Ecommerce VAT Netherlands

Netherlands VAT Guide

Dutch VAT Registrations
and Returns

In the Netherlands, VAT numbers always begin with the ‘NL’ prefix followed by twelve characters. The Netherlands is a major e-commerce hub in Europe. Everything you need to stay compliant.

Netherlands VAT
21%
Standard VAT Rate
EUR 10,000
OSS Threshold
Quarterly
Filing Frequency
3–7 Days
Average Registration
Latest Updates

Netherlands VAT News

06 June 2025

Dutch Tax Authority Updates E-Commerce VAT Guidelines for Non-Residents

The Belastingdienst has updated its guidelines for non-resident businesses selling goods and services to Dutch consumers, with new clarity on when VAT registration is required for marketplace sellers.

06 June 2025

Netherlands Implements New Reverse Charge Mechanism for Digital Services

The Netherlands has updated its rules on the reverse charge mechanism for digital services, aligning with the EU’s approach to simplifying VAT compliance for cross-border digital service providers.

VAT Registration Requirements
VAT Registration

Is VAT registration required in the Netherlands?

Whether you need VAT registration in the Netherlands depends on your business location, the nature of your products, and whether you sell to Dutch consumers or businesses.

Your business’s location
Your target customers
Nature of products or services
Your sales destinations
Where stock is held at the point of sale

🕐 Looking for advice tailored to your situation? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our specialists today.

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Business Scenarios

My B2C business is based outside the EU

For businesses based outside the EU, VAT obligations in the Netherlands depend on where your goods are held and whether your customers are Dutch consumers or VAT-registered businesses.

Selling goods online

Selling goods on your website

Running your own online store brings additional VAT responsibilities. If you hold stock in the Netherlands, you must register for VAT there. When selling goods stored in another country to customers in the Netherlands, you have two pathways to compliance.

Choosing the right option depends on your current setup and future plans.

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Importing goods to Netherlands

Importing goods to Netherlands

If products are shipped from outside the EU at time of purchase, you have three compliant methods:

1Register for VAT in the Netherlands
2Sign up for IOSS
3Deliver using Delivered at Place (DAP)
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Fast IOSS Registration

Get Registered for IOSS, Fast

Ready to start selling to Netherlands customers? Begin your IOSS registration today, and we can secure your IOSS number in as little as three working days.

Marketplace sales
Amazon & eBay

Selling goods on a marketplace

Since 2021, platforms like Amazon.nl and eBay collect and remit VAT on qualifying B2C sales in the Netherlands. Marketplaces handle VAT when:

You, the seller, are based outside the EU
It’s a B2C transaction
Goods ship from outside the EU in parcels valued at EUR 150 or less
Or the goods are stored in the Netherlands at the time of sale

Important: Storing goods in the Netherlands still triggers a VAT registration requirement there, even if the marketplace collects VAT. Orders above threshold limits require your own VAT registration in the Netherlands or a DAP shipment.

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Don’t let VAT get in the way of marketplace growth

Expand your marketplace presence in the Netherlands while staying fully VAT compliant. We simplify compliance so you can focus on selling.

Make It Easy
Digital Goods

Selling Digital Services and Digital Goods to Netherlands

In the Netherlands, digital services — eBooks, streaming, online courses, and software — are subject to Dutch VAT. Non-EU sellers can use the OSS scheme to register once and cover all EU digital service sales.

To sell digital services to Netherlands customers, you can choose one of two registration routes depending on how your service is delivered.

Expert advice recommended: Determining whether your offering qualifies as “electronically supplied” is complex and has major VAT implications. We recommend consulting an expert if you sell digital services.

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Digital services
EU-Based Sellers

My B2C business is based in the EU

Assuming you are not established in the Netherlands, EU-based sellers can trade up to EUR 10,000 per year to other EU markets before VAT registration is required.

EU B2C selling
🏠

Stock in the Netherlands

Holding inventory in the Netherlands creates a VAT obligation. You must either register there or use the One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme in your home country.

🎉

Stock elsewhere in EU

Each EU country where you store goods or have customers may trigger a separate VAT requirement. Either register locally or consolidate via OSS.

🌎

Stock outside the EU

For goods delivered from outside the EU, choose among: VAT registration in the Netherlands, IOSS registration, or Delivered at Place (DAP). For services, you must register for OSS with your home tax authority when selling to EU consumers.

Find Your Path

Feeling Confused? Take the EU VAT Quiz

There are many variables. In under a minute, discover whether you need IOSS, OSS, Non-Union OSS, or a standard VAT registration.

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VAT on B2B Sales
Business to Business

VAT on Sales to Dutch Businesses

When selling B2B in the Netherlands, your VAT-registered Dutch customer handles VAT via reverse charge. You may still need to register if you hold stock in the Netherlands or use a Dutch fulfilment centre.

🌎 Based outside the EU, selling B2B

If your Netherlands customer is VAT-registered, you generally invoice with the “reverse charge mechanism,” and they declare VAT locally.

🇪🇺 Based in the EU, selling B2B

In many cases, intra-EU B2B supplies are zero-rated when both parties are VAT-registered. You still must follow Netherlands invoicing and reporting requirements.