vindje.com / Guides / Home appliances
A used dishwasher is cheap and usually reliable, but only if it fits your kitchen and has no hidden leak. Measure the width and niche height first, then check the spray arms, filter, racks and the bottom tray, where a leak shows up first.
Freestanding dishwashers (vrijstaand) have their own top and front and stand anywhere near a tap and drain. Built-in ones come in two kinds: fully integrated (volledig geïntegreerd), where your kitchen door covers the whole front and the controls are on the top edge, and semi-integrated (half geïntegreerd), with a visible control panel. An undercounter freestanding model can also go under a counter if you remove its top.
Standard width is 60 cm; narrow models are 45 cm. Niche height for built-in is usually 82-87 cm, with some 'XXL' models needing about 86-92 cm. Measure your space and check the door hinge type if your cabinet door is heavy.
Bosch and Siemens (made by the same company) dominate the Dutch market, so there are plenty of used ones and spare parts are easy to find. Miele lasts longer and has excellent racks; it costs more used. AEG, Beko and others are fine. The model and serial number are on a sticker on the side of the door. For Bosch and Siemens, the FD number on that sticker encodes the production date.
Dishwashers often run 10 years or more. One that's five years old and well kept has plenty of life left.
Open the door and pull out both racks. Most problems are visible.
Many dishwashers have a leak sensor in the base. When water collects there, the machine stops and pumps continuously, showing an error. On Bosch and Siemens, E15 is the well-known code for this. Sometimes it's a loose hose, sometimes a cracked part. Ask whether it ever happened.
The inlet hose with the thick box near the tap is an AquaStop: it shuts the water off if the hose bursts. Check it isn't cut or kinked, because the whole hose has to be replaced if it's damaged.
Even a good used dishwasher has old grease in it. Take out the filter and wash it with hot water and a brush, clear any food from the spray arm holes with a toothpick, and wipe the door seal and the bottom edge of the door, where dirt collects. Then run an empty hot program with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of vinegar on the top rack. Fill the salt container if your water is hard, because a machine that ran without salt for months may leave white film on glasses at first.
Drain the dishwasher before moving it by running a quick drain cycle or tipping it slightly over a towel. Tape the door shut and take out the cutlery basket. Installing a fully integrated dishwasher means mounting your kitchen door on it, which takes some patience. If your previous one was a different brand, the door may need new holes.
If you need a specific fit, like a fully integrated 60 cm Bosch dishwasher for a 82 cm niche under 200 euro, you can describe that on vindje.com and leave out the freestanding ones.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Basic dishwasher, 8+ years old | EUR 30-80 |
| 45 cm narrow dishwasher | EUR 80-180 |
| Bosch or Siemens freestanding, 3-6 years old | EUR 120-250 |
| Fully integrated built-in dishwasher | EUR 100-250 |
| Miele dishwasher | EUR 200-400 |
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:
Fully integrated Bosch or Siemens dishwasher, 60 cm, fits 82 cm niche, under 6 years old, under 200 euro, within 15 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Ten years or more is common for well-kept machines. Check the production year on the door sticker.
It means water was detected in the base tray, often from a leak. It can be minor or serious, so be careful with a used machine showing it.
Many can, after removing the top panel, but check the model's height without the top and your niche height.
Fully integrated models are hidden behind a kitchen door with controls on top; semi-integrated show a control panel above the door.