More construction and earthmoving equipment came up for auction via Troostwijk Auctions in the first half of 2026: auctions rose by 16.2% in the Netherlands and by 23.5% in Belgium. The market backdrop differs in each country, but the driver is the same. According to the Troostwijk Auctions Construction & Earthmoving Index, the growth came almost entirely from voluntary sales, not from bankruptcies.
Netherlands: full order books, yet more equipment for sale
Dutch civil engineering companies are busy, with an average of 10.3 months of work in hand in April, according to the Economic Institute for Construction (EIB). At the same time, rising material prices and 28,600 open vacancies make using machines and storage space efficiently more important than ever.
Even so, auctions of construction and earthmoving equipment rose from 517 to 601 (+16.2%), while lots sold grew from 3,337 to 3,421 (+2.5%). Equipment came to market through more separate sales, each with fewer lots on average.
“A full order book doesn’t mean every machine is needed at every moment,” says Ward van den Boorn, Country Director Netherlands at Troostwijk Auctions. “A well-functioning market for used equipment helps machines find their way more quickly to where they can be put to productive use.”
Belgium: a cautious recovery and strong auction growth
The Belgian construction sector is showing its first signs of recovery. The Flemish Construction Barometer from Bouwunie rose back above the neutral 100 mark in the second quarter, and Statbel reported sector turnover 4.7% higher in the first quarter. Uncertainty remains high, though: 35% of construction SMEs expect too little room for new investments.
Auction activity grew strongly. Auctions rose from 81 to 100 (+23.5%), and lots sold grew even faster, from 341 to 453 (+32.8%).
“Not every machine is needed within the same company at every moment,” says Nicolas Germanes, Country Manager Belgium at Troostwijk Auctions. “Sellers can release value from equipment they no longer need, while buyers get access to machines they can put to work straight away.”
The common thread: voluntary sales drive the growth
In both countries, the growth did not come from bankruptcies. Dutch voluntary sale auctions rose by 24.2%, while bankruptcy auctions fell from 75 to 52. In Belgium, 18 of the 19 additional auctions were voluntary sales. These range from active companies selling machines they no longer use, to dealers reselling equipment, to business owners who retire.
“Sometimes it’s equipment that no longer fits future projects, sometimes a machine that has been standing unused in a shed for a long time,” says Floris Bakels, Account Manager Construction & Infrastructure at Troostwijk Auctions. “In all these cases, it can be put to productive use elsewhere.”
About the Troostwijk Auctions Construction & Earthmoving Index
The index compares auctions of construction and earthmoving equipment via Troostwijk Auctions in the first half of 2026 with the same period in 2025, counting only lots sold for at least €1,000. It covers Troostwijk Auctions activity only, not the full market.
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