For us, King's Day is the start of the flea market season. And that's good news, because nowhere will you find such great second-hand treasures for next to nothing. But how do you really make the most of your day browsing the flea market? In this article, we - seasoned second-hand hunters - share seven flea-market tips to be well prepared.
Flea market tips! First aid for a flea market visit!
Why is good preparation so important anyway? Well, a flea market is no ordinary shopping session. You walk, dive, lift, negotiate and try on (sometimes in the middle of the street). That requires a different approach than shopping in a boutique. With the right flea market tips, not only will you get the best stuff, but you will also ensure that you will not be sitting on a pavement after an hour, exhausted. Because believe us: once you have acquired a taste for it, you will not want to go home just yet. An overview of all flea markets in the country can be found on the website meukisleuk.nl. Tip!
The best flea market outfit? Comfort is key
A day of fleecing calls for easy clothes - especially if you are clothes hunting. Choose something you can easily fit into without being immediately in your underwear. Even for ladies, boxer shorts or short-leg pants combined with a shirt are ideal. You can easily throw on a found pair of pearls at a fitting next to the dress. Slightly cooler outside? Then leggings are the tip. Just slip them on under your outfit and keep them on during your fitting session. Is street-fitting not your thing? Then take a garment from home as a reference. Put it on, measure it and you'll soon know whether it will fit.
Easy walking and fitting shoes
You will be covering miles at the flea market, so flip-flops or heels are not a good idea. Choose easy shoes that are comfortable to walk in and that you can quickly take off when you want to try something on. Think trainers without complicated laces or loafers. You don't want to be fumbling for laces every time you see a nice pair of boots or try on that vintage dress.
Cash is king at the flea market
Cash money, does it still exist? Yes indeed, and at the flea market it is an absolute must. Hardly anyone will have a mobile ATM machine, and not everyone can or wants to send a Tag either. So make sure you have some notes and coins in your pocket, especially for those smaller purchases. A few euros for a cool blouse, a reading book or that cute kids' toy, paying in cash is just faster and smoother. Bonus: you can sometimes negotiate just that little bit better with sounding coins in your hand.
Charge your phone properly (the method of payment at the flea market)
Yes, we just said cash is handy, but without a charged phone, you won't get there at a flea market these days either. Many sellers prefer payment requests, in which case your phone is indispensable. Your smartphone is also handy for a quick look-up of the new price of your find, or to use Google Lens to check whether you are dealing with a genuine branded item. Our tip: take a power bank and charging cable with you if you plan to wander for a long time. Then you won't have to miss a treasure because of a dead battery.
Forget these three flea markets musthaves not
Finally, a few things that will give you that extra bit of comfort during your flea market safari. Always carry a couple of cloth bags for your purchases - not only handy, but also a lot more durable than a plastic bag (and trust us: you rarely get offered one). Put a bottle of water and a snack in your bag, too, so you don't end up halfway through hangry gets. And since you will be outside all day and the weather is often nice during flea market season: take SPF with you and apply good sunscreen regularly. Always choose a sunscreen that contains both a good UVA and UVB filter. It says so on the packaging!
Flea market tips? Share yours!
We shared our best flea market tips here - but of course we are curious to hear yours too. Do you have any clever hack, an unexpected preparation tip or a golden rule for while strolling? Let us know! You can find the contact buttons at the bottom of this page! We collect the best tips for a follow-up to thegreenlist.nl! See more? We also made a video on our best preparation tips!
More flea market tips
- Also see: This is how to find the best second-hand treasures at the flea market.
- Also see: This is how to find the coolest second-hand shoes.
- Also see: Use these tips to create the best flea market rug
Photo credits: Angela de Vlaming.
