What can you do with an old bicycle?

An old bike often still has a chance for a second life: you can earn a bike, help someone with it or give it away for parts. Is it really unsalvageable? Don't just throw it in the garbage.

Depending on its condition, you can sell, give away or throw away your bike. A bike with light signs of use is fine to sell. 

There is a material shortage worldwide right now, which is why spare parts are also in demand. Expensive bikes in good condition are interesting for bike stores. Older bikes you can get rid of at used bike stores. Keep in mind that you will never get value for money from stores - unless they are unique models, you are better off selling them yourself online.

We BikeFair, recommend BikeFair ;-) put it up for sale on our bike marketplace. From light signs of use to loose parts, there is everything for sale.

Is the bike old and on the verge of being unusable? Don't put it in the trash, but take it to the thrift store - bikes here are often accepted in any condition, repaired and resold. This way you support a social cause and grant the bike a sustainable second life.

There are charities like our partner Give a bike, which accept, refurbish and donate bikes to those in need. You can donate your bike there or sponsor an entire bike for €25. This can be done for projects at home and abroad.

→ Donate a bike through Give a Bike

Free old-bike pickup in the Netherlands: who comes to get it?

No car, no time, or simply no room for an extra bike in the hallway? Then getting it picked up is usually the easiest route. In the Netherlands a handful of organisations will come and collect — often for free, sometimes for a small repair fee.

• Charities that pick up at home. Foundations like Give a Bike (BikeFair partner) and local "fiets-banken" (bike banks) often collect for free within their service area. Your bike goes to someone who actually needs it.
• Thrift shops (kringloop). Most kringloop chains will pick up your old bike for free if you're also donating other items. Phone ahead — not every location accepts loose bikes.
• Municipal recycling centres. The gemeente usually won't collect a bike as bulk waste from the kerb, but many municipalities run a bike take-back scheme at the milieustraat — register the bike and you can drop it off for free.
• Bike shops with trade-in. Some shops will take your old bike when you buy a second-hand or new one. Not always free, but always hassle-free.
• Private pickup services. Companies like Tonn or local junk-removal services will collect old bikes for a fee — handy if you need to clear out several at once.

💡 Tip: always ask whether the service can prove where the bike ends up. A bike that "just disappears" sometimes ends up in the illegal market — not what you want.

No. If it has usable parts on it, you can always give it away to the thrift store or local used bike store for parts. If the bike is really unsalvageable, take it to the landfill - scrap metal department.

You can sell your bike(s) yourself through our bike marketplace or places like Ebay and Facebook. Local used bike stores also take in bikes, although they prefer expensive models and your own margin is very small. 

Want to sell bikes yourself? Through BikeFair you can do so with any quantity, either as an individual seller or as a bike store. 

If you have large numbers of unusable bikes, you can consider selling them as scrap metal at scrap shops.

When it comes to new bikes, bike stores are one of the few options. Or you can put them up for sale yourself. Through BikeFair, you get (in addition to our 25,000 visitors per month) a direct link to sell through Facebook, Instagram, Google and Marktplaats. 

Second-hand, there are no agencies or stores in the Netherlands that accept large quantities. However, our own network of sellers is regularly looking for large quantities of bikes. Want to get in touch? 

→ Get in touch with us!

At charities - we gave earlier example Give a Bike - you can donate your bike. If the bike cannot be resold, bring it to a thrift store. If the bike is completely unusable, put it in the scrap metal at the local dump.

Old rusty wheels

Are you ready to get rid of your old bike? Then it's also time to start looking for a new one. Check out these high-quality used road bikes that many will envy!

Beyond the thrift shop and the gemeente you can also donate your old bike to a charity. That way you help two people at once: you get rid of it without hassle, and someone without transport gets mobility back.

• Give a Bike (BikeFair partner) — accepts bikes in any condition, repairs them, and passes them on to low-income recipients.
• Het Fietsdepot (Amsterdam region) — collects abandoned bikes for social workshops.
• Local refugee organisations often request bikes for newcomers. Check with your gemeente or with organisations like Vluchtelingenwerk.

🚲 Want to sell your old bike before giving it away? Read our guide on how to sell your bike — the difference can easily be €50–€150.

You can hand it in at the municipality or at bike stores. Does the battery still work? You can reuse it for other bikes or sell it for a small amount. If it no longer works, you can buy a new battery, the cost of which is often only 25% of a new pedelec.

In any case, don't just leave an electric bike outside, such as in a bike shed. Don't put it in the garbage either - both options are extremely bad for the environment. At worst, take the bike to the municipality.

On BikeFair, you can sell any bike, from new models to bikes with light signs of use (or loose parts). Check out the bike marketplace here or read one of our many other blogs about bikes, buying and selling:

Buying and selling used races: 9 tips

Sell your bike a detailed guide

The Ultimate Guide for Buying an E-Bike

Important Factors to Consider When Buying a Bike

FAQ

How do I get rid of an old bike for free in the Netherlands? Take it to a kringloop or the milieustraat, or have a charity like Give a Bike pick it up for free. Leaving it chained to a lamppost is not disposal — the municipality often confiscates such bikes and you may end up with a fine.

Are old bikes wanted in the Netherlands? Yes — charities, thrift shops, and bike banks are always looking for usable second-hand bikes. Even a bike that no longer rides is welcome: parts get reused.

What can I do with an old bike for charity? The easiest route is Give a Bike (BikeFair partner). They pick up, repair, and pass on to someone without transport. Other options: local refugee organisations or the kringloop.