Best Auction Houses & Dealers in the Netherlands

The Dutch Auction Market

The Netherlands punches far above its size in the art and antiques world, a legacy of its Golden Age wealth and centuries of global trade. Dutch salerooms are a natural home for Old Master paintings, Delftware, silver, and — thanks to the Dutch East India Company's history — some of Europe's finest Asian art and Chinese export porcelain.

Venduehuis der Notarissen, founded in The Hague in 1811, is the oldest auction house in the country and holds more than 40 sales a year across fine art, silver, jewellery, and ceramics. In Amsterdam, AAG (Arts & Antiques Group) — successor to the historic Glerum house — covers Old Masters, modern and contemporary art, and Asian works. Zeeuws Veilinghuis in Middelburg has built an international reputation for Asian art, Chinese porcelain, and the works of M.C. Escher.

As an EU member, the Netherlands applies the margin scheme for VAT on most second-hand goods, so tax falls on the auction house's commission rather than the full hammer price. Buyer's premiums at Dutch houses typically range from 25-30%. Reputable houses guide sellers through any export-licence requirements for older or culturally significant works.