Second-hand in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a strong second-hand culture, so furniture, books, electronics and bikes change hands between members all the time — a few checks make the process smoother and safer.

If you'd rather buy from a shop, the city's official reuse centres (kringloopwinkels) sell affordable second-hand furniture, books, electronics and bikes, and also take donations of things you no longer need. For bulky items you want to get rid of yourself, Rekenkamer Amsterdam (2024) reports that the city runs six official Recyclepunt sites where residents can drop off furniture and other bulky waste for reuse or recycling, and that some districts, including Centrum and Watergraafsmeer, already require an appointment for bulky-waste collection instead of simply putting items out on a fixed day.

Before handing over any money:

• See and test the item in person first — sit on the chair, check the bike's brakes and tyres, plug in the electronics.
• Meet in a public place or a well-lit spot, and bring someone with you for bigger items.
• Never pay a deposit by bank transfer, gift card or crypto to "hold" an item — being asked to pay before you've even seen it is a classic advance-payment scam (Fraudehelpdesk, 2026). EduFabTech never takes payments or deposits on members' behalf.