A circular Christmas: swapping your not-ideal Christmas gifts 

Probably you’ve been in this situation before: you receive a gift during the holidays that you don’t really like or need. For example, you don’t think it’s pretty, it’s not the right size or you already know that you’ll never use it. No matter how good the intention of the giver is, sometimes a gift is unwanted. Most likely, it will end up in the back of a closet after Christmas, because throwing it away is a waste and certainly not sustainable. But this means that even more stuff is gathering dust in your house and that’s the last thing you want!

So are you tired of giving endless hints and still receiving a gift that wasn’t on your wish list? Then we have a more sustainable and circular solution for you! Swap the gift, for example at a swap shop or during a swap party, and still receive the gift of your dreams. Or donate your gift to a good cause or a charity shop. It’s the Christmas spirit that counts!

Celebrate a circular Christmas: swap your not-ideal gift for the gift of your dreams

Organize a swap party

With so many presents under the Christmas tree, there is a high chance that, after Christmas, you’re left with one or more presents that you are not so happy with. Let your creativity flow and swap your present with a family member or friend! Because who knows, someone else might be really happy with your present. And probably they received something that will make you much happier.

Organize a swap party with friends after the holidays and give not-ideal gifts a new life. It is a fun and original way to get together again in the new year and to look at unwanted items in a more sustainable, circular way. Do you enjoy it? Who knows, you might have more stuff lying around at home and you and your friends can organize a swap party every now and then, such as a clothing swap. Fun, circular and better for the world!

Visit a swap party near you

Don’t feel like organizing a swap party yourself? No worries, because there are also ​‘professional’ swap parties organized by shops or stylists! For example, clothing library Outfit Library Less regularly organizes clothing swap events in Arnhem where you can swap your clothes for other clothing items and accessories. And also personal stylist Renske Snaar, also known as REA_SN, organizes clothing swaps in Utrecht several times a year, where she also gives styling advice. This way you can prevent another bad bargain and you go home with something that really suits you!

Go to a swap shop

Did you receive clothes, shoes or accessories as a gift, but you are not happy with them or they are not the right size? If the giver can no longer exchange them in the store, you can try to sell the items via online resale platforms such as Vinted or take them to a second-hand store.

But did you know that you can also swap clothes, shoes or accessories in a swap shop? In Amsterdam and Rotterdam you’ll find the concept of The Swapshop, the place where you can hand in items that you no longer wear. In return, you will receive ​‘swaps’, with which you can buy a new favourite piece of clothing in store. This way you can swap your not-ideal Christmas present for the gift of your dreams!

Donate your not-ideal gift to charity

Keep the Christmas spirit alive, collect the gifts you are not happy with and donate them to charity. After all, there are probably people who need these things more than you, especially if the items end up in the closet. Donating items is possible at various organizations, such as charity shops and thrift stores, which can be found in every city. Find one near you and give your unwanted gifts a new life.

In Belgium you can go to various shops, such as the Kringwinkel. This is a social-hearted thrift shop that works with donations and offers people with a distance to the labor market a good workplace. They have stores throughout the whole country, such as in Aalst, Bruges and Antwerp. At every Kringwinkel there is a drop-off point where you can hand in your (pre-loved) items. Here you can read how this works. Or donate your items at one of the Oxfam stores and support Oxfam projects worldwide.

In the Netherlands there are also several thrift stores where you can go, such as De Lokatie with 3 locations in Amsterdam, Het Goed with 5 locations in Rotterdam and La Poubelle with 3 locations in and around Tilburg. For specific clothing donations you can also go to the ReShare stores, located in 15 different cities, such as The Hague, Nijmegen, Tilburg, Rotterdam, Groningen and Den Bosch.

In Germany there are also several initiatives to donate clothing or other items. For example, donate your unwanted gifts to the unique second-hand department store Nochmall in Berlin or Fairhaus Flingern in Düsseldorf.