Every May, millions of Dutch employees receive their so-called Vakantiegeld This turns into a clearly measurable demand boost in e-commerce. Platforms like bol observe higher basket sizes, increased spending per order, and stronger demand for higher-priced products during this period. For brands and retailers, Vakantiegeld can therefore act as a recurring, predictable revenue driver.
Koningsdag is not a Dutch Black Friday, but a lesson in marketplace-driven occasion commerce. Demand builds in the preparation window before 27 April – driven by concrete use cases, time pressure and delivery promises rather than discount mechanics.
In 2025, TikTok Shop grew at a rapid pace. According to estimates, its GMV doubled year over year to reach $64 billion. After its home market China, the largest markets are the United States ($15 billion), Indonesia ($13 billion), and Thailand ($11.5 billion). In Europe, only the UK is currently significant, with a GMV of $2.4 billion.
The Netherlands is not a market for logistical experimentation. Anyone selling here must master Next Day Delivery, late cut-off times, and reliable delivery promises as basic requirements. Anything less costs visibility and trust.
Germany’s competition authority has prohibited Amazon from influencing how third-party sellers set prices on Amazon.de through internal platform controls. Amazon may no longer enforce price caps via algorithms, nor apply indirect price parity by penalising visibility.
Our first Second Hand Quadrant is here – and it clearly shows how rapidly the European second-hand market is professionalizing. Generalist marketplaces are expanding their offerings, C2C platforms are opening up to sellers, and specialized players are strengthening their positions in niche segments. The result is a hybrid ecosystem that offers significant opportunities for merchants.
January in the Netherlands and Belgium is not a quiet transition period but a clearly defined sale window that sellers can actively use for growth. On bol, strong demand impulses, lower competition, and stable logistics converge – an ideal mix to boost visibility, clear stock, or launch new assortments. Sellers who plan early, localise effectively, and align their campaigns with bol’s promotional calendar can turn January into a strategic advantage for expansion into NL and BE.
Amazon reports double-digit sales growth
In Q3 2025, Amazon posted net sales of $180.2 billion, up 13% year over year. Operating income was $17.4 billion (roughly flat YoY) and net income rose to $21.2 billion. Yet the marketplace giant faces mounting headwinds. Agentic & social commerce, U.S. customs policy effects, and seller fatigue could weigh on performance, argues Malte Karstan.
Zalando’s takeover of About You gets greenlight from EU
It’s official: The EU Commission has approved Zalando’s acquisition of About You, roughly six months after the initial announcement. The deal is valued at €1.2 billion. Together, the two fashion platforms now serve around 65 million customers across Europe. With the merger, Zalando aims to better respond to pressure from Shein and Temu – and prepare for a future shaped by AI-powered commerce.
As the Marketplace Country Quadrant Netherlands 2025 shows, the Dutch market is very broad and flat. The Local Heroes find themselves under attack from the international competition.
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