At a glance
| What's sold | Insolvency and closure stock: machines, vehicles, electronics, returns pallets, jewellery, real estate |
| Lots located in | Netherlands (72%), Belgium (13%), Germany (7%), France (3%), Austria (2%) |
| Who can bid | Anyone aged 18+ with a verified private or business account |
| Buyer's premium | 19% of hammer (flat in all sampled lots) |
| VAT on premium | Yes, at the lot country's rate (e.g. 21% NL/BE, 19% DE) |
| Payment deadline | 48 hours after the payment request |
| Pickup deadline | Fixed day or slot set by the auction; no other day offered |
| Verdict | Real stock, but you carry almost all the risk |
What's sold
Troostwijk runs timed online auctions of stock from bankruptcies and business closures. You will find machines, vehicles, farm and building equipment, IT, returns pallets, jewellery and real estate. Troostwijk only acts as intermediary: your contract is with the seller, often a trustee (curator).
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You must be 18 or over and hold a verified account. Some auctions require a deposit (borg) of at least EUR 200 before you can bid above EUR 4,000. Some lots are for company accounts only. Sanctioned persons and regions are barred; any other country limits are not confirmed.
- Businesses: You need a VAT number that passes the VIES check. With it, VAT on Dutch and Belgian lots is reverse-charged. Deposit and verification rules are the same as for private buyers. Without a VAT number you pay VAT like a private buyer.
Registration
- Pick a private or business account; you cannot change this later.
- Enter your email and a password, then type in the code sent by email.
- Add your mobile number and confirm the SMS code.
- Fill in your details with care; they appear on your invoice and are locked after payment.
- Complete any ID, address or bank checks the site asks for.
- Pay the deposit by iDEAL, Bancontact or card if the auction needs one.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (opgeld) | 19% | No tiers or minimum seen; shown before you confirm a bid |
| VAT (BTW / MwSt.) | 21% NL/BE, 19% DE, 20% FR/AT | Charged on hammer and premium; reverse charge for EU businesses on NL/BE lots |
| Margin lots | No VAT on hammer | Whether VAT applies to the premium is not confirmed |
| Fixed service fee | EUR 20 to 1,000 seen, plus VAT | Per lot; no premium charged on it; what it covers is not confirmed |
| Payment fees | None | Payment in EUR only |
| Storage after missed pickup | NL: at least EUR 350; DE: EUR 50 per day plus VAT | Charged on top of the default penalty |
| Default penalty | 25% of winning bid plus the full premium | If you do not pay or do not collect |
| Transport | Extra | Troostwijk does not arrange it |
Worked example, private buyer, Dutch lot:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | EUR 1,000.00 |
| Premium 19% | EUR 190.00 |
| VAT 21% on EUR 1,190 | EUR 249.90 |
| Fixed service fee | not confirmed (varies by lot) |
| Total paid | EUR 1,439.90, excluding any service fee and transport |
How bidding works
- An auto bid (proxy) keeps your maximum hidden; if two auto bids are equal, the earlier one wins.
- Each lot shows its own "next minimum bid"; there is no public increment table.
- A bid in the final 2 minutes adds 2 minutes to the lot. On German lots, only a bid in the final minute does this.
- Lots close in sequence, so check the end time of each lot you want.
- Reserve lots and lots "subject to allocation" (onder voorbehoud van gunning) need the seller's approval, usually within 48 business hours.
- Every registered bid is binding. You cannot cancel after confirming, and "Instant bid" skips the confirmation step.
- To lower an auto bid you must place a new static bid; your earlier bids remain binding.
Watch out
- There is no warranty and no right of withdrawal; inspect at pickup, because claims lapse 4 weeks after collection.
- Buyers report electronics that were stripped, swapped or missing; condition is often marked "not checked".
- Users report lag near closing, and outages are your risk, so set your auto bid early.
- If you or your carrier miss the pickup slot, you owe 25% plus premium and get nothing.
- Pay from your registered bank account and settle all open lots in one payment.
Verdict: Troostwijk offers genuine stock and real bargains where bidding is thin. Before you bid, budget about 44% on top of hammer and accept a rigid pickup with no recourse.