How it works!

Via My VAN HAM you can submit a written bid with a maximum price, enrol for a telephone bid (with or without a maximum price that has been saved as a precaution) before the auction or bid yourself live on the day of the auction.

Read how this works in our guide for bidding via My VAN HAM.

Yes, you can submit a written bid via your client account on My VAN HAM up to 24 hours prior to the start of the auction. Please log in to My VAN HAM with your access data first. Go to the online catalogue of the auction for which you would like to submit a written bid. There you can place your bid for the desired lot in the general overview of the auction lot numbers or in the detailed overview of the individual lot number (click on the corresponding lot). Enter the maximum amount for which you are willing to purchase a lot - your maximum price (without premium). Before the bid is finally submitted a window with the overall costs will open. If everything corresponds to your wishes submit the written bid. The auctioneer will try to purchase the item for you at the best possible price. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid.

If you submit your written bid less than 24 hours prior to the start of the auction, it is considered an online live bid. In this case the bidding system will automatically process your maximum price in bidding steps. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid. This system-related procedure also applies to our ONLINE ONLY auctions.

An online guide is available for all questions regarding bidding via My VAN HAM before or during an auctions.

Yes, for our presence auctions you can bid by telephone on lots with an estimate exceeding 500 euros. This does not apply to ONLINE ONLY auctions. These exclusively run online.

Please log in to My VAN HAM with your access data first. Go to the online catalogue of the auction for which you would like to enrol for a telephone bid. There you can tick the box for a telephone bid in the general overview of the auction lot numbers or in the detailed overview of the individual lot number (click on the corresponding lot).

We will call you during the auction thus you can bid „live“ on a lot by telephone.

If you have concerns that you are easily reached by telephone on the day of the auction, you can place a maximum price with the telephone bid for your security. Enter the maximum amount for which you are willing to purchase a lot below the checkmark for telephone bids - your maximum price (without premium). If we cannot reach you by telephone on the day of the auction, the telephone operator will try to purchase the item for you at the best possible price. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid. If we reach you by telephone the maximum price you have entered will expire and you can bid on your behalf.

An online guide is available for all questions regarding bidding via My VAN HAM before or during an auctions. 

We broadcast our auctions live (i.e. in real time) via video on My VAN HAM. You can bid online live and save without being in the auction hall. You can participate in the auction from any computer, smartphone or tablet, no matter whether you are at home or on your way.

Important note for new customers: For the online service a client’s account registration on My VAN HAM as well as the registration for bidding for the respective auction is necessary, which must take place up to 24 hours prior to the auction.

Read how this works in our guide for bidding via My VAN HAM.

The regular buyer’s premium increases by 1% for the use of this online service.

You can also bid live online via the platforms Lot-tissimo, Invaluable, Artsy and Drouot. ONLINE ONLY auctions are only offered via My VAN HAM and are excluded from this.

No. For using My VAN HAM, the regular buyer’s premium doesn't increase.

Yes. You can follow our auctions live without registering or logging in to My VAN HAM beforehand.

To do this, go to the website of VAN HAM, go to „MY VAN HAM“ on the navigation bar and select „live“ (appears in a pop-up window). The live stream for the auction opens in a new window. In this case you have no option to bid.

You can enter a maximum price (without premium) for a lot in form of a written bid or a maximum price (without premium) with your telephone bid.

Submit a written bid with a maximum price

You can submit a written bid via your client account on My VAN HAM up to 24 hours prior to the start of the auction on which you enter the maximum amount for which you are willing to purchase a lot - your maximum price (without premium). The auctioneer will try to purchase the item for you at the best possible price. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid.

If you submit your written bid less than 24 hours prior to the start of the auction, it is considered an online live bid. The regular buyer’s premium increases by 1% for the use of this online service. In this case the bidding system will automatically process your maximum price in bidding steps. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid. This system-related procedure also applies to our ONLINE ONLY auctions, with the exception that there is no additional premium besides the regular premium.

Enable for a telephone bid with a maximum price

For our presence auctions you can bid by telephone on lots with an estimate exceeding 500 euros. We will call you during the auction thus you can bid „live“ on a lot by telephone. You can register for this service up to 24 hours prior to the start of the auction. This does not apply to ONLINE ONLY auctions. These exclusively run online.

If you have concerns that you are easily reached by telephone on the day of the auction, you can place a maximum price with the telephone bid for your security. If we cannot reach you by telephone on the day of the auction, the telephone operator will try to purchase the item for you at the best possible price. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid. If we reach you by telephone the maximum price you have entered will expire and you can bid on your behalf.

Yes. During the ongoing auction the auctioneer announces the starting price of a lot for which you can bid as a live online bidder or a telephone bidder. If the starting price is below the limit price (i.e. the minimum price) and is sold for that, it is only accepted conditionally.

You can submit written bids or telephone bids with a maximum price via My VAN HAM up to 24 hours prior to the start of the live auction starting from the limit price, which is usually below the lower estimate. 

As a live online bidder the bidding button is blocked if you are currently the highest bidder thus you cannot outbid yourself. If you have won the lot, it will be marked with »Bought: ... €« in the lot overview of the bidder panel.

In case you submitted a written bid you will receive an automatic email informing you whether you have won a bid or you have been outbid. 

For ONLINE ONLY auctions you will be informed immediately via email that you are no longer the highest bidder thus you have the opportunity to increase your written bid. In case you have won the lot you will receive an automatic email after the auction.

You can always check the status of your bids via your client account on My VAN HAM. Log in to My VAN HAM with your access data. Go to „MY VAN HAM“ on the navigation bar and select „My Bids“ (appears in a pop-up window). Choose „Absentee Bids (LIVE)“ that shows the history of all your bids. 

As a live online bidder the bidding button is blocked if you are currently the highest bidder thus you cannot outbid yourself. If you have been outbid you can continue bidding live online. Submit your binding bid using the „... € bid“-button (written in red). The current bid is displayed above the button. „Progression“ displays the bidding history of all bidders and shows whether your bid was accepted or whether it went to a room or another online bidder. If you have submitted a written bid with a maximum price online in advance, your bid will be displayed as „Your written bid: ... €“ below the current bid and the bid button as soon as your lot number is called up. This also shows you in case your written bid has been outbid.

In case you submitted a written bid you will receive an automatic email informing you whether you have won a bid or you have been outbid. 

For ONLINE ONLY auctions you will be informed immediately via email that you are no longer the highest bidder thus you have the opportunity to increase your written bid.

You can always check the status of your bids via your client account on My VAN HAM. Log in to My VAN HAM with your access data. Go to „MY VAN HAM“ on the navigation bar and select „My Bids“ (appears in a pop-up window). Choose „Absentee Bids (LIVE)“ that shows the history of all your bids. 

Live Online Bidder: If you have submitted a written bid with a maximum price online in advance, your bid will be displayed as „Your written bid: ... €“ below the current bid and the bid button as soon as your lot number is called up. In addition the bidding button is blocked if you are currently the highest bidder thus you cannot outbid yourself. If you have been outbid you can continue bidding live online. Submit your binding bid using the „... € bid“-button (written in red). „Progression“ displays the bidding history of all bidders and shows whether your bid was accepted or whether it went to a room or another online bidder. As soon as you click the bid-button your bid will initially be listed as „received“ together with your name (your name is only visible to you). Only when this is marked as „accepted“ your bid has been accepted and was not awarded to any hall- or other online bidder.

Written bids: Log in to My VAN HAM with your access data. Go to „MY VAN HAM“ on the navigation bar and select „My Bids“ (appears in a pop-up window). Choose „Absentee Bids (LIVE)“ that shows the history of all your bids. If you can’t find your bid, there may have been an error in the transmission. In this case submit the bid again, please. If your bid is highlighted in red you have either not yet been activated for the auction or your bid has yet not been confirmed by us. We usually do this within one working day. If your bid is highlighted in green it is confirmed.

As a live online bidder the bidding button is blocked if you are currently the highest bidder thus you cannot outbid yourself. If you have been outbid you can continue bidding live online. Submit your binding bid using the „... € bid“-button (written in red). „Progression“ displays the bidding history of all bidders and shows whether your bid was accepted or whether it went to a room or another online bidder.

You can increase your written bid up to 24 hours prior to the start of the live auction via your client account on My VAN HAM. Log in to My VAN HAM with your access data. Go to „MY VAN HAM“ on the navigation bar and select „My Bids“ (appears in a pop-up window). Choose „Absentee Bids (LIVE)“ that shows the history of all your bids. Select the desired lot and „Bid now“. You will be forwarded to the bidding mask and can increase your maximum price. If you submit your written bid less than 24 hours prior to the start of the auction, it is considered an online live bid. The regular buyer’s premium increases by 1% for the use of this online service. In this case the bidding system will automatically process your maximum price in bidding steps. Your maximum price (without premium) will only be used until the limit price of the lot number is reached or until the other bidders have been outbid. This system-related procedure also applies to our ONLINE ONLY auctions, with the exception that there is no additional premium besides the regular premium.

You can cancel your written or telephone bid up to 24 hours prior to the start of the auction via your client account on My VAN HAM. Log in to My VAN HAM with your access data. Go to „MY VAN HAM“ on the navigation bar and select „My Bids“ (appears in a pop-up window). Choose „Absentee Bids (LIVE)“ that shows the history of all your bids. Select the desired lot and „cancel the bid“. 

If you still have questions, please send us a short message to: online@van-ham.com

You cannot cancel or delete a subsequent bid (post bid).

Our experts are available to answer your questions about the properties at any time.  

If you have any other question about online bidding please contact us via: online@van-ham.com

Daria Pinkert

+49 221 925 862-106