How to Start a Dropshipping Business in the Netherlands: Process & Requirements

Yes, foreigners can start a dropshipping business in the Netherlands. You register with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK), pay a one-time fee of €85.15 (2026), and the Belastingdienst, the Dutch tax authority, sends you a VAT number after that. You can run the shop from anywhere, but the company needs a Dutch address. After that, it comes down to two things: suppliers you can trust, and knowing what Dutch and EU consumer law expects from you as the seller.

If you’re wondering whether it makes sense to start a dropshipping business in the Netherlands, the short answer is yes, mostly because of where the country sits. It’s in the middle of Europe, the freight links are excellent, and one registration opens up the whole EU market. This guide covers registration, documents, VAT, customs, costs, and the steps to get your store live.

Why Start a Dropshipping Business in the Netherlands?

Dropshipping is easy to like. You don’t buy stock, you don’t rent a warehouse, and you only pay your supplier after a customer has paid you. For someone living abroad, that’s a cheap way to test the Dutch market.

The Netherlands helps in a few ways. People here shop online without thinking twice, and iDEAL | Wero is widely used at checkout, so a store that offers it looks familiar from the first click. Schiphol and the Port of Rotterdam are two of Europe’s biggest freight hubs, which means suppliers and carriers can reach most EU countries quickly. And the rules are written down clearly. Fees, steps, and tax duties are public, which is a relief when you’re a foreign founder doing this for the first time.

What Are the Legal Requirements for Dropshipping in the Netherlands?

There’s no special dropshipping licence. You just have to run the business properly, and four things matter.

• KVK registration: Your company goes into the Business Register at the KVK. OnDemand International can guide you through it if you’d rather not do it alone.
• VAT: After you register, the Belastingdienst decides whether you count as an entrepreneur for VAT purposes and issues your VAT number. You don’t wait until you reach some turnover level.
• Consumer law: This is the one people forget. Customers who buy online in the EU usually get 14 days to withdraw from a purchase. You’re the seller, so you answer to the customer even if a supplier ships the parcel and you never touch it.
• Product rules: Food, cosmetics, electronics, and toys all have extra safety or labelling requirements. Look into your niche before you list a single product.

Documents Required to Start a Dropshipping Business in the Netherlands

Which documents you need depends on how you set the company up. Collect everything first, before you book an appointment or call a notary. Missing papers are the usual reason a registration gets stuck.

• Sole proprietorship or partnership: You bring a valid ID, such as a passport, to the KVK appointment. You also need a citizen service number (BSN), a Dutch business address, a trade name, and a short description of what the business does. The €85.15 fee is paid at registration.
• BV (private limited company): Every director and shareholder provides ID and proof of address. You also need the company name, a Dutch registered address, and details of the UBOs (ultimate beneficial owners), which get registered with the KVK. A civil-law notary prepares and signs the deed of incorporation.

If any document was issued in another country, the notary or the KVK may ask for a certified or legalised copy, or a translation into Dutch, English, German or French. Give that some extra time.

For selling and importing, the Belastingdienst sends your VAT number and VAT ID after registration. If you import goods from outside the EU yourself, you’ll also need an EORI number. Have your store’s terms and conditions and your supplier agreements ready before launch.

Rules change. Check the KVK and Belastingdienst websites, or ask an adviser, before you submit anything.

How to Start a Dropshipping Business in the Netherlands?

Once the basics are clear, the process is a handful of steps.

Step 1: Choose a Profitable Niche

Don’t try to sell everything. A narrow niche is easier to market and easier to get right. Eco-friendly products, health and wellness, smart home devices, and fashion accessories all do well in the Netherlands.

Start with research. Google Trends and a keyword tool show you what people are already searching for. Then look at a few competitor stores: what they charge, how fast they deliver, what customers complain about. That last part is useful. Then ask yourself who you’re really selling to and what they expect when the parcel arrives.

Step 2: Select Reliable Dropshipping Suppliers in the Netherlands

Your supplier decides how fast orders arrive and how good the product is, so this choice can make or break the business. You can use dropshipping suppliers in the Netherlands, elsewhere in the EU, or outside Europe.

Dutch and EU suppliers usually deliver faster, deal with returns more easily, and skip import customs, though they cost more. Suppliers outside the EU are cheaper but slower, and they bring extra customs costs (more on that below). Whoever you pick, order a sample first and see if it’s good enough to put your brand on. Ask how long delivery to the Netherlands takes and what happens when a Dutch customer sends something back.

Step 3: Register Your Business and VAT in the Netherlands

To trade legally, register with the KVK. You can go in as a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak), a partnership, or a BV. A sole proprietor is personally liable for the business’s debts, while a BV limits that liability. A BV is set up through a civil-law notary, and the notary’s fee comes on top of the KVK fee.

The registration fee is €85.15 in 2026. You get a KVK number, the KVK passes your details to the Belastingdienst, and the Belastingdienst issues your VAT number.

If you’d like help with company registration in the Netherlands, our consultants at OnDemand International can take you through each step, so it’s done right the first time.

Dropshipping VAT in the Netherlands

A lot of new sellers trip over VAT, so it gets its own section.

The standard rate is 21%. A reduced 9% rate covers certain goods like food and books. Most businesses file a VAT return every quarter.

If your yearly turnover stays under €20,000, the small business scheme (KOR) lets you skip charging VAT. The catch is that you can’t deduct the VAT you pay on your business costs, so it isn’t the right choice for everyone.

Selling to consumers in other EU countries can bring those countries’ VAT rules into play. The EU One-Stop Shop (OSS) lets you report those sales through your Dutch VAT return, so you don’t have to register in each country. Check the current rules on the Belastingdienst website before you rely on it.

Customs Rules for Suppliers Outside the EU

If your supplier ships from outside the EU, customs will cut into your margin. Since 1 July 2026, a flat customs duty of €3 per item applies to parcels worth less than €150, counted per tariff category. Small parcels used to come in duty-free. The EU calls it a temporary measure while wider reforms are prepared.

What does that mean for you? Cheap products get more expensive to bring in, especially when one order contains several different items. You can build the duty into your prices, or switch to an EU-based supplier for low-priced goods.

How Long Does It Take to Start a Dropshipping Business in the Netherlands?

Most of the waiting comes from your own preparation, not from the authorities. Here’s the usual order of events.

Stage	Typical time
Choose your structure, name and address, and gather documents	A few days to two weeks, depending on how quickly you collect everything
KVK registration: sole proprietorship	You receive your KVK number at the appointment
KVK registration: BV	A few business days once the documents are ready. The notary files it with the KVK, and the KVK number arrives by letter. Foreign documents that need legalising add time
VAT number from the Belastingdienst	The numbers are normally sent within two weeks of registration. It can take longer if the company is managed from abroad
Business bank account	Can take a few weeks, because banks run identity and background checks
Supplier search, samples and store setup	Runs alongside the steps above. It depends on how fast samples arrive and how quickly you build the store

As a rough guess, expect two to six weeks from your first step to your first order. That isn’t an official figure, and it changes a lot with your structure and where you live. A sole proprietorship is usually quicker. A BV needs more preparation, but it can often be arranged without travelling to the Netherlands.

One way to save time: the KVK lets you register about a week before you start trading, and from the moment you register, the Belastingdienst treats you as an entrepreneur. From then on, you’re expected to file VAT returns.

How Much Does a Dropshipping Business Cost in the Netherlands?

The big appeal of dropshipping is the low startup cost compared with a normal shop. You only buy a product after someone has ordered it, so a small budget is enough to begin.

Your total depends on your business structure, your e-commerce platform, your marketing plan, and any professional help you hire.

Expense	Estimated cost
KVK registration	€85.15 one-time (2026)
BV notary costs	Varies by notary
Website domain	€10–€30 per year
Website hosting or Shopify plan	€25–€100 per month
Business email	€5–€15 per month
Logo and branding	€50–€300 (optional)
Marketing and advertising	€200–€2,000+ per month
Accounting and bookkeeping	Varies by business needs
Product samples	Optional but recommended

A small budget gets you started, but what keeps a store alive is the money you put into the website, marketing, and getting customers. Don’t forget the running costs either. Software, accounting and ads keep coming after launch.

Tips for Successfully Setting Up a Dropshipping Business in the Netherlands

The Dutch market is competitive, so a few habits help.

Pick products that meet local expectations on quality, sustainability and design. Automate order processing, stock updates, and customer emails as much as you can, so you’re not stuck doing admin all day. Before you set a price, add up every cost: VAT, shipping, payment fees, and any customs duty. A lot of stores lose money because they forget one of those. And watch your sales data. Try new ideas, and change direction when customers or competitors change.

Conclusion

If you want to get into European e-commerce without carrying stock or spending much upfront, it makes sense to start a dropshipping business in the Netherlands. The foundation is straightforward: register with the KVK, sort out your VAT, work with suppliers you trust, and follow Dutch and EU consumer law. The location, the logistics, and the access to the EU market do the rest.

If you’d like to register a dropshipping company in the Netherlands, OnDemand International can make it easier. We help you set up the Dutch company, apply for VAT, and meet the local requirements. Get in touch and start your dropshipping business with confidence.

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