vindje.com / Guides / Buying on Marktplaats
Gelijk oversteken literally means 'crossing over at the same time': the buyer hands over the money and the seller hands over the item in the same moment. It is the standard way to deal on Marktplaats when you meet in person. Done properly, neither side has to trust the other.
When a seller writes 'alleen gelijk oversteken' they are saying: no paying in advance, no reserving with a deposit, come and pay when you take it. That is good news for you as a buyer. It also means the seller will not hand over the item until they see the money, so come prepared.
Some sellers use the phrase loosely for any pickup deal. Either way, the rule is the same: nobody hands over their side until the other side is ready.
Cash is the simplest form. Count it out in front of the seller after you have checked the item. For larger amounts, bring the exact sum; sellers often do not have change. Fewer people carry cash than ten years ago, so if you plan to pay cash, say so in advance and agree that the seller is fine with it.
For expensive items, think about carrying a large amount on the street. A bank transfer is then the better choice.
Most pickups are now paid with a transfer or payment request on the spot. Do the transfer while you are standing there, then show your banking app's confirmation. Many Dutch banks process transfers between Dutch accounts within seconds, so the seller can see it arrive in their own app.
As the buyer, check the name on the account before you send. If the listing is from 'Sanne' and the account holder is a company or a different name, ask why before you pay.
Two pickup tricks show up from time to time. The first is the fake payment screenshot, where a 'buyer' shows an edited image of a transfer that never happened. As a buyer you are not the target, but it is why sellers want to see the money land, so do not be offended if they wait.
The second targets you: the item you tested is swapped for a broken one while it goes back in its box. For phones, consoles and laptops, keep the item in your hands from test to bag, and check the serial number on the device against the box.
Run through this in the doorway.
If you cannot meet, there is no way to cross over at the same time, and the trust has to come from somewhere else: a payment method that holds the money until delivery, or a seller with a long track record. Do not stretch the phrase to cover 'pay now and I ship tomorrow'. That is advance payment, whatever the seller calls it.
A middle ground for items a few hours away: ask a friend who lives nearby to look and pay for you, or agree a video call where the seller shows the item working and then hands it to a courier you booked yourself. Neither is as safe as being there, but both are far better than a transfer to a stranger.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
iPhone 14 with 128 GB, battery health above 85 percent, with box and receipt, pickup and pay in person, under 400 euro near Den HaagSearch Marktplaats like this
Literally 'crossing at the same time'. On Marktplaats it means the buyer pays and the seller hands over the item in the same moment, at the pickup.
Yes, if you make it on the spot and the seller sees it arrive. Check that the account name fits the seller before you send.
Cash is fine for small amounts if the seller agrees. For larger amounts a transfer leaves a record, which helps if the item turns out to be stolen.
It is risky. If the seller sells to someone else or disappears, the deposit is hard to recover, so offer to collect soon instead.
Bring the exact amount, or agree in advance to pay by transfer. A rounded-down price for a missing 5 euro is a common, friendly fix.