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For most people in the Netherlands, a used heat pump dryer (warmtepompdroger) is the best buy: it uses roughly half the electricity of a condenser dryer, which pays back quickly at Dutch energy prices. Check that the heat pump does its job, that all filters are present and clean, and let it stand upright for a few hours after transport.
A vented dryer (afvoerdroger or luchtafvoerdroger) blows warm, wet air outside through a hose, so it needs a window or wall opening. It's simple, cheap and fast, but uses a lot of energy. A condenser dryer (condensdroger) collects the water in a tank or drains it and needs no hose, but also heats with a big element. A heat pump dryer recycles the heat, works at lower temperatures (kinder to clothes) and uses much less power, at the cost of longer drying times.
As a rough idea, a condenser dryer uses several kilowatt hours per full load and a heat pump dryer about half or less. If you dry a few loads a week, the difference adds up to a lot of money per year, which is why heat pump dryers hold their value.
Heat pump dryers have a sealed refrigerant circuit, like a fridge. If that circuit fails, the repair is usually not worth it. Ask the seller to run a program for 10-15 minutes before you arrive. The air inside the drum should be warm and the machine should hum steadily. If the drum is still cold after 15 minutes, the compressor may be dead.
Miele heat pump dryers (T1 range) have a reputation for lasting and many have a self-cleaning heat exchanger, so they need less filter care. Bosch, Siemens and AEG are common and reliable. Some cheaper brands have more problems with the heat pump circuit. Look up the model number to see its age and energy label.
A dryer that has been neglected (filters full of lint for years) runs longer and hotter, which wears it out. The condition of the filters tells you a lot about the owner.
Heat pump dryers and condenser dryers with a heat pump should be moved upright if you can. If it had to lie down, the common advice is to let it stand upright for several hours before switching it on, so the compressor oil settles. Empty the water tank before moving it. Dryers can stack on a washing machine with a stacking kit (tussenstuk) made for that combination, never by just placing them on top.
Avoid 'droogt niet meer goed' (doesn't dry well anymore), which on a heat pump model often means a refrigerant leak. 'Free, works but slow' on a heat pump dryer is also a warning sign. Condenser dryers that take two cycles to dry a load often have a blocked condenser, which you can clean, but check it's there and intact.
On vindje.com you can ask for a heat pump dryer under eight years old, with both filters, under 250 euro within 20 km, and the condenser and vented models get filtered out.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Vented dryer (afvoerdroger) | EUR 30-80 |
| Condenser dryer | EUR 60-150 |
| Bosch, Siemens or AEG heat pump dryer, 3-7 years old | EUR 150-300 |
| Miele heat pump dryer (T1) | EUR 300-550 |
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:
Heat pump dryer (warmtepompdroger) from Miele, Bosch or Siemens, under 8 years old, both filters included, under 300 euro, within 20 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Usually yes, because the energy saving over a condenser dryer is large at Dutch electricity prices. Just make sure the heat pump still produces heat.
It dries at a lower temperature, so a cycle takes longer. Clogged filters make it much slower, so clean both of them.
It's better to keep it upright. If it has been on its side, let it stand upright for several hours before switching it on.
Only with a stacking kit that fits both models. Without it, the dryer can vibrate off.