Netherlands customs
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Free import
• From another EU country: goods for your own use can be brought in without customs duties. Per traveler aged 17 or older, Dutch Customs allows 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco, 10 L of spirits (over 22% alcohol), 20 L of liqueur or fortified wine (up to 22%), 90 L of wine (of which no more than 60 L of sparkling wine) and 110 L of beer. You may carry more only if you can show, for example with receipts, that it is for personal use; otherwise it is taxed or seized.
• From a non-EU country, for travelers aged 17 or older: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, or a proportional mix of these (for example 125 g of tobacco and 25 cigars). E-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches may be brought in for personal use only, not for resale.
• From a non-EU country, for travelers aged 17 or older: 1 L of spirits over 22% alcohol or 2 L of drinks under 22% alcohol (such as liqueur or sparkling wine), or a proportional mix, plus 4 L of still wine and 16 L of beer.
• From a non-EU country: other goods (purchases, gifts and pets) up to a total value of EUR 430 per traveler arriving by plane or ship, or EUR 300 per person arriving by private aircraft or private boat. The allowance is per person and an item worth more than the allowance is taxed on its full value. Purchases from duty-free shops outside the Netherlands count toward the allowance.
• Personal belongings you take on your trip, such as a camera or laptop. Carry the receipt for valuable items to show that they were bought in the EU.
• Medicines for your own use, preferably in the original packaging and in your hand luggage.
Currency
• The currency of the Netherlands is the euro (EUR).
• Travelers entering the EU in the Netherlands from a non-EU country must declare cash or gold worth EUR 10,000 or more in total (including foreign currency, gold bars and nuggets of at least 99.5% gold and gold coins of at least 90% gold) on the cash declaration form. The declaration is made where you enter the EU; this also applies if the money belongs to someone else. Not declaring, or declaring incorrectly, can lead to a fine of at least EUR 1,000 or imprisonment.
• Travelers arriving directly from another EU country do not need to declare cash or gold in the Netherlands.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis (hashish), cocaine and heroin, and drug precursors. The tolerated sale of cannabis in coffee shops applies only on those premises; bringing drugs into the country, or buying or possessing them elsewhere, including while transiting through Dutch airports, is illegal and can lead to a prison sentence.
• Meat, milk, dairy products, eggs and other products of animal origin from non-EU countries (limited exceptions are listed under Restricted).
• Protected animal and plant species and products made from them (CITES) without a CITES permit, for example ivory, coral, large shells, shark products, caviar, reptile-skin bags and belts, furs, wild orchids and cacti, and traditional medicines containing protected species. Such items are seized.
• Certain goods from Russia covered by EU sanctions (Annex XXI of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014); no exemptions are possible.
Restricted
• Weapons and ammunition may be brought in only with a license from the Dutch government (issued through the Central Import and Export Office, CDIU). This includes firearms, airsoft weapons, tasers and stun devices, alarm weapons, pepper spray and tear gas, stilettos, folding knives with more than one cutting edge or longer than 28 cm when open, knuckledusters, blackjacks, nunchakus, throwing stars and catapults.
• Food of animal origin from non-EU countries allowed without a health certificate: up to 20 kg of fish or fish products (not protected species), up to 125 g of caviar in a container with a CITES label, sweets and chocolate, up to 2 kg of infant formula in unopened packaging of a registered brand, and special medical food in unopened packaging.
• Plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables and seeds from non-EU countries (except Switzerland and Liechtenstein) need a phytosanitary certificate issued by the country of departure, even for small quantities.
• Medicines covered by the Dutch Opium Act, such as sleeping pills, strong painkillers, ADHD medicines and medicinal cannabis, require a certificate (for example a Schengen certificate when arriving from another Schengen country). Which certificate you need depends on the country you travel from; ask your doctor or pharmacy. Carry the certificate also when only transiting through a Dutch airport.
• Counterfeit goods (fake brand items) may be brought in only in your own luggage for yourself, your family or as gifts, not for sale. Counterfeit goods ordered online may be seized.
• Cultural goods, such as works of art, antiques, archaeological objects, old documents and manuscripts, may not cross EU borders without a valid import or export permit.
• Pets (dogs, cats, ferrets): a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks of age or older and at least 21 days before arrival (so animals younger than 15 weeks cannot enter), and an EU pet passport or, from a non-EU country, an EU health certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival plus an owner's declaration. From countries with a high rabies risk, a rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) taken at least 30 days after vaccination and 90 days before travel is also required. No more than 5 pets per traveler, not for sale. Pets that do not meet the rules may be quarantined or sent back at the owner's expense.
• Goods above the duty-free allowances, pets arriving from non-EU countries and goods that need a permit must be declared: use the "Goods to declare / Aangifte goederen" exit at the airport or port. Not declaring can lead to a fine on top of the tax.
• From another EU country: goods for your own use can be brought in without customs duties. Per traveler aged 17 or older, Dutch Customs allows 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco, 10 L of spirits (over 22% alcohol), 20 L of liqueur or fortified wine (up to 22%), 90 L of wine (of which no more than 60 L of sparkling wine) and 110 L of beer. You may carry more only if you can show, for example with receipts, that it is for personal use; otherwise it is taxed or seized.
• From a non-EU country, for travelers aged 17 or older: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, or a proportional mix of these (for example 125 g of tobacco and 25 cigars). E-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches may be brought in for personal use only, not for resale.
• From a non-EU country, for travelers aged 17 or older: 1 L of spirits over 22% alcohol or 2 L of drinks under 22% alcohol (such as liqueur or sparkling wine), or a proportional mix, plus 4 L of still wine and 16 L of beer.
• From a non-EU country: other goods (purchases, gifts and pets) up to a total value of EUR 430 per traveler arriving by plane or ship, or EUR 300 per person arriving by private aircraft or private boat. The allowance is per person and an item worth more than the allowance is taxed on its full value. Purchases from duty-free shops outside the Netherlands count toward the allowance.
• Personal belongings you take on your trip, such as a camera or laptop. Carry the receipt for valuable items to show that they were bought in the EU.
• Medicines for your own use, preferably in the original packaging and in your hand luggage.
Currency
• The currency of the Netherlands is the euro (EUR).
• Travelers entering the EU in the Netherlands from a non-EU country must declare cash or gold worth EUR 10,000 or more in total (including foreign currency, gold bars and nuggets of at least 99.5% gold and gold coins of at least 90% gold) on the cash declaration form. The declaration is made where you enter the EU; this also applies if the money belongs to someone else. Not declaring, or declaring incorrectly, can lead to a fine of at least EUR 1,000 or imprisonment.
• Travelers arriving directly from another EU country do not need to declare cash or gold in the Netherlands.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis (hashish), cocaine and heroin, and drug precursors. The tolerated sale of cannabis in coffee shops applies only on those premises; bringing drugs into the country, or buying or possessing them elsewhere, including while transiting through Dutch airports, is illegal and can lead to a prison sentence.
• Meat, milk, dairy products, eggs and other products of animal origin from non-EU countries (limited exceptions are listed under Restricted).
• Protected animal and plant species and products made from them (CITES) without a CITES permit, for example ivory, coral, large shells, shark products, caviar, reptile-skin bags and belts, furs, wild orchids and cacti, and traditional medicines containing protected species. Such items are seized.
• Certain goods from Russia covered by EU sanctions (Annex XXI of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014); no exemptions are possible.
Restricted
• Weapons and ammunition may be brought in only with a license from the Dutch government (issued through the Central Import and Export Office, CDIU). This includes firearms, airsoft weapons, tasers and stun devices, alarm weapons, pepper spray and tear gas, stilettos, folding knives with more than one cutting edge or longer than 28 cm when open, knuckledusters, blackjacks, nunchakus, throwing stars and catapults.
• Food of animal origin from non-EU countries allowed without a health certificate: up to 20 kg of fish or fish products (not protected species), up to 125 g of caviar in a container with a CITES label, sweets and chocolate, up to 2 kg of infant formula in unopened packaging of a registered brand, and special medical food in unopened packaging.
• Plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables and seeds from non-EU countries (except Switzerland and Liechtenstein) need a phytosanitary certificate issued by the country of departure, even for small quantities.
• Medicines covered by the Dutch Opium Act, such as sleeping pills, strong painkillers, ADHD medicines and medicinal cannabis, require a certificate (for example a Schengen certificate when arriving from another Schengen country). Which certificate you need depends on the country you travel from; ask your doctor or pharmacy. Carry the certificate also when only transiting through a Dutch airport.
• Counterfeit goods (fake brand items) may be brought in only in your own luggage for yourself, your family or as gifts, not for sale. Counterfeit goods ordered online may be seized.
• Cultural goods, such as works of art, antiques, archaeological objects, old documents and manuscripts, may not cross EU borders without a valid import or export permit.
• Pets (dogs, cats, ferrets): a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks of age or older and at least 21 days before arrival (so animals younger than 15 weeks cannot enter), and an EU pet passport or, from a non-EU country, an EU health certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival plus an owner's declaration. From countries with a high rabies risk, a rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) taken at least 30 days after vaccination and 90 days before travel is also required. No more than 5 pets per traveler, not for sale. Pets that do not meet the rules may be quarantined or sent back at the owner's expense.
• Goods above the duty-free allowances, pets arriving from non-EU countries and goods that need a permit must be declared: use the "Goods to declare / Aangifte goederen" exit at the airport or port. Not declaring can lead to a fine on top of the tax.