Export to Europe (EU) via the Netherlands

Exporting to Europe can open the door to one of the world's largest and most developed consumer and business markets. For companies from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and other non-EU countries, however, selling products in Europe involves much more than simply shipping goods across the Atlantic or across the Channel.

EU customs, EU import VAT, EU product compliance, warehousing, inventory management, order fulfilment, returns and European distribution all become part of the equation.

And there is another important question that is sometimes addressed too late: how are you going to physically store, fulfil and distribute your products once they arrive in Europe?

A successful European expansion therefore needs more than a sales strategy. It needs a logistics foundation that supports your products, European markets, customers, sales channels and future growth.

This guide provides a practical starting point for companies planning to export to Europe and explains why the Netherlands is frequently considered as a logistics gateway to the European market.

1. Exporting to Europe: understand the EU market first

The European Union consists of 27 Member States operating within a single market. Once goods have been properly imported and released into free circulation, they can generally move between EU Member States without additional customs clearance at every national border.

That makes the EU attractive as a distribution market, but it does not mean that every European country should have its own warehouse.For many international companies, a more efficient model can be:

Overseas production → European port/airport → central EU warehouse or 3PL → European customers

From one strategically located European distribution center, products can be distributed to customers across multiple EU countries.Before choosing that location, however, determine where your customers actually are and where you expect them to be in three to five years.

2. Check EU import duties, EU customs requirements and rules of origin

The applicable customs requirements depend on factors including the type of product, HS classification, country of origin and destination. The European Commission's Access2Markets platform is an excellent starting point for companies exporting products into the EU. It provides information about tariffs, rules of origin, taxes, import procedures, product requirements and trade statistics.

Do not base your European logistics model solely on transportation rates. Customs classification, duties and import procedures can materially influence your total landed cost.

3. Arrange your EORI and European customs structure

Companies involved in customs activities in the European Union may require an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number.

An EORI number is used by customs authorities to identify economic operators and is mandatory for customs clearance activities where the applicable EU rules require it. For non-EU companies, the correct customs structure should therefore be determined before the first shipment leaves the country of origin.

Questions to address include:

• Who will be the Importer of Record?
• Who handles customs declarations?
• Where will the goods enter the EU?
• Are customs duties immediately payable?
• Could customs-bonded warehousing be beneficial?
• What documentation is required?
• Which Incoterms will be used?

These decisions should connect directly to your logistics and commercial structure.

4. Understand European VAT

EU VAT is another important part of exporting to Europe. Goods imported from outside the EU are generally subject to import VAT, while subsequent sales can create additional VAT obligations depending on where inventory is stored, where customers are located and whether the company sells B2B, B2C or through online marketplaces. E-commerce businesses should also investigate the EU's OSS and IOSS systems where relevant.

The correct solution depends on the individual business model. Tax and fiscal specialists should therefore be involved when designing your European setup.

5. Check whether your products comply with EU requirements

Being allowed to sell a product in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom does not automatically mean that the same product can be placed on the EU market without additional requirements. Depending on the product category, European requirements can cover areas such as:

• product safety;
• CE marking;
• labeling and consumer information;
• packaging;
• chemicals;
• food safety;
• cosmetics;
• electrical equipment;
• batteries;
• environmental obligations;
• traceability;
• producer responsibility.

The European Commission provides information about EU product safety requirements and the obligations of businesses placing products on the European market.

Product compliance should ideally be investigated before inventory is shipped to Europe, not when containers are already arriving at a European port.

6. Build the logistics foundation around your business,  not the other way around

This is where European expansion becomes particularly interesting from a logistics perspective. Companies frequently start their warehouse search with questions such as:

"Which 3PL is cheapest?"

"Which fulfilment company is close to Rotterdam?"

"Which warehouse has available pallet space?"

Those questions matter, but they should not be the starting point.

The first question should be: what logistics setup best supports our products, European markets and sales strategy?

A company supplying industrial equipment to distributors has completely different logistics requirements from a US consumer brand shipping thousands of individual e-commerce orders. Likewise, cosmetics, food, fashion, chemicals, lithium-ion batteries, medical products, furniture and IT hardware can require very different facilities, certifications, handling procedures and security levels.

Your European logistics strategy should therefore start with:

Your products

What are you storing? Consider dimensions, weight, value, shelf life, temperature requirements, dangerous-goods classification, handling requirements and regulatory restrictions.

European target markets

Where are your current and future customers? Germany, France, Benelux, Scandinavia, Southern Europe or throughout the EU?

Your European sales channels

Are you supplying distributors, retailers, wholesalers, factories, marketplaces, webshops or consumers directly?

Your order profile

Do customers order full pallets, cartons, individual items or oversized products?

Your European inventory strategy

How much stock will be held in Europe and how quickly will inventory turn?

Your European growth

A warehouse solution that works for 100 pallets today may not necessarily work for 2,000 pallets two years from now. Only after these questions have been answered does it make sense to determine where your European warehouse should be located and which 3PL should operate it.

7. Why consider the Netherlands for European distribution?

The Netherlands has developed into one of Europe's important logistics gateways because of its combination of seaports, airports, inland terminals, road connections and proximity to major European consumer and industrial markets. The country can therefore be an attractive location for international companies looking for:

• European warehousing;
• EU distribution;
• e-commerce fulfilment;
• B2B fulfilment;
• customs-bonded storage;
• temperature-controlled warehousing;
• food logistics;
• high-value and secure storage;
• dangerous-goods storage;
• reverse logistics and returns management.

Rotterdam is an obvious entry point for ocean freight, while Amsterdam Schiphol plays an important role in international air cargo. At the same time, logistics regions such as Venlo, Tilburg, Waalwijk, Breda and other parts of the Netherlands can provide excellent access to Germany, Belgium, France and the wider European market.

But again, there is no universally "best" warehouse location in the Netherlands. The right location depends on your individual supply chain.

8. Choosing a European 3PL: look beyond the price list

Selecting a European third-party logistics provider (3PL) is a decision that can directly affect customer satisfaction, operational continuity and your reputation in a new market. Compare potential providers on much more than storage and pick-and-pack rates.

Important criteria can include industry experience, location, available capacity, scalability, IT and WMS capabilities, integrations, inventory accuracy, customer service, financial stability, transport capabilities and operational flexibility.

Depending on the products, relevant certifications or specialist facilities can also include GDP, TAPA FSR, BRC, IFS, FSSC 22000, SKAL, ADR, PGS-15, PGS 37-2, customs-bonded warehousing and temperature-controlled environments.

A logistics provider that is excellent for fashion e-commerce may be completely unsuitable for chemicals, industrial machinery or chilled food.

The objective should therefore not be to find the biggest or cheapest 3PL. It is to find the 3PL that fits your business.

9. How Warehouse Netherlands helps international companies

Finding that match from another country can be difficult. An internet search engine request may produce dozens or hundreds of logistics companies, but websites rarely tell you everything you need to know about actual capabilities, available capacity, operational quality, commercial flexibility or whether the provider genuinely fits your products and business model.

Warehouse Netherlands acts as an independent Dutch warehousing and 3PL intermediary for international companies entering or expanding within Europe.

Instead of representing one warehouse or logistics provider, we start with your business.We look at your:

Products → markets → sales channels → volumes → order profiles → operational requirements → growth plans and translate these into a practical Dutch warehousing and distribution profile.

Through our Dutch logistics network, we can subsequently identify and compare suitable warehousing, fulfilment and 3PL companies. Depending on the project, our support can include:

• analyzing your European logistics requirements;
• identifying suitable Dutch warehouse locations;
• 3PL and fulfilment partner matchmaking;
• market screening and provider shortlisting;
• RFIs and RFQs;
• comparing logistics quotations and conditions;
• warehouse and 3PL site visits;
• provider screening;
• negotiations and contracting support;
• introductions to customs, VAT and fiscal specialists where required;
• support during implementation and go-live;
• benchmarking existing European 3PL arrangements.

This gives international companies one independent point of contact in the Netherlands instead of having to identify, contact and assess numerous logistics providers themselves.

10. Should you outsource to a 3PL or operate your own European warehouse?

Outsourcing is not automatically the correct solution.Companies with substantial, stable European volumes may eventually benefit from operating their own warehouse. Other businesses prefer the flexibility and scalability of an outsourced 3PL model.Hybrid structures are also possible.

The decision should consider factors such as European sales volume, growth expectations, labor requirements, capital expenditure, warehouse size, IT, management capacity and operational complexity.

Warehouse Netherlands can support both directions: finding an appropriate Dutch 3PL or identifying suitable warehouse space for companies that want to establish their own logistics operation.

11. Think European before signing a warehouse contract

Perhaps the most important advice for companies planning to export to Europe is simple: do not select your warehouse in isolation from your European business strategy.

Your logistics operation sits between your factory and your customer.If that foundation is poorly designed, problems eventually appear elsewhere: excessive inventory, high transportation costs, slow deliveries, customs complications, inefficient fulfilment, damaged products or unhappy customers.

A strong European logistics foundation should do the opposite. It should make growth easier.

Planning to export to Europe?

If your company is based in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or another non-EU market and you are considering storing and distributing products within Europe, Warehouse Netherlands can help you investigate the logistics side of your European expansion.

Whether you need a Dutch 3PL, fulfilment center, customs-bonded warehouse, specialist storage facility or your own warehouse in the Netherlands, the starting point remains the same: your business determines the logistics solution not the other way around.

Frequently Asked Questions about exporting to Europe

What is the best country for a warehouse when exporting to Europe?

There is no single best location for every company. The optimal country and region depend on where products enter Europe, where customers are located, transportation requirements, inventory volumes, sales channels, tax and customs considerations and the required type of warehouse.

Is the Netherlands a good location for European distribution?

The Netherlands can be an attractive European distribution location because of its international transport infrastructure and connections with major European markets. Whether it is the right choice for your company should be determined by analyzing your specific supply chain.

Do US companies need a European warehouse to sell in the EU?

Not necessarily. Products can be shipped directly from the United States, but holding inventory within Europe can reduce delivery times and facilitate European fulfilment as volumes increase. The appropriate model depends on order volumes, product characteristics, customer expectations and sales channels.

Can a UK company use a 3PL in the Netherlands?

Yes. Since the United Kingdom is outside the EU customs territory, however, companies should carefully consider customs, VAT, importer-of-record and product compliance requirements when establishing an EU warehousing operation.

How do I find a 3PL in the Netherlands?

Start by defining your products, volumes, markets, sales channels, order profiles, storage requirements, IT requirements and expected growth. These requirements can then be used to identify and compare Dutch 3PL providers with the appropriate facilities and capabilities.

What does a 3PL company in Europe do?

Depending on the provider, a European 3PL can handle inbound transportation, customs-related processes, warehousing, inventory management, order fulfilment, pick and pack, B2B distribution, e-commerce fulfilment, transportation, returns and value-added logistics services.