- Buying over the Internet and from mail order companies
- How much duty do I have to pay?
- No payment necessary
- Example
- Special products
- EU countries / non-EU countries
Buying over the Internet and from mail order companies – private individuals
This section is intended for private individuals only and not organisations.
I receive goods from abroad, eg:
- after buying them over the Internet
- after ordering them from a mail order company
- these goods are both solicited and unsolicited (other senders)
Please note!
Customs has no information about the whereabouts of your package
The mail order or courier company can tell you where your package is and, for example, whether it has been cleared by Customs. Customs does not disclose any information about this.
Do you receive goods from abroad? If so you the following may be relevant:
- Declaring and paying duty on imported goods
In nearly all cases a mail order or courier company that ships goods from abroad will declare them to Customs. The mail order or courier company may send you an invoice for:- clearance costs
(costs incurred by the mail order or courier company for making a customs declaration) - handling costs
(costs for any other work the mail order or courier company does for you) - any duty you may owe
(customs duty, turnover tax and excise duty)
(The amount of import duty you pays depends on the product).
Go to How much duty do I have to pay?)
- clearance costs
- Rules about safety, health, the economy and the environment
Some goods may not be imported into the Netherlands at all. Others may only be brought in or imported if you have a permit. Go to Special products
In order to declare goods to Customs, a mail order or courier company may ask you:
- about the contents of the package addressed to you
- the value of the goods in the package
Please note!
Customs has no information about the whereabouts of your package
The mail order or courier company can tell you where your package is and, for example, whether it has been cleared by Customs. Customs does not disclose any information about this.
Violations punishable
Customs and other investigation services will check whether you comply with these rules. If you do not, you are punishable and are liable for prosecution.
