Product segments
The second-hand market in the Netherlands is not equally developed across all product segments. 12 percent of respondents to a widespread survey indicated that they often buy second-hand clothing. This indicates that the vintage clothing market has plenty of room to expand in the Netherlands, given its popularity in other markets. In contrast, used motor vehicles are quite popular. Over the last decade, the number of used cars and motor bikes sold in the Netherlands has increased almost every year. Other success stories include the markets for second-hand books and refurbished smartphones.
Online and offline channels
Much like in regular non-food retail, the trade in second-hand products predominantly takes place online. The Dutch prefer to both buy and sell their used items on the internet. Their preferred online marketplaces are Marktplaats (a subsidiary of Ebay) and Bol.com, the latter of which is the largest online retailer in the Netherlands. Leading global marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay.com and Etsy play a marginal role in the Netherlands. Less than a quarter of Dutch consumers have even heard of Etsy, and Amazon did not launch a Dutch website until 2020. This shows that online retail in used goods has been relatively unaffected by global (American) conglomerates. Similarly, the offline second-hand product trade in the Netherlands is typically Dutch. Most brick-and-mortar (or rather, tarp-and-blanket) second-hand retail transactions occur during the annual King’s Day flea markets all across the Netherlands.
