Where to Thrift in Amsterdam this Summer
Rejoes vintage Bijlmerplein
Head to the Zuidoost location of this international chain for the best deals in the city.On Mondays and Tuesdays, everything is €2.99, making it well worth the required pilgrimage from Centraal. Large, clean, and well-organised, this feels more like a regular retail store than a thrift. It’s not much of a curated experience, so dive in and enjoy the hunt. You’ll find great selections of jeans and men’s branded dress shirts: the only place in the city where you can buy Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger for less than three euros.
Rejoes| opening hours vary | Price range €-€€ | Bijlmerplein 135
De Buurtkringloop
The kringloop to end all kringloops, this not-for-profit store in Oost is staffed by volunteers and maintains the low prices of your traditional charity shop with the organisation and quality of a more upmarket vintage place. On a sunny day, sunlight spills through large panelled windows spotlighting racks of vintage jeans and hoodies. You’ll also find bargain baskets, including vests for only 50 cents apiece. Charm and bric-a-brac galore, with plenty of great finds and even a small “designer” section, well worth a visit for anyone even slightly budget-conscious.
De Buurtkringloop| Tuesday-Saturday 11:00-18:00, Sunday 12:00-18:00| Price range €-€€ | Insulindeweg 1
Marbles Vintage De Pijp
Come here for the curation – both in vibe and clothing. Next door to a Y2K yoga retreat, all dark wood panelling and cinnamon-scented fragrances. Head upstairs for entire racks of the ever trendy Dickies workwear trousers, or downstairs for masses of knitted wool jumpers. Another chain and less suited to those looking for a deal, but it’s an experience you’ll appreciate nonetheless, along with the assurance that you’ll find a worthy pickup (if not multiple).
Marbles Vintage| Monday-Sunday 11:00-19:00 | Price range €€-€€€ | Ferdinand Bolstraat 28
Kringloop West
The second standout Kringloop is a one-stop destination for budget vintage and second-hand items, including clothing, furniture, books, kitchenware, bicycles, electronics and more. Aimed at the more practically minded, the department store also provides waste separation services, recycling, item repair, upcycling, and house evacuations. Additionally, it hosts engaging workshops and events like clothing swaps.
Kringloop West| Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00 | Price range €-€€ | Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat 70H
Figo Vintage
Amsterdam's largest vintage store, featuring 1000 m² of curated clothing. Variety is king in this colourful warehouse-come-industrial cavern of vintage pick-ups. Think Smaug's horde – minus the fire-breathing dragon – filled with vintage gems. A good shoe collection is always a rare sight at second-hand places, but here you’ll find two walls stacked with options, with an emphasis on knee-high leather boots. Not the cheapest on the list, but a perfect IJ-Hallen alternative for a weekend of browsing clothes in Noord.
FIGO Vintage| Thursday-Sunday 11:00-18:00 | Price range €€ | Asterweg 38
Bis!
You’ll find Bis! between Waterlooplein and Nieuwmarkt at Sint Antoniesbreestraat,three vintage shops, each with its own collection and vibe. Its unique selling point is the store at 25A, which specialises in military clothing. For those after a utilitarian look or interested in collectables, here you'll find army and navy classics from different countries and time periods. A good deal more niche than a lot of the other items on the list, it’s an entertaining spot to browse, whether or not you find anything that fits your taste.
Bis!| Tuesday-Saturday 11:00-18:00, Sunday 13:00-17:00, Monday 12:00-18:00 | Price range €€-€€€ | Sint Antoniesbreestraat 25A
Amsterdam's “Golden Triangle” of thrifting
Venturing all over the city in search of potential deals can be a fun day out for some, but others might find it rather draining.With that second group in mind, Waterlooplein houses our self-coined “Golden Triangle” of thrifting, two thrift shops and a large flea market, all within eyeshot of each other.
Episode Waterlooplein
An Amsterdam staple, you’ll find locations all over the city, but this stands out due to its position. Always on trend, and maybe the most well-curated spot for the younger thrifter’s taste. Think baggy cargos, jean shorts, chequered short-sleeved shirts, and a surprising amount of cowboy boots – the spiritual home of any carabiner-wearing, mullet-adorned youth. The biggest issue you’ll run into here as a young person is one of excess wants and a limited bank balance.
Episode | Monday-Saturday 10:00-18:00, Sunday 12:00-18:00 | Price range €€-€€€ | Waterlooplein 1
Kilostore Waterlooplein
The second spot of the aforementioned triangle attempts to avoid the standard pitfall of any Kilostore – where t-shirts and other lighter items tending to be incredibly cheap – by applying colour-coded tags to their items. Though this might dissuade some value-hungry thrifters, rest assured, there are still some good deals to be found: like an unworn Dr Martens for less than 40 euros. Best for vintage band t-shirts, leather belts and military boots.
Waterlooplein – KiloStore | Monday-Saturday 10:00-19:00, Sunday 11:00-18:00 | Price range €€-€€€ | Jodenbreestraat 158
Waterlooplein Market
Amsterdam’s largest daily flea market on Waterlooplein is the third and final spot of the triangle: the place to go, Monday to Saturday, to pick up a bargain on pre-loved and vintage clothing, bikes, antiques, and general knick-knacks.
Waterlooplein | Monday-Saturday 09:30-18:30 | Price range €-€€€
Other Markets
A short (and free!) ferry ride away, the biggest (and arguably most well-known) flea market in Europe, IJ-Hallen, is full of furnishings and clothing looking for a new home, once a month.
Finally, a flea market and farmers’ market in one, Noordermarkt's Saturday stalls are a haven for antiques, books and vintage fashion.