UK Shopping Guide for the Netherlands
UK Shopping Guide for the Netherlands
TL;DR: Send2Hub gives you a free UK address to shop British retailers from the Netherlands. Since Brexit, standard EU customs rules apply, including 21% Dutch VAT and a new €3 flat duty per item category from July 2026. Free consolidation cuts shipping costs by 40 to 60 percent.
The Netherlands has one of Europe's most sophisticated shopping markets, and Dutch shoppers have a strong appetite for British brands to go with it, from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to Utrecht, The Hague and Eindhoven. The challenge is familiar since Brexit: plenty of British retailers either don't ship to the Netherlands directly, or charge international rates that make small orders impractical. A free Send2Hub forwarding address at our warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent solves that, you shop as if you lived in Britain, and we forward everything on to wherever in the Netherlands you need it. For the full breakdown of Dutch customs and VAT, our Netherlands shipping page covers that in depth, this guide focuses on what's actually worth ordering.
Why Shop British Retailers from the Netherlands
The first reason is access. Boots, Primark, Dunelm and Marks and Spencer Food don't ship to the Netherlands directly, so without a forwarding address, ordering from them isn't possible at all.
The second is price. Sterling pricing on high street and heritage brands is often more competitive than what reaches Dutch shelves through distributors, particularly during sale periods.
The third is range. Dutch stockists that do carry British brands usually offer a narrower selection than the source site itself, especially for limited editions and seasonal lines.
UK Retailers That Don't Ship to the Netherlands
Some of the most commonly forwarded stores are ones that simply don't offer Dutch delivery at all, Boots, Primark, Dunelm and Marks and Spencer Food among them. Without a UK address, these retailers aren't reachable from the Netherlands regardless of what you're willing to pay in shipping, a forwarding address is the only route in.
What to Buy from Britain
Heritage and Outdoor Clothing
Barbour, Hunter, Clarks and Hackett London are consistently popular. John Lewis, Barbour.com and Clarks.co.uk all deliver reliably to your forwarding address.
Fashion
Next, Reiss, Ted Baker and Marks and Spencer see regular demand, particularly M&S formalwear and knitwear. ASOS is a strong option for accessible, trend-led fashion.
Skincare and Beauty
Boots No7 is one of the most requested items, since Boots doesn't ship to the Netherlands and a forwarding address is the only practical way to get it. The Body Shop, Liz Earle, Elemis and Charlotte Tilbury are also popular. Perfumes and aerosol products can't be forwarded through Send2Hub regardless of destination, but non-aerosol skincare like creams, serums and cleansers is fine. Check the prohibited items page before ordering beauty products.
Homeware
Emma Bridgewater, Portmeirion and The White Company appeal to buyers wanting distinctive British homeware not widely stocked locally.
Second-hand and Vintage
eBay and Vinted in Britain hold enormous inventories of vintage clothing and pre-owned designer goods, most of which only ship domestically. A forwarding address opens all of that up for Netherlands buyers.
Sale Events Worth Planning Around
Boxing Day on 26 December is the strongest sale period, with fashion, beauty and homeware all seeing significant reductions. Boots Advantage Card sales run several times a year, typically 20 to 25 percent off beauty including No7. Black Friday discounts are often steeper than what's available regionally. Planning purchases around these events, holding everything in free storage, and consolidating into one shipment once it's all arrived reduces shipping cost and the number of customs charges applied on entry.
How to Order and Forward to the Netherlands
Register free at send2hub.com/login, your personalised UK address is ready straight away, with your own unique unit number, no monthly fee on the Individual and Business plans.
Shop from any UK retailer using your Send2Hub address at checkout. Every parcel is photographed, weighed and measured the same day it arrives, with full details in your dashboard immediately.
When everything has arrived, request consolidation, it's free, and combining multiple orders into one shipment typically cuts shipping cost by 40 to 60 percent compared with sending each one separately. If you'd like the original packaging removed as well, that's available as an optional paid add-on. Free storage runs 30 days on Individual, 45 on Business, and 60 on Premium. Learn more on our parcel consolidation page.
If a retailer doesn't accept your Dutch payment card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf. See our main parcel forwarding page for a full overview of the service.
UK to Netherlands Shipping: Costs and Delivery Times
Express carriers typically reach the Netherlands in 2 to 5 business days, while economy services take 5 to 14 days. Compare rates across Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DHL, FedEx, UPS and DPD using the shipping calculator before committing, exact costs and timing depend on weight, dimensions and the carrier you choose.
Dutch Customs, What to Know
Since Brexit, all goods shipped from the UK to the Netherlands go through standard EU customs procedures. Dutch VAT (BTW) is 21%, applied to most goods. From 1 July 2026, a new flat duty of €3 per product category applies to parcels valued at €150 or below, on top of any applicable customs duty. Consolidating your orders into one shipment means this charge applies once rather than across several separate parcels. Full details, including documentation requirements, are on our Netherlands shipping page.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Leaving your unique unit number out of the delivery name field is the most frequent issue, it's how incoming parcels get matched to your account. Underdeclaring value on customs paperwork should never be attempted, it's a legal offence and risks real problems at the Dutch border. Ordering perfume or scented gift sets without checking first is another easy trap, these can't be forwarded regardless of how the listing is described. Assuming shipping to the Netherlands works the same as before Brexit is a common misunderstanding, standard EU customs and VAT now apply to every shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Netherlands charge VAT on UK imports?
Yes. Dutch VAT (BTW) is 21%, applied to most goods arriving from the UK since Brexit.
What's the new €3 duty I've heard about?
From 1 July 2026, the EU applies a flat €3 duty per product category on parcels valued at €150 or below entering from non-EU countries, including the UK.
Can I shop UK retailers that don't ship to the Netherlands?
Yes. Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to any UK retailer that delivers domestically within Britain. If a retailer doesn't accept your Dutch payment card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.
Do UK retailers accept Dutch payment cards?
It varies by retailer, some accept international cards without issue, others don't. If yours isn't accepted at checkout, our Shop & Ship service purchases the item on your behalf using our own payment method.
How much can I save by consolidating shipments to the Netherlands?
Consolidation is free, and most customers save 40 to 60 percent by combining multiple orders into a single shipment rather than sending each one separately.
Can I forward perfume or cosmetics to the Netherlands?
Perfume and aerosol cosmetics can't be forwarded through Send2Hub regardless of destination, since they're classified as flammable liquid. Non-aerosol skincare and cosmetics are fine.