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Kids bikes are sized by wheel diameter in inches, and height matters more than age: a child of about 105-120 cm fits a 16 inch bike, 115-135 cm a 20 inch, 130-150 cm a 24 inch. Because children outgrow a bike in two or three years, buying used makes a lot of sense, and Marktplaats is full of sturdy Dutch kids bikes that have already been through one owner.
Use inseam and height first, age second. Two six year olds can be 110 cm and 128 cm tall, and they need different bikes. When the child sits on the saddle, both feet should reach the ground with the balls of the feet. For a first bike with pedals, flat feet on the ground is better because it gives confidence.
Dutch sellers list size in inches (inch or the quote mark), and sometimes the frame size in cm. Wheel size is what you search on.
Parents love to buy one size up so the bike lasts longer. A little room is fine: the seatpost can go up 8-10 cm on most kids bikes. But a bike that is too big is heavy and hard to stop, and a nervous child on a bike they can't control will ride less. If your child is between sizes, pick the smaller one for a first or second bike and the bigger one for a confident rider.
Check how far the seatpost can still extend. It has a minimum insert line, and if the seller's photo already shows it near that line, the bike has less life left in it than you think.
Most Dutch kids bikes in 12-16 inch have a terugtraprem (coaster brake): you pedal backwards to stop. Many Dutch children learn this way and it works well, but if your child learned on a balance bike, a bike with two hand brakes can feel more natural. From 20 inch up you often see a 3-speed hub (Shimano Nexus 3) plus a coaster brake, and from 24 inch some bikes have 7 gears.
Gears on a 20 inch bike are nice in a hilly town, but in most of the Netherlands a single speed or 3-speed hub is plenty and has less to go wrong.
Kids bikes from Dutch brands are built heavy and simple, which is exactly what you want after years of being dropped in a schoolyard. Batavus, Gazelle, Cortina, Alpina, Popal, Loekie and Volare are common on Marktplaats. Alpina and Cortina have a good name for durability. Lightweight bikes like Woom are pricier new and hold their value well used, so a used Woom is rarely a bargain but is often worth it for a smaller child, since a 16 inch Woom weighs a lot less than a steel Dutch bike.
Supermarket and discount bikes with plastic parts and caliper brakes tend to wear out after one child. Fine for 25 euro, not for 90.
Bring your child if you can. Fit is everything and a two minute test ride tells you more than any photo.
Search the wheel size with the Dutch word: kinderfiets 16 inch, meisjesfiets 20 inch, jongensfiets 24 inch. Many listings are labelled by gender but the frames are close to identical, so search both and you double your choice. The best time to look is late summer and around birthdays in spring, when families sell the outgrown bike. On vindje.com you can type something like a 20 inch bike with hand brakes and 3 gears within 10 km, and it reads the listings for the brake type and gears so you don't have to open each one.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Loopfiets (balance bike) | EUR 15-50 |
| Kids bike 12-14 inch | EUR 25-70 |
| Kids bike 16 inch, Dutch brand | EUR 40-110 |
| Kids bike 20 inch with 3 gears | EUR 60-160 |
| Kids bike 24 inch with gears | EUR 80-200 |
| Woom 3 or 4, used | EUR 180-350 |
Rough Marktplaats asking prices in the Netherlands. Condition, age and season move them a lot.
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:
20 inch kids bike with hand brakes and 3 gears for a 7 year old, good condition, under 120 euro, within 10 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Most 5 year olds ride a 16 inch bike. A tall 5 year old around 115 cm can manage an 18 inch, a small one is better on a 14 inch.
Usually a 20 inch bike, which suits children from about 115 to 135 cm. A tall 8 year old may already fit a 24 inch.
Usually yes. Children outgrow bikes in two or three years, Dutch kids bikes are built to last, and a used 16 inch costs a third of a new one.
Not necessarily. Coaster brakes are common in the Netherlands and work fine, but many children who learned on a balance bike find hand brakes easier.