Shipping from the UK to the Netherlands: a guide for UK small businesses

Rotterdam is Europe's busiest port, Dutch consumers are among the most active online shoppers in the EU, and English is widely spoken — three reasons the Netherlands is a natural market for UK businesses.

But post-Brexit, shipping to the Netherlands involves the same customs complexity as any other EU country. Here's how the charges break down for a Dutch customer.

Netherlands VAT rate

The Netherlands' standard VAT rate is 21%. Applied to the CIF value of your shipment, this is the biggest charge most Dutch customers face on UK parcels.

For a £175 product with £12 shipping and 0% duty, your Dutch customer faces a VAT bill of around £39 on delivery.

Import duty

Under the UK-EU TCA, many UK-made goods attract 0% duty when exported to the Netherlands — but only if you claim the preference by including a statement on origin on your commercial invoice. Standard consumer goods, handmade products, most clothing and homeware frequently qualify. Check your commodity code if you're in any doubt.

Rotterdam's customs infrastructure

One thing worth knowing about shipping to the Netherlands: Rotterdam's customs operation is one of the most efficient in Europe. Parcels tend to clear Dutch customs faster than many other EU countries. This is good news for delivery times but it doesn't change the charges — your customer still gets the VAT bill, it just arrives sooner.

The €150 threshold

The old rule — no customs duty under €150 — is gone. The EU abolished the exemption on 1 July 2026. What matters now is whether you use IOSS. If you're registered, you still collect Dutch VAT at checkout on B2C orders where the goods alone (excluding shipping) are worth up to €150, and until 1 July 2028 those low-value consignments carry a temporary flat customs duty of €3 per item — settled by you or your platform, not by your customer at the door. Without IOSS, checkout collects nothing: your customer pays import VAT on delivery at any order value, plus a carrier handling fee, and standard tariff duty applies too unless the goods are UK-originating and you claim TCA preference with a statement on origin.

A real example

A UK homewares seller ships a set of cushions worth £140 and a throw worth £80 to a customer in Amsterdam. Total order: £220.

Keeping Dutch customers happy

Be upfront. A clear note about import charges, backed by an accurate landed cost estimate, is usually all it takes — what loses Dutch customers is being surprised at the door.

Use ClearShip to calculate the exact landed cost before you ship, then communicate it clearly. It takes 30 seconds and can save a difficult customer conversation.