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Vintage rattan is back in demand, and the Netherlands has plenty of it, including pieces by the Noordwolde factories. Good rattan lasts decades if it has been kept indoors. Check for brittle, snapping strands, loose joints and woodworm, and know that painted rattan often hides repairs.
Rattan (rotan) is a climbing palm with solid, strong stems used for frames. Wicker describes the weaving, which can be done with rattan core (pitriet), willow (wilgentenen), reed (riet) or seagrass. Dutch sellers mix these words, so search rotan, pitriet and riet.
Peacock chairs with a tall fan back are pauwenstoel. Bamboo pieces (bamboe) look similar but are hollow and lighter. Modern garden sets are often poly rattan, a plastic weave, which is a different product altogether.
Noordwolde in Friesland was the centre of Dutch rattan and wicker furniture. Rohé Noordwolde made well known mid-century designs, many by Dirk van Sliedregt, and Gebroeders Jonker also worked there. Their chairs, lounge chairs and side tables are wanted by collectors and decorators.
Labels are often missing, so compare shapes and construction with documented pieces. Many listings say Rohé for anything with a bent rattan frame; ask what the claim is based on.
Rattan problems are easy to see if you take a few minutes.
Vacuum with a brush nozzle to get dust out of the weave, then wipe with a cloth and mild soapy water. Do not soak it. Dry it quickly in a warm, airy place but out of strong sun. Rattan that feels dry and stiff can be misted lightly with water and left to dry; it becomes a little more flexible.
Keep vintage rattan indoors. Rain, frost and sun break it down quickly, and most old pieces were never meant for outdoor use. If you have woodworm, treat it before the piece goes near other wooden furniture.
Small breaks in the weave can be repaired by a specialist rattan or chair weaver, and replacing a woven seat is common. Broken frame parts are harder. Price a chair with a cracked frame member as a project.
If you are after a specific shape, such as a low lounge chair with a bent rattan frame and woven seat from the 1960s, vindje.com can search on that description and include listings titled only oude stoel.
Rattan is light, so most chairs fit in a small car or even on a cargo bike, which widens the area you can buy from. Prices tend to climb in spring when people think about balconies and conservatories, and more people clear out sheds in autumn, so autumn and winter are often a better time to buy.
Skip pieces that have stood outside for years: grey, splintering strands and a soft frame mean the material is finished. Also be careful with cheap import chairs from the 2000s sold as vintage. They are often stapled rather than bound at the joints and break quickly. A flimsy feel when you lift it is the giveaway.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Pitriet basket chair or small side table | EUR 15-80 |
| Rattan armchair, unbranded, good condition | EUR 40-150 |
| Peacock chair (pauwenstoel) | EUR 100-350 |
| Rohé Noordwolde lounge chair | EUR 150-500 |
| Rattan sofa or two-seater | EUR 100-400 |
| Poly rattan garden set, used | EUR 50-300 |
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:
Vintage rattan lounge chair from the 1960s, Rohé Noordwolde or similar, no broken strands or woodworm, under 250 euro, within 50 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Rattan is a material, a palm stem. Wicker is a weaving technique that can use rattan, willow, reed or other fibres.
Not long term. Natural rattan weakens with rain, frost and sun, so keep it indoors or in a covered spot and bring it in for winter.
Look for a label and compare the design with documented Rohé pieces, many designed by Dirk van Sliedregt. Without a label, treat the attribution as uncertain.
Breaks in the woven parts and seats can usually be repaired by a specialist. A broken main frame is a bigger job.