Veilbalie

Veilbalie runs open online auctions in Belgium, and its calendar shows how varied the supply is: when we checked, a fashion stock sale sat alongside a bankruptcy clearance of building materials, an antiques and brocante sale of 253 lots, a liquidation of storage systems, and an upcoming sale of vehicles and material for a Flemish roads and traffic authority. Each auction states its lot count and its closing time.

What you can buy

• Bankruptcy stock (faling): the contents of failed Belgian businesses — building materials, equipment, inventory.
• Fashion and retail stock: clothing and footwear sold in bulk lots.
• Antiques and brocante: decoration and furniture, in sales that can run to hundreds of lots.
• Liquidations: racking, cabinets and storage systems from closing sites.
• Public sector: vehicles and material disposed of by regional authorities.

How the bidding works

Auctions run as open sales with a stated end date and a live countdown, and each is labelled with the number of lots so you can see its size before opening it. Register to bid. Sales close in the evening, which is the Belgian and Dutch convention.

What to check before you bid

Belgian auction costs stack: a buyer's premium plus 21% VAT on both the hammer price and that premium unless a sale says otherwise. Stock lots — fashion in particular — are sold by description in bulk, so the quantity is stated and the condition is your risk. Public-sector vehicles come with better documentation but are sold as they stand and may need re-registration after a working life on authority plates.