Antiques Belgium BV, acting under the name Flanders Auctions, hereinafter referred to as “the auction house”, hereby informs all participants in the auction that the auction is conducted under the general terms and conditions set out below. Anyone visiting the viewing days or participating in the auction fully accepts these conditions:
Article 1
The public auction takes place at Flanders Auctions, 8800 Roeselare, Oekensestraat 173, box A, by means of oral, written, telephone and/or online bidding, in accordance with customary Belgian conditions. Any disputes shall be governed by Belgian law.
Article 2
The auction is conducted under the supervision of bailiff Trui Verkinderen (Verdes), who ensures the proper conduct of the auction in accordance with applicable legal provisions. The bailiff is established in the judicial district of West Flanders, office located at 8200 Bruges, Torhoutse Steenweg 111/1.
Article 3
By placing a bid, each bidder undertakes to purchase the offered goods at the price bid. The bidder has no recourse if the sale is suspended for any reason whatsoever. The award is made to the highest bidder, per lot, against cash payment.
Article 4
A commission of 25% or more is charged on the hammer price (see Article 7, C in case of Online Live) for auction costs.
Article 5
Each bidder must identify themselves with name, address, telephone number, national ID card or passport at the time of the auction, during viewing days, or upon online registration. Traders and/or companies must provide their VAT number. An association or company acting as bidder must provide its statutes. Online participation is possible via www.flandersauctions.be or by email.
The auction house may refuse participation if this information is incomplete or not provided.
Article 6
Depending on the nature and estimated value of the goods, the auction house may require a deposit as a condition of participation. Any deposit paid will be deducted from the invoice amount. Any surplus will be refunded within 48 hours after the auction. The deposit serves as security in case of default (“rouwkoop”).
Article 7
An auction takes place by open bidding in the currency applicable at the auction house’s location. At Flanders Auctions this is the euro (€). A bid increment is the amount by which the current bid is increased. Typically, the next valid bid is approximately 10% higher than the current bid.
Example: if the current bid is €1,000.00, subsequent bids will be €1,100.00, €1,200.00, €1,300.00, etc. Deviations may occur at the discretion of the auctioneer; the same deviation will be offered to competing bidders.
Bid increments used by Flanders Auctions:
- €0 – €199: + €10
- €200 – €399: + €20
- €400 – €999: + €50
- €1,000 – €1,999: + €100
- €2,000 – €3,999: + €200
- €4,000 – €9,999: + €500
- €10,000 – €20,000: + €1,000
- €20,000 – €40,000: + €2,000
- €40,000 – €100,000: + €5,000
- €100,000 and above: + €10,000
Article 8
Absent bidders (Belgian or foreign) may bid:
By absentee bid:
- via the “purchase order” form during viewing days;
- by email to info@flandersauctions.be;
- via the auction house website.
By telephone:
- via the telephone bidding form during viewing days;
- by email to info@flandersauctions.be;
- via request on the website.
The auction house cannot be held responsible for poor telephone connection or inability to reach the bidder.
Online live bidding:
Additional commissions from third-party platforms are passed on to the buyer:
- Bidspirit (+1%)
- Interencheres (+1.5%)
- Drouot (+1.5%)
- Lot-tissimo, The Saleroom, LiveAuctioneers (+5%)
- Invaluable (dynamic pricing: hammer price < €200: €10 fixed fee; €200–€10,000: 5%; > €10,000: €500)
Total commission thus amounts to 26%, 26.5%, or 30% instead of 25%.
The auction house is not responsible for internet connection issues or resulting consequences.
Article 9
In case of identical bids for a lot, the earliest received bid prevails. A written bid always takes precedence over an identical bid in the room, by phone or online. In case of dispute, the bailiff present shall make the final decision.
Article 10
The total amount payable consists of:
- hammer price;
- auction costs commission;
- online partner commission;
- resale right (“droit de suite”) fees;
- bank charges and taxes;
- minus any advance payment.
Accepted payment methods:
- cash (up to €3,000.00, see Article 10);
- bank transfer;
- bank cheque guaranteed by a financial institution;
- debit cards;
- credit cards (VISA, Mastercard).
A 4% surcharge applies to credit card payments.
Article 11
Sales are cash sales. Payment must be made before or upon collection of goods. Payment term is 10 working days after the last auction day.
In accordance with Belgian anti-money laundering law (18 September 2017), amounts above €3,000 may only be paid via bank guaranteed cheque, debit/credit card, or bank transfer.
Article 12
Goods are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale. The buyer is deemed to have inspected the goods. All information and estimates are purely indicative and non-binding. The buyer has no recourse for errors, inaccuracies, or omissions.
Article 13
Damage caused by visitors to exhibited goods shall be charged to them. The minimum estimate set by Flanders Auctions applies as compensation basis, increased by auction commission and related charges.
Article 14
In case of disputes during the auction, only the bailiff has authority to decide, without appeal.
Article 15
The auction house reports resale transactions via www.resaleright.be and pays applicable resale rights. Applies up to 70 years after the artist’s death.
Resale right is calculated on hammer price above €2,000:
- 4% up to €50,000
- 3% €50,000.01–€200,000
- 1% €200,000.01–€350,000
- 0.5% €350,000.01–€500,000
- 0.25% above €500,000
Maximum €12,500.
Article 16
After allocation, goods are at the buyer’s risk. The auction house is not liable for theft, fire, accident, or damage after sale. Collection is possible from the day after the auction. No collection during the auction.
Article 17
Collection must take place within 30 calendar days. After 30 days, storage fees of €5 per day per lot (excl. 21% VAT) apply.
If not collected within 30 days, the auction house may resell the goods without notice.
Article 18
Each buyer acts on their own behalf and cannot invoke a principal in case of default.
Article 19
In case of non-payment, the sale is cancelled. Ownership remains with the seller until full payment. The buyer forfeits all rights to the goods. A fixed damages compensation of 25% of hammer price (incl. VAT) is due. This is immediately payable and independent of resale results.
The buyer is excluded from future auctions until payment and provision of a financial guarantee.
Article 20
The auction house does not provide shipping. All transport, packaging, customs, and insurance costs are borne by the buyer.
Article 21
By consigning goods, the seller acknowledges a definitive cooperation from the moment of catalog entry. Withdrawal results in a penalty of 25% of the high estimate (incl. VAT). Goods can only be collected after full payment of this compensation.
Article 22
Only the courts of West Flanders, Bruges division, have jurisdiction.
Article 23
The Dutch version is the only legally binding version.
Last revision date: 01/06/2026