Customs regulations for your trip to Netherlands

Customs regulations

Import regulations:

Free import to passengers arriving with goods purchased within the EU which are for personal use only:

• tobacco products: 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos (max. 3 grams each); 200 cigars; 1 kilogram of smoking tobacco;
• alcoholic beverages: 10 liters of spirits over 22%; 20 liters of alcoholic beverages less than 22%; 90 liters of wine (though no more than 60 liters of sparkling wine); 110 liters of beer.

Free import to passengers arriving from non-EU Member States (incl. Canary Islands, Channel Islands and other similar territories):

• tobacco products, for passengers aged 17 and older: 200 cigarettes; 100 cigarillos (max. 3 grams each); 50 cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; or  a proportional mix of these products;
• alcoholic beverages, for passengers aged 17 and older: 1 liter of spirits over 22% volume, or non-denatured ethyl alcohol with more than 80% volume; 2 liters of spirits or aperitifs made of wine or similar beverages less than 22% volume, or sparkling wines or liquor wines; a proportional mix of these products; and in addition 4 liters still wine; and 16 liters of beer;
• medications for personal use;
• other goods (for air travelers) up to a total value of EUR 430.-.

Products of animal origin, not originating from an EU Member State, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland, are not permitted to be imported into an EU Member State, with the exception of limited amounts from Andorra, Faroe Isl., Greenland, Iceland and small amounts of specific products from other countries.

For full details, please see or refer to the website of the European Union, http://europa.eu/.

For full details please see Terms & Definitions, section 5. Customs, or refer to the website of the European Union, http://europa.eu/.

Certain plants and plant products entering the EU must have an original phytosanitary certificate (see here). These items must be declared on arrival and are subject to phytosanitary checks.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

Import and export of firearms and/or ammunition requires prior permission from Dutch Customs, Tel: 31 88 151 21 22.

Exempt are:

• Passengers carrying firearms or ammunition for shooting sports. They need to hold a written invitation or statement from the Dutch shooting club that they are going to practice or have practiced the shooting sport in the Netherlands during a stated period and that they are authorized to have the firearms or ammunition brought with them in their country of origin. The exemption applies from the second day before, up to and including the second day after the period referred to in the invitation or statement.
• Residents of EU Member States holding a European Firearms Pass issued by the authorities in country of residence.

Prohibited: It is not allowed to import arms and ammunition from Russian Fed. and Syria. For more information see here

Wild Fauna and Flora:

Small quantities of cut flowers without soil are generally allowed.

Export regulations:

Passengers with destinations within the EU are allowed to spend up to EUR 90.76 on tax-free articles.

Pets

Cats and dogs are subject to Regulation (EC) No. 998/2003 and Regulation (EU) 576/2013 . For more information contact the nearest Dutch embassy. Pets may enter as passenger’s checked baggage, in the cabin (consult transporting carrier) or as cargo.

Birds are subject to Decision (EC) No. 25/2007. Always consult the local Ministry of Agriculture or Veterinary Service or nearest Dutch Consulate prior to travel, because “endangered species”, whether alive or stuffed or parts thereof may not be imported and will be returned, even if the health documents are in order. Dispensation to be obtained prior to arrival from the Department for Nature Conservation, Environmental Protection and Wild Life Management, Bezuidenhoutseweg 73 (P.O. Box 20401), 2500 EK The Hague. Tel: 31 70 3793390. Fax: 31 70 3792922.

The import of psittacine birds if coming from Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Honduras, Indonesia, Nicaragua or Paraguay is prohibited.

Baggage Clearance regulations:

Baggage is cleared at airport of final destination in the Netherlands. However, if ticketed transfer is operated by train, baggage must be cleared at first airport of entry.

Currency

Currency Import regulations:

Same regulations as for Export apply.

Currency Export regulations:

Local currency (Euro – EUR) and foreign currencies: no restrictions if arriving from or traveling to another EU Member State .
If arriving directly from or traveling to a country outside the EU: amounts exceeding EUR 10,000.- or more or the equivalent in another currency (incl. banker’s draft and
cheques of any kind) must be declared.

Airport Tax

No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.

Learn all about regulations for your destination country. From airport tax to be paid on departure, to importing pets, as well as rules on how much currency you may bring into and out of a country.