The back-to-school clear-out always sneaks up faster than you plan for. One minute it’s the summer holidays, the next half your kid’s wardrobe doesn’t fit. Clearing it out is the easy part. Figuring out where it all goes is the actual work.
Over the years I’ve learned that not every shop or organisation can take every donation. Sometimes it’s a space issue, sometimes it’s the wrong season, sometimes they’re simply overflowing with stock. If you’ve ever had items turned away, don’t take it personally, it’s never about you.
The good news: the Netherlands is full of places that will happily take your children’s clothes, toys, and household bits, whether you want to donate to families who need them, sell them on, or swap them for the next size up. Some of these work anywhere in the country, others are Amsterdam-specific, I’ve marked the local ones so you know which is which.
A few basics apply whichever route you pick: wash everything first, bundle by size rather than dumping it all in one bag, and photograph items in decent light if you’re selling online. It sounds obvious, but it’s the difference between a bundle that moves in an hour and one that sits ignored for weeks.
Sell Online, Fast
1. Vinted
Bundle and sell, kids’ clothes move fast here, and it works wherever you are in the Netherlands.
2. Marktplaats, “Gratis” Section
List bundles for free. Things are often picked up within hours, and it’s the classic nationwide option if you’d rather not deal with payments at all.
Consignment Shops Worth the Trip (Amsterdam)
3. Otis en de Wolf / Wollepop / Old West
High-quality consignment boutiques. Expect around 40% back on sales. They’re selective, so only bring your best pieces.
4. Petit Circuit (IJburg)
A community-run kids-only thrift shop with clothes, toys, and even small furniture.
Recycling and Charity Drop-Off
If clothes are past the point of resale, stained, worn through, missing buttons, these two still want them. Nothing needs to end up in landfill just because it’s not sellable anymore.
5. RataPlan
Drop off at one of their shops or textile bins across the country. They recycle responsibly, and proceeds support social employment.
6. Stichting Babyspullen
Takes baby clothes up to size 92 plus toys and care items. They bundle donations into starter kits for families in need.
Swap Instead of Sell
7. Speel Deel & Recycle Festival (Motherhood Amsterdam)
A fun swap event, bring kids’ items, get tokens, swap, and enjoy workshops while you’re there.
8. Clothing Loop
A neighbourhood swap system with chapters across Dutch cities. A bag circulates, take what you need, leave what you don’t.
9. SwapShare / The Swapshop
Drop off clothes, earn credits, and use them to “shop” for other items.
10. Family Market Amsterdam (Facebook Group)
A parent-run Facebook group for swapping, selling, or giving away kids’ clothes and toys.
11. Neighbourhood Ruilkasten
Community swap cupboards, often in cafés or shared spaces, where you can leave and take clothes, books, or toys. Worth keeping an eye out for in your own neighbourhood, they pop up in all sorts of Dutch towns, not just Amsterdam.
Rent, Subscribe, or Recycle Responsibly
12. ByeWaste / Sokuni
Platforms that pick up your items and make sure they’re reused or recycled responsibly.
13. Jungle Amsterdam / Afvalpaleis
Creative reuse hubs. They accept almost anything, even worn-out items, and repurpose them.
14. Circos
A clothing subscription service: send back worn items, get the next size up, and they recycle what’s too worn to use.
15. Red Orka (Rent Baby Clothes)
Instead of buying, rent soft organic cotton baby basics that grow with your child. Once outgrown, you send them back and they’re reused for another little one, a practical, low-waste option for baby’s first year.
Final Tip
Clearing out kids’ clothes can feel like a chore, but the impact adds up. Whether you donate to a family in need, recycle through PackMee, or sell at a boutique like Wollepop, you’re giving those little jeans and jackets a second life. And if one place says no, don’t stress, there are plenty of other options waiting to take them.
If you’re clearing out ahead of a new arrival, our guide to being pregnant in the Netherlands covers what’s next, and our guides section has more on getting set up as a family here. For low-cost days out once the wardrobe’s sorted, check our places directory and sign up to the newsletter so you don’t miss the next swap event.
FAQ
What if a shop turns down my donation?
It happens, and it’s rarely personal, shops run out of space or already have too much stock in that size or season. Try another option on this list; something will take it.
Do these options work outside Amsterdam?
The online marketplaces, Clothing Loop chapters, and RataPlan drop-off points work nationwide. The consignment shops and swap events listed here are Amsterdam-specific, but similar setups exist in most Dutch cities, worth searching for the local equivalent.
What’s the fastest way to get rid of a big bundle?
The Marktplaats “gratis” section usually beats everything else for speed, free bundles tend to get claimed within a few hours.
Is renting baby clothes actually worth it?
For the newborn stage, when sizes change every few weeks, it can save you buying things that barely get worn. Red Orka’s model is built around exactly that stretch.
