Do things differently this year and go for second-hand toys for St Nicholas! Good for everyone and for your wallet! From popular toys like LEGO, Barbie, board games and games to pyjamas, backpacks and reading books, in short, the ‘useful’ gifts: there is so much to find if you opt for second-hand. We have collected the best places for you. Read on quickly and fill that Sinterklaas bag with sustainable gifts this year!
Shopping tips: find the cutest second-hand toys for St Nicholas here
As with so many things, a lot of toys are already in circulation. Often in perfect condition, as many fun toys are age-related and thus used for a relatively short time. Besides, someone else's toys are always more interesting. Remember from your own childhood? Extra good reason to explore second-hand toy shops before St Nicholas. But where to find them? We take you through the best places. Here they come!
Swapping your toys at Swap Sint
At Swap Sint, you give your old toys a second life AND score something new. It works very simply: you bring toys and receive exchange points (a kind of voucher). You use these to pick out other toys brought in by someone else. Everything is clearly laid out on tables, making it easy to barter. Check the Swap Saint website to see where and when a swap meet is being organised in your area.
Scoring second-hand gifts for St Nicholas at a local swap shop Swap Sint.
Circular toys from Toys Up
At Toys Up, old toys get a wonderful second life! LEGO, Duplo and wooden toys are collected from your home via partner Byewaste or collected at special points, such as schools. Everything is then cleaned, completed and repackaged in a beautiful Toys Up toy box - made from leftover laminate. This way, the toys look like new and are fully circular. Shop your sustainable gifts at toys-up.nl and return it in a few years at a drop-in point for the next one! Want to know more? Then check out this article we wrote about Toys Up.
Triple J Online: the webshop that gives returned toys a new life
Many toys bought and returned online end up in the trash. It is often cheaper for companies to throw away returns than to take them back, check them and sell them again. Triple J Online does things differently: they buy these returned products, check and refurbish them and sell them for a nice price. This way, perfectly usable toys get a second chance. A sustainable addition to your shopping list! We previously wrote about Triple J Online.
Score the most popular second-hand gifts for St Nicholas on Marktplaats and Vinted
For sought-after gifts that are on many wish lists, Marktplaats and Vinted are the places to look. From LEGO, Brio trains and Playmobil to board games like Catan or Monopoly, you'll find it all here. Use the search function and easily score that perfect second-hand gift that is high on the wish list! Previously, in collaboration with Marktplaats a list of popular toys that can be found well second-hand around the holidays, but cheaper, because yes, second-hand huh.
Find second-hand children's books at Boekenbalie
There are a lot of sites and apps where you can buy children's books. A favourite of ours is Book desk. From timeless classics to bestsellers never available at the library, you'll find it all here. The selection is huge and you pay a fraction of the new price. In short, also a top place to buy these useful second-hand Saint Nicholas presents.
Left: second-hand toys from Toys up, middle: returned toys from Triple J Online's webshop and right: a stack of second-hand children's books via Boekenbalie.
The thrift store and Facebook for little shoe gifts
Finally, local Facebook groups and thrift shops are the place to be for spontaneous (shoe) presents. Especially if you are looking for little things for in the shoe or for a surprise. Think puzzles, board games, a cuddly toy, cars, dinosaurs, a blackboard or a ball, you will find it all there for a few quid. Perfect for scoring lasting and affordable surprises! Find a thrift shop near you via The Recycling App.
Also go for second-hand toys this holiday season
Second-hand toys are the way to make the festive season both sustainable and affordable. Whether you swap at Swap Sint, choose beautifully refurbished gifts from Toys Up, score smart via Triple J Online, search for popular items on Marktplaats or make spontaneous finds at the thrift shop, there is something for everyone. By buying second-hand, you are not only making children happy, but also giving the planet a gift. Time to start that treasure hunt!
Photo credits: main image Karolina Grabowska (Pexels), Swap Sint, Toys Up & thegreenlist.nl.
