When you hear “King’s Day” in the Netherlands, you instantly imagine wild street parties and city canals drowning in orange — a truly fascinating picture when you see it for the first time. Yet, if you’re like me and no longer a hardcore partygoer, you’ll probably agree that experiencing this side of celebration once (just for the sake of it) is more than enough. That doesn’t mean you should skip the day altogether — there are other ways to enjoy it.
Here’s an idea to try this year: decluttering at free markets.
Don’t want it? Vrijmarkts are your chance to sell it and not pay taxes on the windfall.
What are free markets?
Free markets, or vrijmarkt, are open-air garage sales that take over the neighborhood streets, parks and canal sides across the Netherlands on King’s Day. And King’s Day is the only day you’ll see pop-up yard sales in the Netherlands because that’s the only day they’re permitted. Expats in the Netherlands, you won’t be surprised to learn this: It’s a tax thing. The sales typically run from early morning (around 6 a.m.) till late afternoon or early evening and are open to locals who want to sell second-hand items and a limited range of simple goods.
The best part? Money earned at a vrijmarkt as a private individual on the King’s Day is generally tax-free. So if you’ve been meaning to clear out things you no longer use, this is you sign to do it on 27 April — no hassle of dealing with online platforms included.
Where, when and how to get a spot
In theory, you can roll out your blanket or set up a stand anywhere.
In practice, there are a few rules and some competition for the better spots.
Children up to 16 years old can sell in designated areas (you can check specific zones in Amsterdam and Weesp here and Eindhoven here). Adults should avoid busy parts of the city, especially the centre, and make sure they don’t block entrances to homes or shops, emergency routes, bridges and their approaches, or fire hydrants.
Beyond that, it’s mostly first-come, first-served, so if you’re aiming for a good location — arrive early. It’s also worth checking your municipality’s latest updates beforehand, as some areas can be restricted or just unbearably crowded.
Another popular practice is trying to reserve a spot in advance by marking it with chalk. This is generally tolerated, but not officially guaranteed. Don’t use the tape — it’s bad for the environment, hard to remove from the street surface and can land you a fine.
What are you allowed to sell
– Second-hand items, from clothing, books and toys to small furniture
– Alcohol-free drinks in plastic or cans
– Dry, non-perishable snacks like chips, cookies or sweets
What you are not allowed to sell
– Alcohol (unless you have the appropriate license as a caterer or shop)
– Perishable food such as meat, fish, dairy, or cream-based pastries (unless you are registered as a business with KVK and comply with hygiene regulations — inspections are possible, so be ready to show your KVK extract).
– Live animals
– Drinks in glass containers
Also keep in mind that commercial trading or advertising isn’t allowed without a permit, and you are expected to clean up your spot afterwards.
For everything else — enjoy the day, get rid of things you no longer need, and maybe make a bit of extra cash along the day.
Oxana Skibun is a fashion and lifestyle editor who has crafted her stories for print and digital media outlets across Europe, the Middle East and Russia. Raised in Moscow, she now lives in Amsterdam, where she continues writing for international audiences.
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