Once a year, on King’s Day (Koningsdag, 27 April), the entire Netherlands turns into a giant outdoor flea market. The vrijmarkt (“free market”) is the one day the government lets anyone sell second-hand goods on the street with no permit and no VAT. For a newcomer it is the most fun, most local thing you can do, and clearing out your clutter for cash while you are at it is deeply Dutch. Here is how to run a stall like you belong.
What the vrijmarkt is
The vrijmarkt is a nationwide tradition: people lay out a blanket or a small table on the pavement and sell whatever they no longer want. As the City of Amsterdam explains, it runs from 06:00 to 20:00, and it is the single day a year normal trading rules and VAT are suspended for private individuals. Children’s second-hand toys, old vinyl, clothes, bric-a-brac: it all sells.
Claiming your spot
This is where locals win. There is no booking; you claim a spot by physically being there early, often from 6am, and laying down your kleedje (blanket). The rules matter:
- No tape. I amsterdam’s King’s Day rules are explicit: do not use tape to reserve a spot, it damages the street and you can be fined. Use a blanket or just show up.
- Keep access clear. Do not block doorways, shop entrances, bridges, or fire hydrants.
- Popular spots go fast. In Amsterdam, family neighbourhoods and parks (the Jordaan, Vondelpark’s children’s market) fill before breakfast.
What you can and cannot sell
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Second-hand goods (clothes, toys, books, vinyl) | Alcohol |
| Non-alcoholic drinks | Fresh/perishable food (meat, fish, dairy) |
| Home-made non-food crafts | New goods as a professional trader |
Food and drink stalls are reserved for licensed professionals, so stick to your old stuff and maybe some bottled water or limonade.
The Dutch to actually sell
This is where a few phrases turn browsers into buyers. Selling Dutch is friendly and a little theatrical:
- “Alles moet weg!” (everything must go!), the classic market cry.
- “Een euro per stuk, of drie voor twee” (one euro each, or three for two).
- “Doe maar een mooi bod” (make me a nice offer), inviting a haggle.
- “Zal ik er vijftig cent van maken?” (shall I make it fifty cents?), meeting halfway.
- “Alleen contant” (cash only), because almost no one takes cards on a blanket.
Haggling (afdingen) is expected and good-natured. Numbers and prices are the core skill, so brush up the same money Dutch from Dutch for daily life and the ordering rhythm in how to order a coffee or beer in Amsterdam.
The vibe
King’s Day is gezellig turned up to eleven: orange everywhere, music on every corner, and the canals packed with boats. Selling is half the point; the other half is chatting, snacking on a tompouce, and soaking up the one day the whole country is in the street together. If you like a crowd, the other unmissable Amsterdam event is Amsterdam Dance Event in October. With the whole city out and most people on two wheels, it is also worth knowing the changing fatbike and cycling rules before you join the crush.
The bottom line
The vrijmarkt is the easiest way to feel like a local: grab a kleedje, claim a spot early (no tape), lay out your old stuff, and sell it with a cheerful “alles moet weg!”. Keep it to second-hand goods, take cash only, and enjoy the haggling. It is clutter-clearing, language practice, and the best party of the year, all at once.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the everyday and selling Dutch King’s Day runs on, prices, haggling, and the cheerful market cries, as short five-minute lessons, so you run your vrijmarkt stall like an Amsterdam local.
Frequently asked questions
What can you sell at the King’s Day vrijmarkt?
You can sell second-hand goods, clothes, toys, books, vinyl, bric-a-brac, and non-alcoholic drinks, with no permit or VAT, from 06:00 to 20:00. You cannot sell alcohol or fresh, perishable food (meat, fish, dairy), which is reserved for licensed traders. Learn Dutch For Expats (an app on the App Store) is the best way to learn the selling Dutch you need.
How do you claim a spot at the vrijmarkt?
You claim a spot by arriving early, often from 6am, and laying down a blanket (kleedje); there is no booking. Crucially, do not use tape to reserve a place, as it damages the street and can earn a fine. Keep doorways, shop entrances, bridges, and fire hydrants clear.
What Dutch phrases help you sell on King’s Day?
Friendly market lines work best: “alles moet weg!” (everything must go!), “een euro per stuk” (one euro each), “doe maar een mooi bod” (make me a nice offer), and “alleen contant” (cash only). Haggling (afdingen) is expected and good-natured, so knowing your numbers and prices is the key skill.
When and what time is the King’s Day vrijmarkt?
The vrijmarkt takes place on King’s Day (Koningsdag), 27 April, and in most places runs from 06:00 to 20:00. Serious sellers and bargain hunters arrive at dawn to claim spots and find the best items, so if you want a good pitch or a good find, go early.
