Dutch Customs Information

Dear Partner,

Please note that for all shipments coming into the Netherlands from outside of the European Union (EU), a customs clearance procedure will be applicable. All shipments into the EU are subject to duties and taxes and VAT. However, if the shipment consists of household goods connected to an international removal, an exemption document can be granted by Dutch customs.
As your partner in the Netherlands, KHZ International Movers will assist your customer with the application for this exemption.

In order to file for exemption, we shall need the following documents:

1. copy of residing certificate from the Population Register of the Municipality, showing that the customer has come from abroad and taken up residence in the Netherlands, also known as Art. 65 GBA (a certificate of registration will not be accepted!)
2. original completed and signed Dutch Customs application form for exemption (please see forms)
3. copy rental/purchase contract of customer’s old residence abroad and/or statement from his/her employer that he/she was living in a company residence
4. copy rental/purchase contract of customer’s new residence and/or statement from customer’s employer that he/she is living in a company residence
5. statement of employer or copy of customer’s work agreement (leaving out confidential information)
6. copy of customer’s passport (photo page)
7. copy of the signed and legible inventory

In case the customer is importing a car or other vehicle, following documents are necessary as well:

8. copy of purchase contract of the vehicle
9. copy of foreign country insurance of the vehicle
10. copy of title of the vehicle

KHZ Movers will apply for the exemption for the customer if he/she mail/fax us the requested documents. We would like to receive the documents as soon as possible in order to deliver customer’s belongings soonest after customs clearance. Please note that customs need about 10 to 15 working days in order to provide us with the exemption document. With this exemption document we can clear customer’s goods through customs which can also takes 5 working days. The total process therefore can take up to 4 weeks from the day that we send in the application to Dutch customs. In summer-time (peak season), this period can take even longer due to the increase in applications at Dutch customs.

Dutch customs has become very strict with enforcing the rules as of December 1st, 2007. This means that ALL paperwork has to be in order and official custom clearance must be given BEFORE we have permission to deliver. Until then – goods can be shipped but will be held in storage at our bonded warehouse at extra charges for warehouse handling and storage in transit.

Incomplete application forms will NOT be dealt with but will be returned to sender with a letter explaining which documents are missing.

Important to note that should your customer have been out of the Netherlands (or EU) for less than one year, he/she must contact us soon as possible as special rules are applicable.

Goods which are in customer’s possession and use for less than 6 months (new items) and alcoholic drinks are always excluded from exemption and import duties and taxes and VAT will be applicable.