Many thrift shoppers will agree: a flea market is the best place to look for the finest second-hand treasures. But... But how do you find great second-hand stuff among all those chaotic flea markets with quite a lot of junk? Especially for King's Day, we share tips to help you make the most of a day of shopping at a flea market, car boot sale or fair.
King's Day and other flea markets
Browsing flea markets is a hobby, I never tire of it either. Now that it is almost King's Day again, it seems like the perfect time to share my best flea market shopping tips. In my experience, it is precisely at flea markets, car boot sales and all those other cool places where people sell their household goods that you can find the most special and unique stuff for next to nothing. But it takes a lot of searching and patience, I must admit. With these tips, you can make the most of a day browsing at a flea market!
Scoring children's clothes at the Kleverparkfestival free market in Haarlem.
1. Make sure you are well prepared when you go to a flea market
Succeeding well at a flea market certainly depends on good preparation. Make sure sufficient cash in your wallet and preferably small denominations and coins (hardly anyone can change a fifty note). Although these days, payment requests via your phone also work very easily. Take a good sturdy tote(bag) along where you can make your purchases and also take good care of yourself. Wear comfortable shoes, easy clothes, take bring your bottle with water and a vegetarian snack and on sunny days forget about your sunglasses and sunscreen not. If you are looking for clothes, then I have an additional very important tip: put on something easy to fit clothes over, e.g. leggings and a basic shirt. This allows you to try something on quickly in public, as there is no fitting room.
2. Get up early to be the first at a flea market
Real bargain hunters - certainly including the professional traders - are the first to arrive. If you're a serious thrift shopper, make sure you're there with the other serious buyers before opening to be the first to make your move. For Kings Day, this requires perseverance, which means going to bed early the night before and not partying too much to be fit for the flea market adventure on the day itself.
3. Scan dresses and, above all, don't stop at each one
There is no beginning to thoroughly inspect every rug. Therefore, the tip: scan each rug quickly and then decide whether it is worth browsing longer. A rug with baby stuff is of no interest to me, a rug with old-fashioned furniture I also skip. I mainly focus on rugs with stuff that makes me happy: modern women's clothes, boys' clothes, toys and accessories that match my decor. When in doubt, I stop. With clothes, for instance, I check which brands and sizes are available and the quality of the items. Based on that, I decide to browse longer or quickly move on to the next one. It also helps to see who the seller is. Especially if I'm after women's clothes, I try to find a fashion sister spotting the same stature.
4. Think ahead when shopping second-hand
My head is working overtime as I walk past all the stalls and dresses. I think about all the seasons, all the clothing sizes my little son may get soon, the birthdays, holidays, possible children's parties we will still be invited to. Because people sell their own household goods directly, you have a chance to find really nice things for a very soft price. Nobody wants to take their stuff back at the end of the day, take advantage of this!
Tip for scoring children's clothes at the flea market
Looking for children's clothes? Take a set from your own closet with you so you can easily compare sizes while shopping, think ahead and buy a size up for next season.
5. Check second-hand stuff carefully before you buy it
It's a bit uncomfortable, but my tip is to always try on clothes - behind a tree or in a café if necessary - that way you won't be likely to make a mis-buy. Also check carefully that things are in one piece and that toys still work. If it is damaged or broken, consider whether you want it or whether you think it is worth repairing. A damaged or incomplete toy is even more of a reason to enter the negotiation sharply. And that's immediately my next and final tip.
6. Always haggle
It is the unwritten rule that you can haggle at a flea market. I know: it feels uncomfortable at first, but you really get used to it And you can also haggle with a smile and in a friendly manner. (In fact, I think you'll achieve more that way).
- Also see: tips for creating a beautiful flea market rug that does good business.
- View: 15 original ideas to make more money at the free market.
My favourite flea market addresses
If you live near Amsterdam and in North Holland, I have another nice extra for you: the flea markets where I score the cutest second-hand stuff.
- Kings Day Sarphatipark (Amsterdam)
- Koningsdag Beethovenstraat (Amsterdam)
- King's Day in the Gooi (Bussum, Hilversum)
- IJ-Hallen (Amsterdam): Find our article on the IJ-Hallen here.
- Kleverpark festival (Haarlem)
Your flea market shopping tip?
Are you also an avid second-hand shopper you can wake up at night for a flea market outing? We'd love to hear from you! Do you have another great tip? Or perhaps a crazy flea market that you really want to keep to yourself, but which really belongs in this list? Let me know! You can find my contact and follow buttons at the bottom of this page. I'd love to hear from you!
More second-hand tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Thrift store shopping tips: These tips will help you find the most beautiful clothes in a thrift shop.
- More of an online shopper? Use these tips to find the best stuff on Marktplaats!
- Do you especially need to get rid of stuff? Tips for selling stuff well on Marketplace we also have!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
