The story of Troostwijk Auctions
The story of Troostwijk Auctions
Troostwijk Auctions has been around since 1930. Back then, it started as a small auction house in the Netherlands. We have since grown into Europe's largest online B2B auction organization. It has been a journey full of challenges, smart ideas, and exciting milestones.
The early years (1930–1936)
On October 17, 1930, Salomon Izaak Troostwijk registered his company as a broker and auctioneer. Five years later, in 1935, the first auction took place in the Veemarkthallen in Den Bosch. The plan was to sell 35 cars, but in the end only one was sold.
That proved to be a good learning moment. In October of the same year, things went better: 2,000 lots were sold in three days. Shortly afterwards, even a training aircraft was auctioned for more than 170 guilders. From 1936, when Anton Schlösser joined the company, industrial auctions were also added.
After the war and growth (1945–1980)
In 1945, the first post-war auction took place: a gas tank station in Helmond. Ten years later, Troostwijk celebrated its 25th anniversary.
In the 1970s, the company also began organizing auctions in Germany and Belgium. On October 17, 1980, Troostwijk celebrated its 50th anniversary, with 16 employees by then.
From venues to online (1990–2007)
Until the 2000s, auctions were mainly held in rented halls. Around 2007, everything changed: the first online auction became a reality. This marked the beginning of a period of rapid digital growth.
An international platform (2018–2025)
In 2018, Troostwijk merged with BVA to form TBAuctions: a modern digital auction platform. This was followed by major acquisitions, such as Vavato (2021), Epic (2023), and Surplex (2024). This enabled Troostwijk to grow into the market leader in Europe.
Today and the future
In 2025, Troostwijk Auctions is Europe's leading B2B auction house, selling hundreds of thousands of lots each year. On 17 October 2025, we will proudly celebrate our 95th anniversary. 🎉
