When choosing where to buy from, it is always a trade-off between time and cost. Ordering electronic parts online (for instance from China) is almost every time cheaper, but also takes way longer to arrive and prevents you from quickly iterating on your prototype. Past experience has shown that buying locally is almost always preferable.


<aside> 💡 **Before buying something, ask yourself the questions:

  1. Can I borrow the part from the IDE Labs / friends?
  2. Can I replace the specific part by a similar, available one?
  3. When do I need it? Can I wait a few weeks or do I need it immediately?**

</aside>

Electronics

Kiwi Electronics

More expensive than Chinese stores, but also with a local shop in The Hague, so you can have your part already on the same day

AliExpress - Online Shopping for Popular Electronics, Fashion, Home & Garden, Toys & Sports, Automobiles and More.

One of the biggest Chinese suppliers for nearly everything, including electronic parts. Very cheap, but also slow. Fast shipping costs extra.

Banggood

One of the biggest Chinese suppliers for nearly everything, including electronic parts. Very cheap, but also slow. Fast shipping costs extra.

EU Warehouse - Find the coolest gadgets, latest electronics, fashion, RC heli and quads at Banggood, delivered lightning fast to Europe

Not as much choice as Banggood.com, but faster delivery since it is shipped from Europe

SparkFun Electronics

A lot of electronic parts, but more expensive

Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

A lot of electronic parts, more expensive but with local vendors in bigger cities of the Netherlands

bol.com | de winkel van ons allemaal

Mostly starter-kits for electronics and not as specific, but worth checking out if you need something quickly

Material

GAMMA bouwmarkten - doe het zelf bouwmarkt

Great place to look for materials surrounding prototyping, like wood, plastic, finishes, paint, cord etc.

HORNBACH - Dé Projectbouwmarkt met Onlineshop.

A bit cheaper than Gamma and a bigger variety in material. Great place to buy long cables and wires.

SoLow | Wij maken winkelen leuk!

Mostly a place for inspiration, tinker material and inspiring 'junk'

SCRAP

A great source for leftover materials from industry. You never know what you’ll find but they have a lot and it’s relatively cheap. Only a five minute walk from Rotterdam CS.