Second-hand men's clothing in the Netherlands: this is how you find quality and the right fit

Second-hand men's clothing in the Netherlands can be found in many places nowadays: thrift stores, vintage stores, online platforms and specialized stores. The difference is mainly in selection, sizing and how much effort you have to make to find a good garment. Those who are specifically looking for jackets, waistcoats, shirts, trousers or suits usually benefit more from a specialist than from a general second-hand offering.

Where can you find second-hand men's clothing?

There are roughly four routes:

• Thrift stores: wide range, but men's fashion is usually only a small part and often not deep per size or category.
• Vintage stores: more selection by style and period, but the offer can be strongly focused on streetwear, women's fashion or specific trends.
• Online platforms: huge selection and many filters, but you have to judge condition, dimensions and reliability yourself.
• Specialized men's stores: less broad in target group, but more depth in fit, size and classic men's categories.

Why specialization makes a difference in men's fashion

A jacket, suit or waistcoat requires more fit knowledge than a simple T-shirt. Shoulders, chest, length, waist and sleeves must all be correct. With second hand, there are also differences between brands and periods.

That is why size alone is never enough. A vintage size 50 may fit differently than a recent size 50. With shirts, even two size L models can differ greatly in armpit width and sleeve length.

What do you look for in quality?

Look beyond brand and price. Check seams, lining, buttons, zippers and areas that will wear out first. For suit jackets, this includes cuffs, elbows and lining; with shirts, especially collar, cuffs and armpits.

Read our extensive guide recognizing quality in second-hand men's clothing.

Second-hand jackets and blazers

A second-hand jacket is interesting because you will encounter much more variation in fabric, lapels, checks and cut. Always start at the shoulders and then look at chest and length.

You can find more help in how to choose a second-hand jacket.

Waistcoats: small garment, big differences

With waistcoats the fit varies widely. Some are short and formal, others longer, roomier or clearly vintage. Make sure that the front covers the waistband of your trousers sufficiently and that the buttons do not pull.

Shirts: measure rather than guess

For secondhand shirts armpit-to-armpit, back length and sleeve length are much more useful than just M, L or XL. Vintage shirts in particular can be cut differently than modern slim-fit models.

Read also slim fit, regular fit or loose fit shirt.

Suits and trousers

A second-hand suit must be correct as a complete set. Jacket and trousers deserve the same attention. Waist, crotch, seat and leg are important for trousers; with the jacket mainly shoulders and chest.

More information can be found in this is how you choose a second-hand suit.

Vintage or just second-hand?

Not every used garment is vintage. At EcoGents we only use the term vintage when there is sufficient evidence to do so. If a precise age cannot be proven, we prefer to describe the style and characteristics rather than inventing a decade.

For decidedly older pieces, you can look at our vintage men's clothing.

Buy second-hand online: check dimensions

Online shopping makes the range accessible throughout the Netherlands, but you cannot try on. Therefore, compare the measurements given with a garment that already fits you well. This is more reliable than blindly following a size label.

Also check product photos, condition, material description and return conditions before ordering.

Physical fitting remains valuable

In categories such as jackets, suits and trousers, you only really see what a different cut does when trying it on. Two jackets with the same size number can fit completely differently on the same person.

That is why a specialized physical store can save a lot of time, especially with second-hand men's fashion.

EcoGents: specialized in second-hand and vintage men's clothing

EcoGents in Tilburg focuses entirely on men's fashion. In the store you will find jackets, waistcoats, shirts, trousers, suits, ties, leather jackets, knitwear and vintage pieces. Everything is checked, washed, ironed and sorted according to size.

We do not try to imitate a 'thrift search', but rather combine the tranquility and structure of a men's store with unique second-hand stock.

From all over the Netherlands to Tilburg or online

Those who want to try on a specific item can visit the physical store. View the opening hours and address and route. You can search online by category and size, although there is always more in the store than is in the webshop.

Are you looking specifically locally? Then also read second-hand men's clothing in Tilburg.