E‑commerce in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the most advanced and dynamic e‑commerce markets in Europe. High level of internet usage, a digitally savvy population, and openness to innovation make the country particularly attractive to international retailers. Sustainability, speed and a smooth shopping experience are the focus of consumers.
The Dutch market at a glance
Strong purchasing power in Europe
The Netherlands is one of the countries with the highest purchasing power in Europe. The average per capita purchasing power in 2024 will be EUR 27,558, which is around 47% above the European average.
Solid economic growth is expected in the coming years, which will have a positive impact on consumption and e‑commerce: Forecasts predict an increase in purchasing power of several percentage points by 2029.
Digital, mobile, international
Hardly any other market is as digital, mobile and international as the Netherlands:
- Online use: 99% of the population is online
- 94% of them regularly shop online. This corresponds to around 17.5 million potential customers
- Mobile commerce: Over 70% of online purchases are made via mobile—the Netherlands is one of the most mobile-savvy markets in Europe
- Cross‑border shopping: 68% of consumers regularly order from foreign stores—most frequently in Germany and China.
Payment providers
iDEAL is by far the most popular payment method in Dutch online retail—followed by credit cards and e-wallets. “Buy Now, Pay Later” offers such as Klarna or Riverty are also being used more and more often and offer additional flexibility at checkout.
- iDeal (online banking) approx. 70%
- Credit/debit card approx. 20%
- PayPal/e-wallets approx. 8%
- BNPL (Klarna, Riverty) are increasingly popular
Most popular marketplaces
bol.com is the leading platform in Dutch e‑commerce—closely followed by marktplaats.nl and amazon.nl. Specialized providers such as coolblue.nl, ah.nl and Zalando are also among the favorites in Dutch e‑commerce.
International players such as Amazon and AliExpress are continuing to catch up.
Most popular categories by market share:
- Fashion and clothing: 34%
- Electronics: 23%
- Food and beverages: 19%
- Furniture and living: 10%
Most popular local last-mile carrier
PostNL is the leading carrier in Dutch e‑commerce and handles the majority of parcel deliveries to end customers.
The carrier is characterized above all by:
- high delivery quality and a strong first-attempt delivery rate
- a high level of brand awareness—as a result, PostNL enjoys a high level of trust among Dutch consumers
With exporto, you access PostNL directly—for a smooth delivery experience that is familiar to Dutch customers: fast, local, reliable.
Returns
At an average of 3.4-5.6%, the returns rate in Dutch e‑commerce is below the European average—only fashion items such as clothing (up to 33%) and shoes (up to 17%) stand out.
Simple return processes via local addresses, transparent conditions and fast refunds are demanded—they are key factors for purchasing decisions and customer satisfaction.
All services from a single source
From customer-friendly delivery options to seamless returns management to real-time tracking and data-based analyses — exporto combines all services for your international growth in one end-to-end solution.
Fast delivery
Offer your customers in Europe an outstanding customer experience—with the shortest processing times, individual shipping options for each destination country and deliveries by the most popular last-mile carriers.
Seamless integration
Thanks to simple API integration, our services fit seamlessly into your existing set-up—flexibly, individually and with minimal technical effort.
Full transparency
With the help of an intuitive dashboard, you can keep an eye on the status of your international shipments in real time—with automated data synchronization for maximum transparency.
Partner who complement our solution in the Dutch market
VDS Fulfillment
VDS Fulfillment offers tailor-made eCommerce logistics solutions centrally from the heart of Germany: fulfilment, personalisation, shipping of advertising materials - all from a single source.
Learn more
FineCom
FineCom is your fulfilment partner for e-commerce, returns & value-added services - personal, innovative & with a real hands-on mentality.
Learn more
B+S Logistik
B+S GmbH Logistik und Dienstleistungen, based in Borgholzhausen, is a full-service provider for customised logistics and service concepts.
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byrd
byrd gives e-commerce brands access to a European logistics network that enables them to scale efficiently and significantly improve their customer experience.
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Mollie
Simple payments and financial management for all companies: online payments, POS payments, recurring payments, invoicing, platform payments within Europe.
Learn more
PlentyONE
PlentyONE connects brands, manufacturers, and retailers to over 150 marketplaces worldwide – seamlessly, automatically, and flexibly scalable.
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T4DT
T4DT GmbH develops smart software solutions and optimizes business processes with a focus on automation and artificial intelligence
Learn moreWe are looking forward to hearing from you!
With our end‑to‑end solution, you get all services from a single source: Logistics, tax, customs and software. Everything is perfectly coordinated and as simple as “plug & play”.
Max Pauly
Business Development Representative
