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Used power tools from the big brands are good value, but the battery is half the price and the part most likely to be worn. Pick one battery platform and stick to it, test every tool under load, and be alert for stolen tools: very low prices on professional gear are a warning sign.
Cordless tools only take batteries from their own system. The common 18 V platforms are Makita LXT, DeWalt XR, Milwaukee M18, Bosch Professional (blue) and Bosch Home and Garden (green, a different 18 V system that does not share batteries with blue), Metabo CAS, Festool, Hikoki and Ryobi ONE+. Once you own a few batteries, buying the tool without battery (losse body, zonder accu) is much cheaper.
For DIY, Ryobi, Bosch green and Einhell Power X-Change are affordable with a huge tool range. For heavier use, Makita, DeWalt and Milwaukee are everywhere on Marktplaats, which keeps used prices reasonable.
Bring something to drill into or cut, like a bit of scrap wood. Run the tool at low and high speed. Listen for grinding or rattling gears, smell for burnt windings, and check the chuck holds a bit without wobble. On drills, test the clutch settings and the hammer mode. On saws, check the blade guard springs back and the base plate is not bent. On corded tools, look at the cable for cuts and taped repairs.
Tool theft from vans and building sites is common in the Netherlands, and stolen tools get resold online. Warning signs: a lot of professional tools at well below market price, multiple identical items from one seller, engraved names or company codes that have been ground off, no batteries or cases, a seller who wants to meet at a street corner rather than at home, and a seller who cannot tell you anything about the tool.
Ask for the receipt or at least where it was bought. The Dutch police have a Stop Heling service where you can check a serial number against reported stolen goods. In the Netherlands, buying goods you should reasonably have suspected were stolen is itself an offence (schuldheling), and a stolen tool can be taken back without a refund.
Festool holds its value well, and kits come in Systainer cases. Check that every accessory listed is in the Systainer and that the serial number plate is present. Track saws (Festool TS 55, Makita SP6000 and DSP600, Bosch GKT) need a straight rail without dents; sight along it. Domino joiners are among the most stolen items, so ask extra questions.
Corded tools are often the better used buy for jobs you do once a year. A corded Bosch or Makita hammer drill, angle grinder or jigsaw from ten years ago has no battery to wear out and usually costs less than EUR 50. For SDS-plus hammer drills, which you need for drilling into Dutch concrete walls, a corded model from Bosch, Makita or Hilti is a classic Marktplaats find. Check the brushes are not sparking heavily through the vents.
Listing titles mix bodies, kits and loose batteries. On vindje.com you can ask for a Makita 18 V impact driver body only, in good condition, within 15 km, and it will read the descriptions to drop listings with batteries you do not need or broken tools sold for parts.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Makita or DeWalt 18 V drill or impact driver, body only | EUR 40-90 |
| 18 V drill kit with 2 batteries and charger | EUR 100-220 |
| 18 V 5.0 Ah original battery | EUR 30-70 |
| Festool TS 55 track saw with rail | EUR 300-500 |
| Festool Domino DF 500 | EUR 550-850 |
| Bosch green or Ryobi drill kit | EUR 40-100 |
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:
Makita 18V impact driver body only, no battery needed, works well, under 70 euro, within 15 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Watch for very low prices, many identical tools, removed engravings and a seller who knows nothing about the tool. Ask for a receipt and check the serial number with the police's Stop Heling service.
Charge it fully, then use the tool under load. A worn battery loses power fast or cuts out. Skip any swollen battery.
No. Bosch Professional (blue) and Bosch Home and Garden (green) use different 18 V systems.
It means the tool is sold without battery and charger, which is cheaper if you already own batteries for that brand.