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?
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.
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.
All goods imported to the Netherlands must be accompanied by a commercial invoice. What Dutch customs needs to see on your invoice.
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.
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:
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 |
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:
Read more: goods shipped from Canada versus Canadian-origin goods
Confirm restrictions with Dutch authorities before shipping. Goods that are prohibited or restricted from import to the Netherlands include:
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.
| 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.
Fast and convenient for larger shipments. Our team quotes air freight for shipments over 50 kg to and from the Netherlands.
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 parcels are delivered in the Netherlands by PostNL.
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.
What to check before you choose:
Read our post with more on parcel options 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.