Why Rotterdam Is a Great City for Vintage Shopping

Rotterdam’s vintage scene reflects the city itself: diverse, bold and forward-focused. From curated boutiques to kilo sales and larger second-hand stores, browsing and discovery are part of the experience. Many shops focus on reuse and circular fashion, making vintage shopping a natural fit with Rotterdam’s sustainable mindset.

Styles and price ranges vary widely, from streetwear and 90s influences to timeless classics and second-hand designer pieces. Whether you’re browsing or searching for something specific, there are options for different tastes and budgets.

Vintage Markets and Pop-Ups

Alongside permanent vintage shops, Rotterdam also has a lively scene of vintage markets and pop-up events. Markets such as Vintage aan de Maas at OASE and Fair Priced Vintage bring together multiple sellers in one place, offering a wide range of second-hand and vintage styles. These markets take place at different times throughout the year and are worth keeping an eye out for when planning your visit.

A woman selling trinkets and hand-made goods at a market stall to two customers.

Best Neighbourhoods for Vintage

Zwaanshalskwartier & Oude Noorden

The Zwaanshalskwartier, located in the Oude Noorden (Rotterdam North), is one of the city’s key areas for vintage shopping. The neighbourhood brings together independent boutiques, cafés and small design shops within a compact, walkable area. Its relaxed pace makes it easy to explore multiple stores without rushing.

  • Céno Classics

    A vintage boutique specialising in timeless preloved clothing in neutral tones, designed to fit effortlessly into a capsule wardrobe.
  • Ding & Dingen

    A vintage store combining second-hand clothing with handmade designs created from recycled materials in its in-house atelier.
  • Volle Kast

    A boutique focused on exclusive second-hand women’s and children’s designer fashion, with a curated selection of well-known international labels.

City Centre & Oude Binnenweg

Vintage shopping in Rotterdam’s city centre is easy to combine with mainstream shopping, sightseeing and dining. The Oude Binnenweg, one of the city’s oldest streets, brings together bars, bookstores and independent shops, including several long-standing vintage stores. Check out:

  • Square Eight – A store specialising in streetwear-inspired pieces, curated with a modern approach to vintage fashion.
  • Hour House – A vintage store offering a rotating selection of classic and contemporary pieces, with regularly discounted items.
  • Rejoes – A spacious second-hand clothing store with a broad selection of styles at accessible price points.
  • Foreign Vintage – A vintage store focused on streetwear and sneakers, with a curated selection of exclusive trainers and second-hand clothing inspired by sports and urban culture.
Shoppers strolling on the Oude Binnenweg street, past a full café terrace.

Pannekoekstraat & Surroundings: Curated and Boutique Vintage

Located near the Markthal and Meent, the Pannekoekstraat attracts visitors interested in smaller boutiques and carefully selected collections. The atmosphere is calm and compact, making it well suited to focused browsing rather than extended searching.

  • Vintage & Labels by Hendrikus – A curated vintage store combining second-hand designer fashion with quality unlabeled vintage pieces.
  • Very Cherry - Specialises in feminine, vintage-inspired clothing designed as the foundation of a versatile wardrobe.
  • Cheap Fashion – A second-hand clothing store offering an eclectic and affordable selection of vintage and preloved items across different styles.
Raamgevel van de winkel Very Cherry waar twee vrouwen naartoe lopen.

Some of Rotterdam’s most popular vintage stores have multiple locations and are easy to recognise due to their size and wide selection. They’re popular amongst those who love to spend time browsing larger collections searching for gems. 

  • Think Twice

    A large vintage chain offering a constantly changing selection of second-hand clothing, with new items added daily.
  • Episode

    An international vintage chain offering a wide range of second-hand clothing sourced through charities and carefully sorted for reuse.
  • Kilo Kilo Store

    A vintage store selling second-hand clothing by weight, with a focus on affordability, reuse and sustainable fashion.
  • ReShare

    A second-hand clothing concept by the Salvation Army focused on reuse, social impact and reducing textile waste.

Quirky Shops

Vintage shopping in Rotterdam also includes alternative concepts that go beyond traditional stores. For shops that have a larger selection of items, check out these two:

  • The Swapshop – A clothing exchange store where visitors swap items they no longer wear for second-hand pieces using a credit system.
  • Jouw Marktkraam –  A fixed market concept featuring rotating stalls from individual sellers with vintage clothing, accessories, home decor and more.

Top Tips for Vintage Shopping

  1. Take your time! Vintage stores reward patient browsing.
  2. Explore multiple neighbourhoods to experience different styles.
  3. Combine shopping with cafés, especially in the Zwaanshalskwartier and city centre.
  4. Vintage shopping is one of the easiest ways to shop sustainably while finding unique items.
A woman browsing a rack of vintage clothing, whilst holding a couple of clothing items to try on.