and appliances quickly. Second-hand lets you do that without paying new prices, and you can sell again when you leave.

Platform 1: Marktplaats — The Dutch eBay for Everything

Marktplaats is a large Dutch platform for new and second-hand items, part of the Adevinta group. The volume of listings means you can find most household items on it.

How to Use Marktplaats

The site is at marktplaats.nl and is in Dutch; browser translation helps you read listings. There is also a mobile app.

Key search tips:

• Search in Dutch for better results. “Chair” in Marktplaats will miss many listings — “stoel”, “eetkamerstoel” (dining chair), or “bureaustoel” (office chair) will find more.
• Use the postcode/city filter and set a reasonable radius (10–25 km for furniture, larger for electronics).
• Check whether a listing is from a private individual or a business seller; buying from a business usually gives you more consumer rights.
• Sort by date to catch new listings.

Common Dutch search terms:

Contacting Sellers

Contact sellers through the Marktplaats messages. A short message in Dutch (or English) asking if the item is still available works: “Is dit nog beschikbaar?” (“Is this still available?”).

Agree a viewing time. For furniture, confirm whether you need to bring transport.

Payment

Payment is agreed with the seller: cash on collection, a bank transfer or a payment request (betaalverzoek). Marktplaats also offers buyer protection (Kopersbescherming), which it describes as extra security when an item is shipped; check the conditions before you pay.

Never pay in advance to a seller you cannot verify. A classic scam pattern: the seller creates urgency, asks for a bank transfer and disappears.

Delivery on Marktplaats

Many listings are “ophalen” (pick-up only). Some sellers offer “verzenden” (shipping). For larger items, a transport service such as Brenger, which names Marktplaats as one of its partners, can collect and deliver; as an example, Brenger shows €59 for a sideboard from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, with standard insurance up to €250 (brenger.nl, checked 5 October 2026).

Platform 2: Vinted — For Clothing

Vinted is a platform for second-hand clothing, shoes and accessories. Unlike most Marktplaats purchases, the whole transaction runs through the app, so you do not need to meet the seller.

How it works (vinted.nl, checked 5 October 2026):

1. Browse listings in the app or on the website
2. Pay with PayPal, iDEAL, a credit card, a debit card, Apple Pay or the Vinted wallet
3. The seller ships within 5 days; the buyer pays the shipping costs
4. The seller is paid once you confirm receipt
5. If the item does not arrive, arrives damaged or is significantly not as described, Vinted refunds you; you have 2 days to report a problem

As a buyer you pay a buyer protection fee of 5% of the item price plus €0.70 when you use the “Buy” button.

Tips for buying on Vinted:

• Check the seller’s reviews.
• Read the item description and look at all photos, including labels and any damage.
• Check the size carefully; listings sometimes show several size formats.
• You can ask the seller questions in the app before you buy.

Vinted also works for selling items you no longer need: Vinted says uploading an item is free, and the buyer pays the buyer protection fee and the shipping.

Platform 3: Facebook Marketplace — Furniture and Moving Sales

Facebook Marketplace and local expat groups on Facebook are another source, especially for items from people who are leaving the country.

Search tips:

• Look at the “for sale” sections of local expat groups for your city.
• Inspect before you pay, and do not pay in advance to someone you cannot verify.

What works well on Facebook Marketplace:

• Furniture (including “moving sale” listings from people leaving)
• Baby and children’s items
• Electronics
• Bikes
• Kitchenware

Platform 4: Kringloopwinkels — The Dutch Thrift Shop Experience

Kringloopwinkels (kringloop = recycling loop) sell donated second-hand goods. Many of them also provide work: Het Goed, for example, says it offers work to more than 1,900 people and adds 30,000 products to its range every day (hetgoed.nl, checked 5 October 2026).

Why kringloops are useful for expats:

• Prices are usually low compared with new.
• Stock changes constantly, so it pays to visit regularly.
• Prices are usually fixed and labelled.

Finding your local kringloop:

Search “kringloopwinkel” + your city name. Het Goed has stores in about 30 places, from Assen to Venlo, with a collection and a delivery service; many municipalities and local organisations run their own kringloop.

Tips:

• Ask staff when new donations are put out on the floor.
• For large items, ask whether the shop delivers and what it costs.
• When you leave, you can donate items to a kringloop; some, such as Het Goed near its stores, collect them.

Platform 5: Nextdoor — Hyperlocal

Nextdoor is a neighbourhood social network where residents post local news and questions, and sometimes give away or sell items. It is not primarily a marketplace, but neighbours moving out or decluttering do post free or cheap items there.

Platform 6: 2dehands — Worth Checking for Specific Items

2dehands.be is a Belgian platform in the same Adevinta group as Marktplaats. It is mainly used in Belgium; some sellers ship to the Netherlands. If Marktplaats listings for a specific item are sparse, a check on 2dehands can help. Search in Dutch; the same terms apply.

Buying Second-Hand Electronics

Useful sources:

Marktplaats: laptops, phones, TVs and audio equipment from private and business sellers.

Refurbished sellers: shops that sell refurbished electronics, usually with a warranty; compare the warranty period and the return terms.

Tips for buying used electronics:

• Ask for the charger and any accessories, and confirm before the viewing what is included.
• Test the item at the seller’s location before paying. For phones: calling, Wi-Fi, charging, camera. For laptops: screen, keyboard, ports and battery.
• Ask for the original receipt if the seller has it.
• Confirm that an iPhone is not locked to the previous owner’s Apple ID before you pay.

Buying a Second-Hand Bike

For many expats a bike is one of the first purchases. Because stolen bikes are also offered second-hand, check before you buy.

Where to buy:

• Marktplaats: a large choice of used city bikes (stadsfietsen) and e-bikes.
• Facebook Marketplace and expat groups: active in the bigger cities.
• Local bike shops: some sell second-hand bikes, sometimes with a warranty.
• Kringloopwinkel: occasionally has bikes; quality varies.

What to look for:

• Brakes: Squeeze both brake levers firmly. The wheel should lock.
• Tyres: Check for cracks, worn tread, or flat spots.
• Chain: Should not sag significantly when you lift it.
• Lights and bell: check that the front and rear lights and the bell work.
• Lock: does the bike come with a lock, and do you get all the keys?

Check the frame number: you can look up whether a bike is registered as stolen in the RDW’s fietsdiefstalregister by frame number or chip number. A stolen bike is only in the register if the theft was reported. If a bike you want to buy is registered as stolen, you must report it to the police (Rijksoverheid, checked 5 October 2026).

Red flags:

• No frame number (stamped or etched on the frame)
• Lock has been cut or the lock bracket is damaged
• Seller is evasive about where the bike came from or cannot show any paperwork
• Price is dramatically below market for the apparent quality

Avoiding Scams: Practical Guide

Most second-hand purchases go fine, but watch for these patterns:

Advance payment scams (Marktplaats, Facebook Marketplace): Seller insists on payment before viewing. Always view before paying.

Shipping scams: the other party asks you to pay extra “insurance” or “shipping company” fees, or sends a link to a payment page outside the platform. Do not pay through links someone sends you.

Overpriced dealers posing as private sellers: Some professional dealers list as “particulier” (private individual). Check if the seller has dozens of similar listings — that is a dealer.

Too-good-to-be-true pricing: if the price is far below similar listings, the item may be faulty, stolen or not exist.

When you sell: check in your own banking app that the money has actually arrived before you hand over an item; a screenshot of a transfer is not proof.

Safe practices:

• Meet in person for all high-value purchases
• Meet in a public place (café, supermarket car park, train station) for portable items
• Test and inspect before paying
• Use Marktplaats’s buyer protection when an item is shipped
• Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, walk away

Delivery Options

For large items (furniture, appliances) that you cannot transport yourself:

Brenger: a transport service for items bought second-hand, partner of Marktplaats among others. It shows €59 for a sideboard from Amsterdam to Rotterdam as an example, with standard insurance up to €250 and free cancellation up to 60 hours before transport (brenger.nl, checked 5 October 2026).

Man with a van: Search “man met busje” on Marktplaats or Facebook Marketplace — individual drivers offering transport services. Agree on a price before committing.

Seller offers delivery: Some Marktplaats sellers will deliver for a fee, especially for furniture. Ask in the initial message.

Selling Second-Hand When You Leave

When you leave, you can sell again what you bought. Tips for selling:

• List on Marktplaats with clear photos and an honest description.
• Check what similar items are listed for and price accordingly.
• Donate items that are too low-value to list to a kringloopwinkel or offer them to neighbours.
• For a larger clear-out, ask a kringloopwinkel whether it collects; Het Goed, for example, has a collection service near its stores.

For your general moving and departure logistics, see our moving back home from the Netherlands guide. For selling a car before you leave, see our guide to buying and selling a car in the Netherlands.

Summary: Which Platform for What

With a little patience and a few Dutch search terms, you can furnish a home and equip a kitchen for much less than new.

Useful Links

• Dutch supermarkets guide for expats
• Cycling in the Netherlands: expat guide
• Recycling in the Netherlands
• Shopping in the Netherlands: expat guide
• How to buy a car in the Netherlands as an expat
• Best Dutch apps for expats
• Moving to the Netherlands with kids
• Dutch food and culture for expats

Try Wise

External source: RDW — Check whether a bike is stolen — the official stolen-bike register (in Dutch).