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A used boxspring can be a good deal if you buy the sprung bases second hand and replace the topper, and ideally the mattresses too. The bases hold up for many years and cost the most new, while the parts you sleep on are where the hygiene problems sit. Test the springs, check for stains and pests, and plan for a van and two strong people.
A boxspring has three layers: the box (the sprung base on legs), a mattress on top, and a thin topper. On a 160 or 180 cm bed the base and mattress are usually two separate halves of 80 or 90 cm each, with one topper over both. A headboard is often a separate panel bolted to the bases or the wall.
Knowing this helps you buy smart. The bases are the expensive, durable part. The topper is the cheapest to replace and the part that touches you most. Many buyers keep the bases, maybe the mattresses, and always buy a new topper.
Ask how old the bed is and whether it was used with a mattress protector. Look at the mattresses and topper in daylight for stains, yellowing and body dips. A topper costs roughly EUR 100-300 new, so factor that in. Mattresses in a boxspring set are often pocket spring with a foam layer, and the same rule applies as for any used mattress: unknown age and history means risk.
Check for bedbugs along the piping, seams and the underside of the bases, where the fabric is stapled to the frame. Use a torch and look for dark spots, shed skins or small brown insects. If in doubt, walk away; bedbugs love boxsprings because of all the fabric.
Dutch boxsprings come in 140x200, 160x200 and 180x200, plus long versions of 210 and 220 cm, and height is often 60-70 cm including topper. Each base half can weigh 30-50 kg, electric ones more. They don't bend, so measure your stairs carefully: a 90x200 base needs to make the turn upright or on its side. The mattresses are flexible but heavy.
You need a van and two people. A courier for Marktplaats pickups or a moving service is a good option if you don't have help.
Auping, Swiss Sense, Beter Bed (and its house brands), Eastborn and Emma are common in Dutch listings. Auping holds its value best, and Auping bases are often sold separately from the rest of the bed. Price matters less than condition here: a cheap boxspring with a stained base is no bargain, while a well kept mid-range set from a non-smoking home is. Many sellers list a boxspring only by size, so filtering is slow. On vindje.com you can ask for an electric boxspring 180x200 with a headboard, no mattress and topper needed, and it reads which parts each listing includes.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Boxspring 140x200, basic | EUR 60-200 |
| Boxspring 160 or 180x200, Swiss Sense or similar | EUR 150-500 |
| Electric boxspring 180x200 | EUR 300-900 |
| Auping boxspring | EUR 300-1000 |
| New topper, to budget extra | EUR 100-300 |
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:
Electric boxspring 180x200 with headboard, Auping or Swiss Sense, bases in good condition, under 600 euro, within 25 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
The bases are usually fine if there are no stains or signs of bedbugs. Replace the topper, and consider new mattresses as well.
Each base half often weighs 30-50 kg, and electric versions more. You need two people and a van to move one.
Yes, many sellers sell the bases and headboard without mattresses and topper, which is often the smartest used buy.
The bases can last 15 years or more. Mattresses and toppers wear out sooner, often after 8-10 years for mattresses and less for toppers.
A boxspring has a sprung base under the mattress, a bed with a lattenbodem uses wooden slats. Boxsprings are higher and softer, slatted bases more adjustable.