The 6 best second hand shops you should visit in Brussels
Passionate about fashion and vintage? Then this article is tailor-made for you. If you’ve decided to visit Brussels soon, here are some of the best second hand shops that you must see in the capital of Belgium.
Brussels overflows with flea markets, vintage shops and antique boutiques, making it one of Europe’s top places for second-hand shopping.
1. Foxhole all over Belgium
A vintage guru is Foxhole, whose business is doing well with its two shops in the heart of Brussels, one in Antwerp and an online shop. No need to rummage around here, as the most beautiful pieces have already been pre-selected for you. With its funky selection of clothes from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and a huge choice of accessories, Foxhole is a must for all lovers of second-hand clothes. The only drawback may be the high price, but the clothes are in very good condition and, in the end, it’s really worth it.
Place 2B: 6 rue des Renards, 1000 Bruxelles
2. Don’t Think Twice for such a small price
A little bit of digging can unearth wonders at Think Twice, a vintage shop with a wide selection of funky, well-selected women’s and men’s clothes. Style is the word at these two central Brussels locations, which regularly put out collections of their best finds at very reasonable prices. The best part of Think Twice is their sales days: at the end of every collection they put all the remaining merchandise on sale for as little as €1.
Place 2B: 57 Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains, 1000 Brussels
3. A Melting pot Kilo of inspiring clothes
Clothing by the kilo! Melting Pot Kilo is a hipster-perfect place on Rue Haute in the Marolles that has done away with clothing by the piece. Instead, you pay by the weight: €15 per kilo. They offer a great selection. If you’re looking for denim, this is the place to go. Here you’ll find bin after bin of lightly used jackets and jeans along with everything else, from seasonal shirts and scarves to leather jackets.
Place 2B: 154 Rue Haute, 1000 Brussels
4. Stef Antiek or the Ali baba cave
Speaking of chaotic, you have never seen true chaos until you’ve entered Stef Antiek. So if you are a fan of flea markets and yard sales, you simply must go have a look at this unusual shop or rather Ali Baba’s cave of nearly 1000 sqm. A set of walkways and floors clustered under avalanches of old and unexpected junk will leave you completely overwhelmed. It’s awfully expensive of course, but a totally worth-it picturesque ride. They even sell a vintage carousel, for crying out loud.
Place 2B: 6 Place de la Chapelle, 1000 Brussels
5. Les Petits Riens for you, but a big step for a charitable association
Les Petits Riens, a charitable association with several locations throughout Belgium, selling everything from clothes to books and house furniture to crockery. Their colossal stock of second-hand items and housing supplies sell for close to nothing and the profit is used to provide food and lodging for the homeless. Once a year there even is a Second Life Runway Show, where local fashion designers recycle some of the clothes sold at these shops. Their cavernous warehouse at the Rue Américaine will probably leave you busy for a couple of hours, with its three floors, bike section, unbelievable prices and constant stock renewal (every Thursday).
Place 2B: 101 Rue Américaine, 1050 Brussels
6. Isabelle Bajart or the museum of elegance
This isn’t your typical second-hand shop: walking into Isabelle Bajart can feel like walking into a museum, and its owners are more like curators of vintage women’s fashion. This elegant store in the city centre makes second-hand an art with its ever-evolving collections of retro designer wares. Every item is unique. It’s the place to go when you’re looking for something truly special and you’ve got the budget to pay for it. You can also consign old clothes there, though the owners are highly selective.
Place 2B: 25 Rue des Chartreux, 1000 Brussels
