You bought a house and after the kitchen and bathroom, you start to think about the buying furniture in stores. You puzzle out the floor plan and notice the couch doesn’t fit in your new living room or the dining table is too small for the space. This is part of the moving process: cleaning up and making your house a home again. Now it’s time for furniture which suits your style and home.
You can buy furniture at different places.
This blog is part of the book: Purchasing and renovating a house in the Netherlands. You can order the book here.
Local furniture stores
Don’t underestimate that one little shop around the corner. When I lived in a small village, there was a small shop where you could buy mattresses, curtains, and carpets. The shop was small, but the collection was large, and the prices were average. If you don’t have much time and want good quality, service and advice, this can be an excellent choice.
“Woonboulevard” or shopping mall for furniture
This is a place where many home stores can be found. They are commonly located on the edge of major cities in the Netherlands. It’s easy to go from shop to shop and check out many kinds of furniture. This can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. However, there are some advantages to shopping this way: you can test if a couch is comfortable, how the fabric feels, and see what the quality is.
Second-hand or thrift shops
The second-hand market for furniture is huge. Not interested in current trends? Looking for something more classic or unique? Your local thrift shop can be a good starting point for used furniture. They may have a delivery service and will deliver your order to your home for a small fee. Buying what you want may take a bit more effort, as the furniture collection changes every few days. But the wait can be worth it.
Another option is Facebook or marktplaats.nl. You can search for whatever you want, in any area you want. So look for that special cabinet which reminds you of home or find a crib that needs a new layer of paint. These are also great platforms for selling the furniture you don’t need any more.
Tip: Kings day
On Kings day it is tradition to have flea markets in the Netherlands. Every year on the 27th of April, many people sell their used goods on a rug and negotiation is part of the fun. Usually, this is an organized event, where everyone can participate without charges or permits. Disclaimer: the colour orange is everywhere.
This blog is part of the book: Purchasing and renovating a house in the Netherlands. You can order the book here.
