What do you do when your warehouse is overflowing with industrial goods you no longer use, but you know could still be valuable to others? For Willem van der Wal, owner of Koop van der Wal, the choice was simple: "Selling those lots one by one would take years. Auctioning is fast, safe and effective."

Koop van der Wal is a true family business with a history dating back to 1936. What began as a blacksmith's workshop gradually evolved over the decades into a specialist in agricultural machinery and tractors. In 1958, Koop, the father of Willem, joined the workshop at age 17. Years later, Willem followed in his footsteps. At nineteen, he joined the family business and literally grew up among the machines.

When the location in Munnekeburen, Friesland, became too small, the company moved in 2008 to Bant in Flevoland, just 17 kilometers away. Today, Koop van der Wal operates from a site of over 20,000 m², with a workshop, showroom and large storage area.

Selling hundreds of machines and goods one by one through a marketplace would take far too long. "That’s when we thought, why not offer everything at once through an auction?"

The Value of Clearing Out
After decades of trading, repairing and selling, Willem van der Wal recently began a major clean-up operation. "We wanted to bring clarity to our warehouse. There were parts and machines we hadn’t touched in years. Some items had been purchased long ago but were never registered in our system. That’s when you realize something needs to change."

After a thorough inventory, he identified 673 machines and goods, ranging from agricultural tractors to tools and surplus parts. Too valuable to throw away, yet too time-consuming to sell individually. "That would take years, and in the meantime, you're losing storage space and time. So we thought, why not auction everything all at once?"

Troostwijk Auctions as a Smart Partner
Van der Wal turned to Troostwijk Auctions, Europe’s largest online auction platform for used industrial goods. A decision he hasn’t regretted for a second. "The people who came here knew exactly what they were doing, from photography and writing descriptions to arranging delivery. That brings peace of mind. Troostwijk Auctions takes care of everything. You know your goods will be presented well and you don’t have to worry about a thing."

What convinced him most was Troostwijk Auctions’ international reach. "You’re not limited to your own network. Thanks to this platform, your goods are brought to the attention of buyers across Europe and even beyond." According to Van der Wal, that is the power of digital auctions. "You reach many more potential buyers, which increases your chances of getting a good price." He also finds it important that machines he no longer uses get put to work elsewhere. "That’s the beauty of this way of selling. You give equipment a second life."