It doesn’t take much space to make life easier. A grey folding stool, light enough to carry in one hand yet strong enough to stand on, has become one of the quiet bestsellers on Amazon Netherlands. The Avalon multifunctional folding stool may look ordinary, but its design tells a story of practicality and balance — something that feels increasingly rare in modern homes.
Made from PVC, this small stool measures about 27 by 33 by 26.5 centimetres and folds flat in a second. It costs roughly eleven euros and holds a steady 4.6-star rating from more than sixty reviews. Parents buy it for kindergartens, teachers use it in classrooms, and many households keep one tucked behind the kitchen door. The grey tone blends easily with any space, disappearing until needed — the kind of product that proves usefulness doesn’t need to shout.
Dutch retailers use the word opvouwkruk for this category, literally meaning “folding stool.” Other variants like inklapbare kruk and opvouwbare opstapkruk describe similar ideas: objects made to fold, open and support. The language around it mirrors its design — compact, functional, unpretentious.
Seen up close, the Avalon stool’s surface has a dotted texture that keeps shoes or small hands from slipping. Its rounded edges soften the plastic’s look, and a simple hinge mechanism lets it collapse into a nearly flat sheet. There’s something honest about that simplicity: no gimmicks, no unnecessary bulk, just a focus on doing one thing well.
In an age of oversized solutions, this stool feels refreshingly minimal. It doesn’t try to be smart or connected; it’s simply efficient. It helps a child reach the sink, an adult change a lightbulb, or a teacher set up a classroom display. Then it folds and waits quietly for the next task.
For anyone browsing the Dutch market, typing opvouwkruk will bring up similar models, from colourful versions for kids to taller metal frames for heavier use. The Avalon sits in the middle — affordable, durable, and grounded in the idea that the simplest tools often make the biggest difference.
Sources
- Avalon Multifunctional Folding Step Stool – Amazon Netherlands
- Action Netherlands – Folding Telescopic Stool
- Magic Foldable Stool – Easy Storage and Daily Use (YouTube)
It folds. It supports. It lasts.
A quiet little triumph of everyday engineering.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 