vindje.com / Guides / Sports & outdoor
The Netherlands has water everywhere, so kayaks and SUP boards are easy to find used. Inflatable boards are cheap and easy to store but need a pressure test, while hard kayaks last for decades if the hull is sound. Test for leaks before you pay, and know how you will get it home.
Most SUPs for sale are inflatable (iSUP). Budget sets from Decathlon (Itiwit), Aldi, Lidl and countless webshop brands are common; Red Paddle Co, Starboard, Fanatic and Aqua Marina are better built. Better boards use stiffer drop-stitch construction, hold higher pressure and feel less wobbly.
The weak points are the seams along the rails, the valve, and the fin box. A board that was stored wet or in a hot car boot can have delaminated rails or a sticky surface.
Polyethylene (plastic) kayaks from Prijon, Perception, Dagger, Wilderness Systems and Point 65 are tough and forgiving. Fibreglass and composite sea kayaks from Tahe, Valley, Nigel Dennis and others are lighter and faster, but cracks and gelcoat damage need attention.
Sit-on-top kayaks are popular for fun on canals and lakes and for fishing. Sit-in kayaks keep you drier and suit longer trips. Measure the cockpit if you are tall: legroom is the most common fit problem.
Turn the kayak upside down and look along the hull. Deep scratches on plastic are normal; dents that stay pushed in (oil-canning) from storage on straps or in the sun are a problem, as are cracks near the bow and stern. On composite boats, press around any star-shaped cracks in the gelcoat.
Open the hatches and look inside for water, mould and broken bulkheads. Test the rudder or skeg cable, the footrests' sliders and the seat back. A missing rudder or broken skeg can be fixed, but price it in.
An inflatable SUP fits in a backpack-sized bag, which is why many people in apartments choose one. A hard kayak of 3 to 5 metres needs roof bars and straps, or a trailer, and a place to store it out of the sun. Plastic kayaks warp if left in the sun for months or stored on a single point.
If you want a board that is easy to carry on a bike, describe that on vindje.com, for example an inflatable SUP of at least 10 foot with pump and paddle, so listings for paddles or fins alone drop out.
Budget sets come with a heavy aluminium paddle; a lighter carbon or fibreglass paddle makes a bigger difference to comfort than most upgrades to the board, and paddles sell well used. A buoyancy aid (zwemvest or drijfvest) should fit snugly and have intact buckles and foam. For a SUP, a leash is worth having on open water and rivers with current.
Prices peak in May to July. Late summer and autumn are better for buying, and a test on the water is easier in warm weather. Ask whether you can try the board or kayak in a nearby canal: many sellers will say yes.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Budget inflatable SUP set (Itiwit, Aldi, Aqua Marina entry) | EUR 80-200 |
| Red Paddle Co or Starboard inflatable SUP | EUR 350-700 |
| Inflatable kayak (Itiwit, Gumotex) | EUR 100-400 |
| Sit-on-top plastic kayak | EUR 150-400 |
| Plastic touring or sea kayak | EUR 400-1000 |
| Composite sea kayak | EUR 900-2000 |
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:
Inflatable SUP board of at least 10'6 with pump, paddle and bag, holds pressure, under 250 euro, within 25 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Yes, if it holds pressure overnight and the seams are intact. Budget boards lose stiffness over time, so a used premium board is often the better buy.
Inflate it to the recommended pressure, leave it for a few hours, and spray soapy water on the seams and valve to look for bubbles.
Recreational paddling on most waters needs no licence, but some waters have their own rules, so check locally where you plan to paddle.
Plastic is heavier but takes bumps against quay walls and rocks. Composite is lighter and faster but needs more care.