The Netherlands and Canada have a strong economic connection, with a long history of trade and investment ties. The two countries share a commitment to free trade, open markets and economic growth, which has built a robust relationship focused on trade and investment.
Source: Library of Parliament trade and investment profile, 2026 (figures for 2025, estimated).
From the Jet Worldwide desk
The Netherlands behaves less like a final destination and more like a front door to the EU. Dutch receivers often hold an Article 23 licence and re-ship onward, which changes who pays VAT and when. Ask your Dutch receiver two questions before you ship: what is your EORI, and do you defer VAT under Article 23?
Importing low-value goods to the Netherlands
There is no longer a duty exemption for low-value imports up to EUR 150. Instead, low-value consignments pay a fixed EUR 3 customs duty per tariff subheading.
- 1 July 2026The EUR 150 duty exemption ends. A flat EUR 3 duty applies per tariff subheading in each consignment valued up to EUR 150.
- 1 November 2026Item-level Product Identifier Data becomes mandatory for B2C consignments. See our PID guide.
- Around November 2026 (proposed)A separate EU handling fee of about EUR 2 per parcel has been proposed. It is not yet adopted.
- 1 July 2028The interim EUR 3 duty ends as the EU Customs Data Hub launches and normal tariff rates apply.
Required documents for shipping to the Netherlands
Export declaration
Goods valued over CAD 2,000, or goods that are otherwise controlled or restricted, must be reported before export through the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS). Read more about CERS export declarations.
Invoice for customs
All goods imported to the Netherlands must be accompanied by a commercial invoice. What Dutch customs needs to see on your invoice.
Import permits and declarations
Before shipping, confirm the consignee holds any permit or licence required for the goods, for example for controlled chemicals, CITES species, weapons or certain food and plant products.
The Dutch EORI number
Businesses in the Netherlands must provide an EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification number). It is a unique identifier assigned to businesses in the Netherlands and other EU countries, used to track customs transactions and make sure duties and taxes are paid correctly.
The EORI number has two parts:
- the country code of the issuing Member State; followed by
- a code or number that is unique in that Member State.
Dutch VAT and Article 23 deferment
Duty-free under CETA does not mean tax-free. Import VAT is charged on the customs value plus any duty.
| Item | Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Standard VAT rate | 21 percent |
| Reduced rate | 9 percent, for example food and books |
| Article 23 licence | A Dutch importer with this licence reports import VAT on its VAT return instead of paying at the border, which removes the cash-flow hit |
| Low-value B2C (up to EUR 150) | VAT can be collected at checkout through IOSS; the EUR 3 duty still applies |
CETA origin for the Netherlands
Goods that meet the rules of origin of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) can enter the Netherlands duty-free. The preference is claimed with a statement on origin on the invoice, not a separate certificate. Check whether a certificate of origin is needed for your shipment.
To claim CETA preference:
- The goods meet the CETA product-specific rule of origin for their HS classification. Shipping from Canada is not enough.
- The commercial invoice carries the CETA statement on origin.
- For consignments over EUR 6,000, the statement includes the Canadian exporter's business number.
- Keep the supporting records in case Dutch customs verifies origin.
Read more: goods shipped from Canada versus Canadian-origin goods
Prohibited and restricted items
Confirm restrictions with Dutch authorities before shipping. Goods that are prohibited or restricted from import to the Netherlands include:
- Illegal drugs
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Hazardous waste
- Offensive materials, such as hate speech or propaganda promoting violence or discrimination
- Endangered species of plants and animals (CITES-protected species)
- Weapons and ammunition, unless proper permits are obtained
- Pirated software, movies and music
- Certain chemicals, such as drug precursors
- Pornography that is illegal under Dutch law
- Tobacco products, allowed only in limited quantities for personal use
Chilled and frozen shipments to the Netherlands
Shipping on dry ice from Canada to the Netherlands is the solution for temperature-sensitive goods that must stay frozen or deeply chilled in transit. It supports biomedical and diagnostic samples, clinical trials, vaccines and biological agents where product integrity depends on temperature control. Dry ice is UN1845, Class 9: declare the net kilograms on the air waybill and use vented packaging. Contact our team about shipping dry ice to the Netherlands.
Transit time and cost
| Service | Typical transit | Indicative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courier priority (FedEx, UPS, DHL, Jet Worldwide) | About 2 business days | About CAD 180 for 4.5 kg, depending on discount | Urgent and commercial parcels |
| Courier economy | 3 to 5 business days | Lower than priority | Commercial parcels that can wait a few days |
| Canada Post air or tracked | About 1 to 2 weeks | Varies by service | Personal parcels with tracking |
| Canada Post surface | Several weeks | About CAD 30 to 37 for 2 kg | Lowest-cost small parcels |
| Air freight to Amsterdam Schiphol | A few days | Quoted for 50 kg and over | Larger shipments |
| Ocean freight to Rotterdam | About 1 to 2 months door to door | Quoted per pallet or container | Large commercial orders |
Most carriers have online rate and transit tools. Get a comparison shipping rate to the Netherlands.
Canada has free trade agreements with most of the world's leading economies, including the European Union. See the benefits of Canada's free trade agreements. Discounts can be obtained directly from carriers, but the best deal is often through one of the carriers' partners or forwarders. Canada Post also offers volume discounts for high-volume e-commerce shippers.
Delivery options and carriers
Air freight to Amsterdam
Fast and convenient for larger shipments. Our team quotes air freight for shipments over 50 kg to and from the Netherlands.
Sea freight to the Port of Rotterdam
The cost-effective option for large commercial orders and full containers. Rotterdam is Europe's largest seaport, with onward rail, road and barge links across the continent.
Canada Post small packets and parcels
- Small Packet to the Netherlands: surface, air and tracked
- International Parcel to the Netherlands: surface and Xpresspost
Canada Post parcels are delivered in the Netherlands by PostNL.
FedEx, UPS and DHL
- Priority express delivery to the Netherlands
- Economy express delivery to the Netherlands
- Get our lowest spot shipping quote for over 20 kg
Delivery via Jet Worldwide and DPD
Jet Worldwide has been a trusted international shipping brand since 1988, with direct access to the Netherlands through DPD. DPD's parent network, Geopost, describes itself as the largest parcel delivery network in Europe, serving both B2B and B2C customers.
Choosing a shipping partner
What to check before you choose:
- Reliable carriers include: Kuehne+Nagel for freight, Canada Post, FedEx, DHL, UPS and their partners, such as Jet Worldwide.
- Real international expertise. Be wary of reseller websites that promise "over 50 percent savings". Many offer valid shipping, but most lack international customs support.
- Insurance. Coverage is available from the carrier or third parties, but good packaging and complete documentation matter most. Make sure your goods are properly insured.
- Tracking and support. All commercial carriers offer online tracking. With Jet Worldwide our team goes beyond simply reading the screen.
- E-commerce services. Jet's tailored solutions include delivery duty paid, e-commerce import and delivery via DPD, storage and logistics support.
Read our post with more on parcel options to the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship a package from Canada to the Netherlands?
For small parcels up to about 2 kg, Canada Post is usually cheapest, at roughly CAD $45. Heavier commercial parcels benefit via couriers. Ocean freight rates are cost effective for shipments over around 200 kilograms door to door.
How long does shipping from Canada to the Netherlands take?
Priority courier service takes about 2 business days, economy air 3 to 5 business days, Canada Post air or tracked service about 1 to 2 weeks, Canada Post surface considerably longer, and ocean freight to Rotterdam around 1 month door to door.
What does a Dutch EORI number look like?
A Dutch EORI number is NL followed by the company's 9-digit RSIN, padded with leading zeros if needed. For example, RSIN 123456 becomes NL000123456. Dutch business receivers need one for the customs entry.
Do I need a certificate of origin to use CETA for the Netherlands?
No separate certificate is needed. CETA preference is claimed with a statement on origin on the commercial invoice. For consignments over EUR 6,000 the statement must include the Canadian exporter's business number.
What import VAT applies in the Netherlands?
The standard Dutch VAT rate is 21 percent, with a reduced 9 percent rate for items such as food and books. Dutch importers holding an Article 23 licence can defer import VAT to their VAT return instead of paying it at the border.
What changed for low-value parcels to the Netherlands in 2026?
There is no duty free exemption for B2C shipments. A flat EUR 3 duty applies per tariff subheading in each consignment, as an interim measure until 1 July 2028. A separate EU handling fee of about EUR 2 is expected.
