Last weekend, it was time once again for the world’s largest record fair, held twice a year in Den Bosch. Collectors and sellers from all over the globe gather here, making it a massive event that I eagerly anticipate each April and November. This year, for the first time, I attended on both days instead of just one. There’s simply too much to see in a single day, and even on Sunday, I managed to find some real gems. This time around, I scored several records that had been on my wishlist for ages. In this blog, I’ll highlight a few of my newest acquisitions.
Crate digging gives me such a thrill, and attending the world’s biggest fair is a dream come true—especially since I only have to drive an hour from my home in the Netherlands to get there. The fair is so vast that there’s something for everyone: “black music,” metal, rock, and pop ect. I spend most of my time in the black music section, but I always check out other genres because you never know what you’ll find.
Day 1: Hectic Start, Great Finds, and a Wishlist Win
The first day started off a bit hectic as I had a lot of appointments lined up to meet people at the fair. But first, I quickly made my rounds at my go-to stands. My first purchase was Whole Darn Family Has Arrived. I also stopped by Mr. Bongo’s stand, where I always find great reissues at affordable prices—this label is amazing! After that, it was time for coffee and conversations with other music lovers and sellers. Then, I got back to crate digging. It was fantastic to see Croco Discos at the fair this year. These guys are a must-follow on Instagram; their collection includes all the top titles. Even Ivy, my dog, was thrilled to be there. Many people enjoy seeing him at the fair, and of course, we took a few breaks for him. One highlight was finding an Aaron Neville record, a great score! And as a final coup on Day 1, I snagged Black Nasty – Talking To The People. This album had been on my wishlist for so long that I was about to buy a reissue—until I found an original copy from a UK seller.
Final Day Finds: Scoring Big at the Record Fair
The second day was much quieter, giving me the chance to explore the other hall for once. There’s a big stall from Antwerp with unsorted records, which takes time to sift through, but I always find gems there. This time, I picked up Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign, The 5 Stairsteps – Stairsteps, and Riding High by Faze-O. On Sundays, many stalls also offer discounts, and I found two albums at 50% off that I couldn’t resist. As the fair was winding down, I decided to return to the black music section, where Alexander from Austria—a regular seller I often buy from—was set up. He had brought Inner Thoughts Of The H. Andrews Congregation with him, which had been on my list for a while. Initially, I was hesitant, but when he offered me a good price, I went for it. I’m glad I did; I would’ve regretted missing out. Right as my wallet was nearly empty, I stumbled upon a Leon Ware album. Being a huge fan, I’d been looking for it for ages but had never seen it at a fair. I was actually €5 short, but the seller saw my struggle and gave me a €10 discount so I could take it home.
From Record Fair to Turntable: The Clean-Up and First Spins
Back home, the excitement of the weekend wasn’t over yet—it was time to give my new vinyl treasures the care they deserve. Cleaning records is an essential ritual for any collector, and my trusty HumminGuru machine made the process quick and satisfying. Watching the dust and dirt vanish was like polishing memories of the fair, preparing each album for its turn on my turntable.
Once cleaned, I could finally sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of two days of crate digging. Each record I played brought back vivid memories of the stands, the sellers, and the thrill of the hunt. Even with a tighter budget this year, I’m amazed at the gems I was able to find—some of which had been on my wishlist for years.
This edition of the fair was truly unforgettable, a perfect blend of new connections, favorite finds, and great music. With April just around the corner, I’m already looking forward to diving back into the world’s largest record fair. Maybe I’ll see you there!
My Vinyl Haul: Top 10 Picks and Full List of Finds
- Talking To The People – Black Nasty
- The Whole Darn Family – Has Arrived
- Lowrell – Lowrell
- Leon Ware – Leon Ware
- Inner Thoughts Of The H. Andrews Congregation – H. Andrews Congregation
- Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign – Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign
- The Pharaohs – Awakening
- Con Funk Shun – Con Funk Shun
- Aaron Neville – Like It ‘Tis
- Edna Wright – Oops! Here I Go Again
Additional Purchases
- The 5 Stairsteps – Stairsteps
- Junior Parker – Love Ain’t Nothin’ But A Business Goin’ On
- Sugarhill Gang – Sugarhill Gang
- Harold Alexander – Sunshine Man
- Oscar Brown, Jr. – Movin’ On
- The Fabulous Counts – Jan Jan
- Don Covay And The Jefferson Lemon Band – Hot Blood
- Ray Charles – What’d I Say
- Donald Byrd – Royal Flush
- Young-Holt Unlimited – Soulful Strut
- Sister Sledge – We Are Family
- Eddie Russ – Take A Look At Yourself
- Hi Rhythm – On The Loose
- Tommie Young – Do You Still Feel The Same Way
- Eddie Harris – Is It In
- James Carr – A Man Needs A Woman
- Bill Withers – Still Bill
- Heatwave – Central Heating
- Norman Connors – Romantic Journey
- Rotary Connection – Songs
- Lô Borges – Lô Borges
