Shipping from USA to Netherlands

If you’re having items or motor vehicles shipped to Netherlands, you need to take into account the latter country’s customs regulations. Prepare the necessary documents before having your goods exported from the USA. You might also want to compute the duty and tariff costs too before bringing items into the country.

Importing used household items

Used items are defined by Netherlands customs authorities as household items which have been owned by the importer in another country for at least a year. These goods cannot be legally sold as a second-hand item in Netherlands for at least another year. They must remain as properties of the importer. Several documents are necessary for the importation of used household items. These are:

i.    AWB or OBL form
ii.    A detailed inventory of the items
iii.    Certificate of tax exemption to be provided by the inspector
iv.    Shipping documents to be provided by the forwarding agent

The inspection and clearance process runs for two to three days if all of the imported household items are duty-free. Should the used items be mixed with new ones (which are dutiable), the process will take up to four days. The customer need not be present during the clearance process.

Also, the certificate of exemption needs to be presented to the customs authorities of Netherlands before the arrival of the items. Ideally, this is mailed well-before the arrival of the shipment. Otherwise, some delays with the clearance might occur.

To get this certificate, the importer needs to present the application form for this certificate, the residence certification from the source country’s town hall, proof or home rental/ownership in source country, a certificate from the importer’s employer in the source country, and a copy of the packing inventory with each item’s declared second-hand value. Any misrepresentation of these items in the inventory may lead to the impounding of the shipment.

Importing new household furniture

New household items may also be exported from the USA to the Netherlands. However, duties and tariffs need to be paid. There are also more documents needed for this shipment. These include:

i.    AWB or OBL forms
ii.    A detailed description of each item with the original invoice attached to the document
iii.    Payment for taxes and duties
iv.    Shipping document to be provided by the forwarding agent.

The clearance process should not take any longer than three days if all of the items are accounted for. Importers need not be present during the clearance either.

Importing vehicles

Motor vehicles which have been in the ownership of the importer at least 12 months before his/her departure from the USA are free from duties and taxes when imported to Netherlands. However, newer vehicles which have been owned for less than 12 months may be subject to duties and tariffs.

Before motor vehicles are imported duty-free into Netherlands, a Certificate of Exemption must be secured by the owner/importer. As with household goods, the vehicle cannot be sold by the importer/owner in Netherlands for a year after his/her arrival in the country. Importation requisites for both new and used vehicles include:

i.    AWB or OBL forms
ii.    Registration documents as proof of ownership/length of time owned by the importer
iii.    Shipping documents to be provided by the shipping company or forwarding agent
iv.    Original purchase invoice. The date of ownership will be determined via the date of sale on the invoice.

As with household goods and other personal effects, the presence of the importer is not necessary during clearance unless certain documents are unaccounted for. Usually, clearance takes only a maximum of three days. Misrepresentation of the motor vehicle may also be used as a reason for impoundment.

Construction machinery, boats, motorcycles and other types of vehicles will need similar documentation for import to Netherlands. However, if they’re brought into the country for purposes other than personal use, added permits may be necessary. To know more about importing these vehicles, contact the Embassy of Netherlands in the USA.

The information above is just an overview. Customs regulations are altered all the time. To be on the safe side, contact the embassy to confirm whether or not these details still apply.