Parcel Forwarding from the UK to the Netherlands
TL;DR: Send2Hub gives you a free UK address to shop any UK retailer and forward your purchases to the Netherlands. Dutch VAT (BTW) is 21% for most goods. Parcels valued at €150 or below pay a flat EU duty of €3 per item category, and from 1 November 2026 the EU adds a handling fee of €2 per item, collected by EU customs, at any value. For the Netherlands, import charges are paid by the recipient on delivery. Free consolidation typically cuts shipping costs by 40 to 60%.
The Netherlands has one of the most mature and sophisticated ecommerce markets in Europe, and one of the strongest trade relationships with the United Kingdom. Home to Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, and a significant British expatriate community across Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, the Netherlands is a natural destination for UK parcel forwarding. Since Brexit, all goods shipped from the UK to the Netherlands are subject to EU customs procedures and Dutch VAT (BTW), adding complexity that did not exist before. Send2Hub gives you a real UK delivery address at our secure warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent. Shop any UK retailer, consolidate your purchases and we forward everything to your address anywhere in the Netherlands, with full post-Brexit customs support on every shipment.
Shop Any UK Retailer and Ship to the Netherlands
Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to the full range of UK online retail, including stores that have stopped shipping directly to the Netherlands since Brexit or that charge high post-Brexit delivery fees. Popular UK brands that Send2Hub customers in the Netherlands regularly shop include Marks and Spencer, Boots, ASOS, Next, The Body Shop, Barbour, Hunter, John Lewis, Amazon UK and many more. Use your Send2Hub address at checkout as you would any UK delivery address. Your parcel arrives at our warehouse, is automatically photographed, weighed and measured on arrival, and full details appear in your real-time account dashboard immediately.
Save money with parcel consolidation. Hold multiple UK purchases in free temporary storage and combine them into a single outbound shipment before forwarding to the Netherlands. Consolidation typically reduces international shipping costs by 40 to 60% and simplifies customs: one shipment, one customs declaration, one delivery. For parcels valued at €150 or below, each item category in a combined shipment is charged the €3 duty once. Learn more on our parcel consolidation page.
If a UK retailer does not accept your Dutch payment card or does not offer international checkout, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf. For help with UK clothing sizes, paying without iDEAL and what's worth buying, read our guide to shopping UK webshops from the Netherlands.
For Businesses: UK Returns Address for Dutch Sellers
If you sell on Amazon UK, eBay UK, Shopify or any other UK marketplace from the Netherlands, a UK returns address is essential for maintaining competitive seller ratings and meeting marketplace requirements. Send2Hub provides a professional UK returns address at our Stoke-on-Trent warehouse. Every return is automatically received and photographed on arrival, with details and an image in your real-time account dashboard the same day. Returns can be held in free temporary storage for consolidation before being re-shipped back to the Netherlands in a single cost-effective shipment. Learn more on our e-commerce returns management page.
UK to Netherlands Customs: Post-Brexit Guide
Since Brexit, the UK is treated as a third country by EU customs authorities. All goods shipped from the UK to the Netherlands are subject to EU import rules, including customs duties and Dutch VAT (Belasting over de Toegevoegde Waarde, BTW). Dutch customs is administered by the Belastingdienst/Douane, the Netherlands Tax and Customs Administration, which is known as one of the most efficient customs operations in Europe, given the Netherlands' role as a major European logistics hub.
Customs Duties on UK Imports
Since 1 July 2026, the EU has removed the duty exemption for low-value goods. Parcels valued at €150 or below now pay a flat EU duty of €3 per item category (HS code line), so a parcel with clothing and a book pays €6. This is a temporary measure until 1 July 2028. Parcels above €150 pay standard EU duty rates, which vary by product category using the EU harmonised tariff system (HS codes) and typically range from 0% to 12% for common consumer goods. Goods that genuinely originate in the UK may qualify for zero or reduced duty under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), provided accurate documentation and a statement of origin are included. Use our worldwide customs duty estimator for an indication of duty and VAT.
EU Customs Changes from 1 November 2026
From 1 November 2026, EU customs add a Union handling fee of €2 per item on goods sold at a distance to EU consumers from outside the EU. It is set and collected by the EU customs system, not by Send2Hub, and applies at any parcel value on top of duty and BTW. Sources differ on exactly how an item is counted, so do not assume that combining parcels reduces it. Our customs duty estimator does not include this fee, so add it separately. The same date makes Product Identifiers mandatory on EU customs declarations, explained in our guide to EU Product Identifiers. For the full picture, see our guide to the 2026 EU customs changes.
Dutch VAT (BTW)
Dutch VAT (BTW) applies to goods imported from the UK at the standard rate of 21% for most goods. A reduced rate of 9% applies to certain categories including food products, medicines, books and certain cultural services. BTW is calculated on the value of the shipment including shipping costs plus any applicable customs duty. The EU Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme lets some sellers collect VAT at checkout, but only when they ship directly to an EU address. Purchases delivered to your UK Send2Hub address and then forwarded to the Netherlands are imported by you, so BTW is charged on import.
How Import Charges Are Paid
For the Netherlands, import charges are not paid upfront. Duty, BTW and any EU fees are collected from the recipient by the carrier on delivery, usually together with a carrier clearance fee. Checking the likely amount with our customs duty estimator before you ship helps you avoid surprises at the door.
Netherlands as a European Logistics Hub
Rotterdam is Europe's largest port and Schiphol is one of the continent's busiest air cargo hubs, which means the Netherlands has exceptionally well-developed customs infrastructure. Dutch customs processing is generally fast and efficient. For businesses using the Netherlands as a logistics or distribution base within the EU, the country offers some of the most advanced customs facilitation programmes in Europe, including special permits for fast-track customs clearance.
Required Documentation
Standard documentation for customs clearance in the Netherlands includes a commercial invoice with accurate item descriptions, HS codes, declared values and country of origin, a packing list and an air waybill or bill of lading. For commercial imports, an EORI number is required. Send2Hub prepares all standard customs export documentation for every outbound shipment from our UK warehouse. Keep your order confirmations and product links until your parcel has cleared customs, as they help if any product details need confirming.
Restricted and Prohibited Items
The Netherlands follows EU import restrictions. Prohibited or restricted items include weapons and ammunition, controlled substances, counterfeit goods, certain food and agricultural products and goods not meeting EU product safety and CE marking standards. Visit our prohibited and restricted items page for full details.
Delivery Times from UK to Netherlands
DPD: typically 1 to 3 business days, with excellent Netherlands coverage, precise tracking and parcel locker options.
DHL Express: typically 1 to 3 business days, fast door-to-door with full tracking.
FedEx International: typically 2 to 4 business days, reliable express with comprehensive tracking.
UPS Worldwide: typically 2 to 4 business days, strong for business shipments with detailed tracking.
Royal Mail / Parcelforce: typically 3 to 6 business days, cost-effective for lighter shipments.
Transit times are estimates, not guarantees, and exclude customs clearance. The Netherlands benefits from some of the fastest customs processing in Europe. Use our shipping cost calculator to compare live rates across all available carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions: UK to Netherlands Shipping
Do I pay customs when shipping from UK to Netherlands after Brexit?
Yes. Dutch BTW of 21% applies to most goods, plus customs duty: a flat €3 per item category for parcels valued at €150 or below, or standard EU rates above €150. Goods genuinely originating in the UK may qualify for zero customs duty under the UK-EU TCA, in which case only BTW applies. From 1 November 2026, an EU handling fee of €2 per item, collected by EU customs, also applies.
Do I pay import charges upfront or on delivery?
For the Netherlands, import charges are not paid upfront. Duty, BTW and any EU fees are collected from the recipient by the carrier on delivery. Use our customs duty estimator to check the likely duty and VAT before you ship.
Can I shop UK retailers that have stopped shipping to the Netherlands?
Yes. Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to any UK retailer, including those that stopped shipping to the Netherlands after Brexit or charge high post-Brexit delivery fees. Use your Send2Hub address at checkout and we forward your parcel to the Netherlands. If a UK retailer does not accept your Dutch payment card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.
Does the UK-EU Trade Agreement reduce duty on UK goods sent to the Netherlands?
Yes, for goods genuinely originating in the UK. The UK-EU TCA provides zero or reduced customs duty rates with proper documentation and a statement of origin. Goods manufactured outside the UK and forwarded via Send2Hub do not qualify for TCA preferential rates.
Can I consolidate multiple orders before shipping to the Netherlands?
Yes. Hold multiple parcels in free temporary storage and combine them into a single outbound shipment, typically saving 40 to 60% on shipping costs. Free storage: 30 days Individual, 45 days Business, 60 days Premium. One consolidated shipment means one customs declaration, and for parcels valued at €150 or below each item category is charged the €3 duty once.
Which is the best carrier for shipping from UK to Netherlands?
DPD and DHL both offer excellent Netherlands coverage with fast transit times and precise tracking. DPD provides parcel locker options for convenient collection. Compare all available rates and transit times using our shipping cost calculator.
Ready to start shopping UK retailers and shipping to the Netherlands? Register free and get your UK address in under two minutes. Questions? Get in touch with our team.