Online Flea Market

On a ‘normal’ King’s Day, the Netherlands turns into a giant flea market: people sell the stuff they don’t want or use anymore on the street. It is a great way to get rid of things you don’t use anymore or to score a nice vintage vase yourself! It is the only day of the year that you don’t need a licence to sell almost anything and anywhere you want. 

In Utrecht, the market normally starts at 6:00 p.m. on the evening before King's Day and ends at 6:00 p.m. on King's Day. The real enthusiasts come early to reserve a good spot by marking it with tape or chalk. But what to do now we that the markets won’t take place for the second year in a row? Sell your stuff online! The Dutch website ‘Marktplaats’ is your online ‘vrijmarkt’!

Instructions

1. Go through your wardrobe, garage or cupboards to find items you don’t use or want anymore. It can be anything, from books to household items.
2. Download the Marktplaats app or visit the Marktplaats website (in Dutch) and make an account.
3. Click on ‘Plaats advertentie’ to create an advertisement.
4. Add a title for the item and choose a category and sub-category (for example ‘boeken’ for books).
5. Upload photos of the item. According to Marktplaats, successful advertisements often feature four or more pictures.
6. Add a description and details about the item.
7. Decide on a fixed price (‘vraagprijs’) for the item or allow customers to make bids (‘bieden’).
8. Choose if you want the buyer to pick up the item from your home (‘ophalen’) or if you want to send it to them (‘verzenden’).
9. You can place your advertisement for free (‘gratis’) or choose to pay a small fee if you want to promote it.
10. Finally click on ‘Plaats je advertentie’. Your advertisement is now posted on the Marktplaats website for a period of 4 weeks.
11. Sit back, relax, eat a tompouce and wait for a buyer.