Shipping to the Netherlands: the complete guide

The Netherlands is one of Europe's most mature and successful e-commerce markets, which makes it a natural place for online retailers to expand. Dutch shoppers are comfortable buying online and increasingly open to ordering from abroad, so getting your shipping right opens up real opportunity.

This guide covers what you need to ship to the Netherlands with confidence: which carriers to use, what it costs, how long delivery takes, and the address, customs, and insurance details to get right before your first parcel goes out.

Why it's worth shipping to the Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the strongest e-commerce markets in the EU, and order volumes have grown steadily for years. Dutch consumers shop online at some of the highest rates in Europe, and a large share say they're happy to order from retailers based abroad. The earlier you enter the market, the better placed you are to benefit.

Because the Netherlands is in the EU, cross-border shipping is straightforward. Open trade borders mean no complicated bureaucracy: you don't have to fill out export documents, which saves you time and money and lets you focus on your store and fulfillment.

Shipping within the EU: what to keep in mind

• A customs declaration (CN22/CN23) or a commercial invoice, which are mandatory for shipping outside the EU, are not needed for shipments within the EU.

• Shipping within the EU requires far fewer shipping documents and is generally free of major restrictions.

• Always check whether the destination is (still) part of the EU, and keep an eye on the recipient's address, taking country-specific conventions into account.

The Caribbean Netherlands: an important exception

Several Caribbean islands belong to the Netherlands but sit outside the EU customs area, so they're treated like a non-EU destination. If you ship to one of them, the customs documents normally required for international shipping apply, and further restrictions can come into play.

These territories include:

• Aruba

• Bonaire

• Curaçao

• Saba

• Sint Eustatius

• Sint Maarten

How to address a parcel to the Netherlands

Addressing can be a challenge when shipping abroad, but for the Netherlands it's refreshingly simple: the format closely matches what most European senders are used to.

A typical address for the Netherlands looks like this:

Mr. J. de Claas
Sallandstraat 2
1079 Amsterdam
NETHERLANDS

If you ship to the Caribbean Netherlands, the structure is similar, but you name the island as the destination instead of the Netherlands.

How long does delivery to the Netherlands take?

It depends on whether you choose a standard or a premium service. With standard shipping, a parcel usually reaches the Netherlands in about two to three business days. With a premium service it can arrive in under two business days, depending on the carrier.

Shipments to the Caribbean Netherlands naturally take considerably longer, typically 10 to 13 days by standard service, or roughly 6 to 9 days by a premium option, with some remote islands taking longer still.

Watch out for public holidays

Deliveries can slow down around Dutch public holidays, so plan ahead and communicate any delays to your customers in good time. Dutch public holidays include New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, King's Day (April 27), Liberation Day (May 5), Ascension Day, Whit Sunday and Monday, Christmas Day (December 25), and Boxing Day (December 26). The movable holidays around Easter and Pentecost shift each year, so check the calendar before peak periods.

How much does shipping to the Netherlands cost?

Shipping costs to the Netherlands vary with the size and weight of the parcel, and with whether you're shipping to the mainland or to the Caribbean islands. You'll also want to decide between standard delivery and a premium service such as DHL Express or UPS Express.

Given the high expectations of Dutch shoppers, express shipping is well worth considering: Dutch customers will abandon a purchase if the stated delivery time is too long, so it pays not to take the risk. Other factors that can affect your cost include:

• Choosing carbon-neutral shipping

• Personalized shipping packaging

• Adding tracking

• Shipping insurance

• Surcharges for special goods or shipping days

What to keep in mind for customs

Because the Netherlands is an EU country, there are far fewer customs restrictions than for non-EU destinations. Even so, some goods are restricted or prohibited when trading within the EU:

• Medicines and controlled substances: some may be prohibited

• Chemicals: numerous prohibitions; some allowed for trade under conditions

• Dual-use goods (civilian and military): permits required

• Cultural goods: various regulations apply

• Counterfeit brands and products: strictly prohibited

• Plants and plant products: subject to strict rules

• Media harmful to minors or unconstitutional content: heavily restricted or prohibited

• Weapons and explosives: strictly limited

Remember that shipping to the Caribbean Netherlands is treated like shipping to a non-EU country, so additional restrictions apply.

The main carriers for shipping to the Netherlands

PostNL is the dominant national carrier in the Netherlands, and the major European carriers all deliver there too. With Sendcloud you can combine these carriers flexibly and switch between them per shipment.

DHL

Many retailers already ship to the Netherlands with DHL, and DHL Express makes fast delivery easy. General parcel limits: minimum 15 x 11 x 1 cm, maximum 120 x 60 x 60 cm, girth (L + 2×W + 2×H) up to 300 cm, and weight up to 30 kg (up to 31.5 kg with DHL Express).

UPS

UPS offers both standard and express delivery to the Netherlands and handles larger, heavier goods well: length up to 274 cm, girth up to 400 cm, and weight up to 70 kg. Services range from UPS Standard and UPS Express to UPS Express Saver and UPS Worldwide Express Freight for B2B shipments.

DPD

DPD is popular in the Netherlands and offers standard (DPD Classic) and express options. Parcel sizes range from XS (up to 35 cm) to XL (up to 300 cm girth), each up to 31.5 kg.

GLS

GLS gives you access to one of the densest shipping networks in Europe, with standard (EuroBusinessParcel) and express (EuroExpressParcel) options. Maximum dimensions are 200 x 80 x 60 cm with a girth up to 300 cm; weight up to 40 kg by standard, or up to 50 kg by express, which is ideal for heavier goods.

Are my parcels insured when shipping to the Netherlands?

However careful the carriers are, parcels can occasionally arrive damaged or go missing. As a retailer that's a financial risk, since you're generally liable for the damage, and Dutch shoppers largely expect you or the carrier to take responsibility. Most carriers include standard coverage:

• DHL: up to €500

• UPS: up to €510

• DPD: up to €520

• GLS: up to €750

But what if the value of your goods exceeds the standard coverage? Then you'd have to cover the shortfall yourself. Our tip: take out additional shipping insurance through Sendcloud, so you can insure shipments affordably up to a value of €5,000 and stay protected against the worst case.

Packaging tips for shipping to the Netherlands

To make sure your parcel reaches the Netherlands safely, pay attention to a few details when packing your goods:

• For most carriers, the maximum dimensions for international parcels are 120 x 60 x 60 cm

• Girth usually may not exceed 300 cm

• Use packaging sturdy enough for the job; used boxes are only conditionally suitable

• Always seal your parcel with proper tape

• Cushion the contents well, and use lightweight materials like bubble wrap to save weight

How Sendcloud helps you ship to the Netherlands

E-commerce in the Netherlands is attractive and lucrative, but without the right e-commerce solution, success can quickly turn into frustration. The Sendcloud shipping platform is your ideal partner for flexible, hassle-free shipping to the Netherlands, with benefits like:

• Flexible use and combination of the most popular carriers and their shipping methods through a single platform

• Shipping that runs almost by itself thanks to smart shipping rules

• Stronger customer loyalty through a personalized tracking experience

• Fast, customer-friendly returns handling without the hassle

• Learning from customers to reduce international returns with the Sendcloud analytics tools

• Faster shipping thanks to printing shipping labels with a single click

Ready to start shipping to the Netherlands? FInd out how Sendcloud can support you with international shipping!