Freight Shipping between China and the Netherlands | DocShipper

Do you desire to do the import and export business between China and Netherlands? Are you a newcomer in this field and find everything so complicated? Not sure about various regulations and the requirements of documents during the whole process? With our instructions in this destination guide, we can offer you the assistance that enables you to know the merits and demerits of different transportation modes, and various shipping terms, including freight shipping from China to the Netherlands, etc. In conclusion, we will always be at the side of our clients to assist them with our expertise and knowledge to make their international business life easier.

Sea freight from China to the Netherlands

Overview - Ocean shipping from China to the Netherlands

Bilateral trade between China and the Netherlands continued to grow in 2021 despite ongoing challenges in the global economy. According to the data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, the total trade volume between China and the Netherlands reached $121.34 billion in 2021, an increase of 18.3% compared to the previous year.

In 2021, China's imports from the Netherlands reached $21.61 billion, while its exports to the Netherlands amounted to $99.73 billion.

There are main four ports in Holland, and most of them contribute to the trade relationship between China and Netherlands. In recent years, not only has the investment from China to the Netherlands is increasing, the shipping from China to the Netherlands is uprising as well. Ocean shipping places a large role in the bilateral relationship.

The main shipping seaports in Netherlands

Port of Rotterdam

In 1961, it became the world's largest port, surpassing the Port of New York (180 million tons) for the first time in terms of throughput. In 2000, it reached a record high of 320 million tons and has remained so ever since. Rotterdam annual inbound ships more than 30,000, sailing to the European countries more than 120,000 river vessels. The Port of Rotterdam has the most advanced ECT container terminal in the world, with an annual transport capacity of 6.4 million TEUs, ranking fourth in the world. The Port of Rotterdam employs more than 70,000 people, accounting for 1.4% of the national workforce, and 78% of the country's cargo volume, with a total output value of 12 billion guilders, accounting for about 2.5% of the Netherlands' gross national product.

Website: Port of Rotterdam

Port of Amsterdam

It's the second largest seaport in the Netherlands, and the first large stevedore port in the world. In order to meet the growing demand for the transport of goods, the port authorities have been working since the spring of 1993 on the construction of an international multimodal freight transport center to serve the port's production. It will be located in the western part of the port, on a 65-hectare site with a 1,000m deep-water quay and facilities for loading and unloading ro-ro vessels. The center will have 300,000 square meters of the open yard and office buildings and will be paved with the port's rail network. It will be fully equipped with warehousing facilities, trucks, and in-truck handling equipment. The construction of the intermodal center reflects the Port of Amsterdam's new strategy for port development.

Website: Port of Amsterdam

Zeeland Seaports

Among European seaports, Zeeland Seaports lies on No. 8 for freight traffic. And among the Hamburg - Le Havre range, it accounts for No. 5. The added-value is 14 billion euros, which is a relatively high amount in the same industry. Multi-functional, multi-modal, with plenty of room for growth, that's the Zeeland Seaports. It entails very different types of cargo coming through terminals and open the hinterland through various modes of transport, with a focus on inland waterways, providing space for development, with a business park of over 1,000 hectares.

Website: Zeeland Seaports

Groningen Seaports

Groningen Seaports is the most major port for the ports of Delfzijl, Eemshaven, and adjacent industrial sites. It offers full coverage of assistance to its industry as well as business customers, from logistics and infrastructure services to site development and maintenance of the two-port areas. It's maybe not as famous and renowned as other ports, though it still exerts influential effects on the shipping and logistics industry to a large extent.

Website: Groningen Seaports

How much time does it take to ship freight from China to the Netherlands?

The average sea freight shipping time from China to the Netherlands is between 22 and 36 days. And this will vary depending on several factors such as customs formalities, and the distance between the different ports. As well as other factors.

	Rotterdam	Amsterdam	Zeeland Seaports	Groningen Seaports
Shanghai	27	33	31	32
Shenzhen	22	33	29	34
Guangzhou	26	30	30	30
Qingdao	31	34	34	31
Tianjin	33	35	32	33
Ningbo	28	31	30	34
Dalian	32	32	35	36

FCL (Full Container Load)

This way of delivery is the most common, but also the most efficient because from beginning to end, the goods will not be unloaded and distributed to the consolidation warehouse. FCL enables you to forward large volumes of goods, and as you own the usage of the whole container, it should be faster compared with LCL. Your container is sealed during the whole shipping process, thus bringing down the instability and fees.

If you want to load exceptionally large goods (such as a piece of very big furniture for example), you have the choice between Open top container or Flat rack container.

Special maritime transport between China and Netherlands

The size of your shipment, as well as the commodity and etc. will determine the type of container you will need. Please check the following ways of the method if you are going to ship goods.

Reefer container

Refrigerated container, always referred to as Reefer container, provides with temperature maintenance in the container itself. It can transport goods under specific temperatures, always used for food, vegetables, fruits, or other chemical stuff.

Ro-Ro

A ro-ro is a type of vessel used to transport vehicles loaded by a ramp. They are also known as Ro-Ro, from the word roll-on/roll-off. RORO is the easiest and cheapest way to transport vehicles. The vehicles are driven directly to the RORO vessel and secured to the car deck. They are safely stowed inside the boat and are weatherproof and waterproof.

Bulk

Bulk goods are basically loaded in their natural form and transported on trucks, ships, planes, and other means of transport without packaging. They are mainly bulk cargoes in the block, granular, powder, or liquid forms such as grain, ore, cement, crude oil, scrap iron, and steel.

OOG

Out of Guage, Cargo that exceeds any of the standard external dimensions of the means (container) in which the cargo is carried in terms of length, width, and height. These types of cargo are frequently loaded on a platform or trailer for transport.

How much does sea freight between China and Netherlands cost?

If you want to export or import, it is important to know specific information about your goods, say, the demension and the weight of your goods. In fact, shipping pricing is always based on a weight/volume ratio. In order to save the quotation time, try to figure out specific information first then send your inquiry.

Should you have any questions or inquiries, contact our sea freight expert directly by filling out our online form.

Air freight from China to Netherlands

Traditional or express air freight

Air shipments are a frequent choice for importers since as a means of transportation between these two territories, it's of great safety, efficiency.

Check the major two types of air freight: conventional air freight and express air freight.

These two are various from each other due to the price and service:

Traditional air cargo will exploit the space available on conventional airlines such as Air France, Air China, Qatar Airways, Emirates...
Express air freight will use courier companies such as DHL, FedEx, TNT, UPS...

What are the advantages of air transport?

Air travel brings the most satisfactory speed.

Generally, transit time from China is no more than 7 business days. Actually it always takes only 3 - 5 days, which is much faster compared with sea freight. And it's acknowledged that the delivery time matters a lot in the whole selling process.

Airfreight belongs to the several links of the logistics chain, and except for this, you'll need (at least) import and export services, including airport fees, customs clearance, etc. All of these services will be provided by DocShipper.

How much does air freight transport between China and Netherlands cost?

If you are going to calculate the air freight cost, remember to count all the costs, not only the airport charges, but also others regarding documentation, declaration fees, and taxes, as well as customs duties...

Keep in mind that Traditional air freight companies charge less than the courier companies since they don't require higher fixed fees. And regarding the weight and dimensions, the carrier will choose the one of great importance value.

How do you calculate the volumetric weight of your shipment?

The basic rate is a weight band rate, rapidly decreasing, with a minimum charge for very small shipments for the traditional freight. And express freight provides a rate per step depending on the dimensions of your goods as well. As it suggested, the carrier will base the rate on the greater of the gross weight and the volumetric weight, which is calculated as follows:

Conventional Air Freight: 1 m³ = 167 Kgs
Express Air Freight: 1 m³ = 200 kgs

Rail freight from China to the Netherlands

Rail transport from China to the Netherlands

The rail section to the Netherlands was opened in 2016. Tilburg is actually an ideal location from where we can connect to Rotterdam, Moerdijk, and even the UK and France. In addition, many large international companies have chosen to have a distribution point in Tilburg. From China to the Netherlands, it's electrical goods, such as laptops, as well as new ready-to-wear and footwear, while from the Netherlands to China, it's European brand names, from beer and wine to cars such as Land Rovers and Bentleys, and even complete industrial equipment.

And now, from China to the Netherlands, it only takes 15 days if you choose the route Chengdu-Tilburg - Rotterdam Express, which is the fastest and direct way.

What are the advantages of rail transport between China and Netherlands?

As we know that, compared with airfreight, Rail transport is cheaper and compared with sea freight, rail transport is faster, it is more and more applied in many business between China and the Netherlands. So, what exactly are the merits of rail transport?

Transit time is greatly shortened- around 15-20 days.
Either LCL or FCL will be taken depending on your goods.
For most people, it's environmentally friendly compared with other tools.
It's can be applied with special transports and other containers, such as open tops, reefers, tanks.

Door-to-door delivery between China and Netherlands

What does it mean by door-to-door delivery? It means you don't have to take care of all the process, it including all the services from the beginning of the collection to your inclined destination.

The good news is that's what we do in DocShipper, whether you need sea, air or rail transport, we will offer our assistance in the whole process, with a reliable and professional attitude: packing, storage, loading/unloading, customs clearance, international freight, trucking...

Why is door-to-door service useful?

Actually, door-to-door service means"all-inclusive". If you are not familiar with all the processes and inclined to avoid the scams during the logistic process, try to hire a professional agent to carry out your tasks.

This service makes your business more smooth, and you are not only going to save money, you are going to save your time and energy.

If you need help, don't hesitate to hire a professional agent, since it's what we do in DocShipper!

Click here to take a look at our dedicated page that provides more details about this service: Door-to-door service

Otherwise, you can directly fill in our online form

Customs clearance in Netherlands / European Union for goods imported from China

We will be detailing the customs clearance from China to Netherlands/Euopean Union, since it's sometimes the same rules. All imported products are subject to customs debt. This is payable upon acceptance of a statement requesting MLP (Release of free practice).

Customs debt consists of tariffs that allow MLPs and VAT that allows MACs. And this should be bear in mind since it counts as the most necessary one in the process. Netherlands and EU have set specific rules about it.

And below we have listed all the information you should be aware of.

The value for duty

Imported goods will be charged duties and taxes when entering in Netherlands as well as EU. The amount of taxes will be figures out based on the total value of the imported products.

The tax value

"First destination value" is another well known name for the tax value. This is always be referred as the proof when VAT is to be charged- called as "Release for Consumption or MAC".

The taxable amount should include followings :

Except for the VAT, it should be charged based on taxes, duties, levies, and other charges that occurs because of the import.
Costs along with the transaction process, for instance, commission, packaging, transport, and insurance costs incurred until the arrival of Netherlands territory.

How to calculate customs duties and taxes?

It's essential for you to know the duties and taxes on the goods you are importing into the Netherlands. Part of the merchandise is going to be taxed largely, in contrast, others are lighter or even exempt from duties and taxes.

First step: determine your goods' tariff type. We can call it the "HS code" as well.

Basically, there are 3 concepts when it comes to the choice of the customs treatment to your goods. Except for origin and customs value, Tariff type remains the major one.

HS Codes are important for government officials to identify goods being imported and exported in order to collect the proper taxes. HS Codes stands for Harmonized System Codes. ... They identify products that are being imported or exported through a country's borders.

The Harmonized System (HS Code) is used by the government authorities to identify products that are imported and exported for collecting the right taxes. It has already covered more than 95% of the world and applied by 207 countries.

The composition of an HS Code is as follows

How do I find the HS Code?

The easiest way to find out the HS code of your merchandise is to ask your supplier for it, since he should be familiar with this if he sells his products for export.

And also, you can check it by yourself by searching the tariff database of any country using the "Harmonized System" and just typing your keyword.

Calculate applicable tariff with the HS code

If you have problems, please check the Netherlands Customs Website for more knowledge about the HS code.

And here we are going to calculate applicable tarriff with the HS code, since its from EU, so go on this link (Free Trade Agreement Portal European Union), you will get a page like this :

We will see this together as below with European website customs :

Filled your information of following two, along with our screenshots:

Your HS Code
Origin of goods

Check the duties and taxes applied to your product

Required documents

Bill of Lading

Document issued by the carrier. It refers to the basis for dealing with the rights and obligations of both parties in transport between the carrier and the shipper. Although generally it is not signed by both sides of a contract, the main items such as the name of the ship, sailing date, route, port of call, and other related freight items, is well known. It is also customary to become the basis for dealing with various problems in transport in the future. To know more about Bill of Lading, read this guide. It may be an AWB (airwaybill) for air cargo.

Packing List

It should be completed by the shipper and including the following: weight (gross and net), dimensions, contents, the numbering of each package in the shipment, and any identifying features (e.g. serial numbers). It may also be used as a proof to identify if there are items damaged; most importantly, the buyer only pays duty depending on what he had received.

Original Invoice

Remember to check if the original invoice and the packing list are remained the same. No matter in which part of the world, the original invoice is required to clear your goods through customs.

Certificate of Origin

This document is used in international trade that traditionally indicates the country of origin of the goods shipped, but the term "origin" in a Certificate of Origin (CO) means the country of the goods manufactured instead of the country from which the goods are shipped. Verifying the country of origin of the goods being shipped is the purpose of the CO. It indicates that the goods being exported were manufactured in a particular country. It plays an important role for the preferential tax rate of the product.

Documents of conformity (CE standard)

Product compliance documents, such as test reports, technical documentation, declarations of conformity and product certificates, show that a product is manufactured in accordance with the applicable product safety standards and regulations in your target market.

Your EORI number (Economic Operator Registration Identification)

Mandatory for all companies that import or export goods. If you don't remember, go to the pro-customs portal and get it from your SIRET number.

Restricted and prohibited products

Actuallly, Netherlands is relatively flexible about permits and licenses. On the other hand, certain categories of products are subject to restrictions or even totally banned, it is important to be aware of them to avoid any problems.

Transport insurances

Calculation generally applied: premium rate x reported amount

Insurances are important when it comes to everything. Before your payment, remember to check it as what we suggest here: The rate is variable according to the mode of transport, the nature of the goods... The insurance value declared by the subscriber (generally national costs + costs related to the main transport), the uses allow increasing the insured value by a maximum of 20%. And also, this rate is not fixed all the time, it varies along with the nature and category of your goods.

More info on our dedicated page: Insurance services

Supplier Management in China

Don't start to find a supplier when other thing are finished, we will contact your supplier in the first place and guarantee that you have the right and best product. We know more precisely the characteristics of the product (CE standards) and will go through them with a fine comb (especially the condition + packaging). Your products will not leave without proper packaging if under DocShipper's supervision.

The operation will run smoothly from start to finish (whatever the incoterm) and our staff is fluent in Mandarin / English / French in order, among other things, to verify the dimensions and HS code of your goods.

More info on our dedicated page: Sourcing Services

3PL Service

Order fulfilment/packaging/labelling: With our warehouse in Camporosso in Northern Italy, we can store your inventory and prepare all your orders on a daily basis. Even supply chain is very complex and maybe you will encounter so many trouble, we'll take care of all the services you are going to need to deal with(packaging, inventory, labelling, fulfilment).

Delivery to the last mile: As a company who offers 3PL service, we naturally provide B2C delivery services for E-Commerce. We can deliver your customers within 48 hours with our warehouse in central Europe.

More info on our dedicated page: 3PL Services

FAQ |FREIGHT SHIPPING BETWEEN CHINA AND THE NETHERLANDS | DOCSHIPPER

How much time does it take to ship from China to the Netherlands?

You can choose an express solution (DHL, FedEx...) for delivery in less than 5 days door to door. Traditional air freight will be much slower and delivery time will be around 7 days. Rail freight,about 15-20 days while sea freight 35-40 days.

What is the fastest rail freight from China to Netherlands?

The most direct way will be Chengdu - Tilburg - Rotterdam Express, in this way, you can ship your goods within 15 days, which is faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight.

How will DocShipper help you?

We built our business model about the fact to assist customer on all the product cycle : Sourcing services : Finding supplier (usually in China), quality control, compliance (as our customer usually come from regulated countries such US, Europe...). Shipping services : we can help you with various needs in differen regions. We provide distribution services : actually we called it 3PL (Third Part Logistics), basically we store goods, inventory management, order fulfillment and last mile delivery (this is focus for E-Merchant). Our objective for the customer : Focus on your marketing/sales, let us handle the rest.

How to ship from Alibaba to the Netherlands?

Shipping from Alibaba to the Netherlands involves several steps, which include finding a supplier, negotiating a deal, and arranging for the shipment to be delivered to the Netherlands.

How much does it cost to ship a container from China to the Netherlands?

The most common container sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot containers. The cost of shipping a 20-foot container from China to the Netherlands can range from $800 to $2,000, while the cost of shipping a 40-foot container can range from $1,500 to $3,500. It's important to note that these are only general guidelines, and the actual cost of shipping a container from China to the Netherlands will depend on various factors such as the specific ports, the shipping company, and any additional fees or charges. It's recommended to obtain a quote from a freight forwarder or shipping company to get an accurate estimate of the cost.

DocShipper Advise : We help you with the entire sourcing process so don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

Having trouble finding the appropriate product? Enjoy our sourcing services, we directly find the right suppliers for you!
You don't trust your supplier? Ask our experts to do quality control to guarantee the condition of your goods!
Do you need help with the logistics? Our international freight department supports you with door to door services!
You don't want to handle distribution? Our 3PL department will handle the storage, order fulfillment, and last-mile delivery!

Freight Shipping between China and the Netherlands | DocShipper

Air ✈️ | Sea 🛳 | Truck 🚚 - All you need to know to ship from China to Netherlands | Process & Rates - Learn more about our services and get your FREE quote now!

What is the best method of transport between China and Netherlands?

Sea freight from China to the Netherlands

Overview - Ocean shipping from China to the Netherlands

The main shipping seaports in Netherlands

Port of Rotterdam

Port of Amsterdam

Zeeland Seaports

Groningen Seaports

How much time does it take to ship freight from China to the Netherlands?

What type of container should I choose for shipping between China and the Netherlands?

Less than Container Load (LCL)

FCL (Full Container Load)

Advantages of Maritime Groupage (LCL)

Disadvantages of LCL

Advantages of the Full Container (FCL)

Disadvantages of the Full Container

Special maritime transport between China and Netherlands

Reefer container

Ro-Ro

Bulk

OOG

How much does sea freight between China and Netherlands cost?

Air freight from China to Netherlands

Traditional or express air freight

Main Chinese airports

Main Netherlands airports

What are the advantages of air transport?

How much does air freight transport between China and Netherlands cost?

How do you calculate the volumetric weight of your shipment?

How much time does it take to ship air cargo from China to the Netherlands?

Rail freight from China to the Netherlands

Rail transport from China to the Netherlands

What are the advantages of rail transport between China and Netherlands?

Door-to-door delivery between China and Netherlands

Why is door-to-door service useful?

Customs clearance in Netherlands / European Union for goods imported from China

The value for duty

The value for duty

The statistical value or value for duty

The tax value

What are the customs duties and taxes?

Customs duties

Anti-dumping duties

Agricultural levies

Excise duties

VAT

How to calculate customs duties and taxes?

How do I find the HS Code?

Calculate applicable tariff with the HS code

Check the duties and taxes applied to your product

Does Docshipper charge duty?

Procedure and customs contact

Chinese Customs

Netherlands Customs

Required documents

Bill of Lading

Packing List

Original Invoice

Certificate of Origin

Documents of conformity (CE standard)

Your EORI number (Economic Operator Registration Identification)

Restricted and prohibited products

Restricted Products

Prohibited products

Are there any agreements between China and the Netherlands?

Top 7 freight forwarders in the Netherlands

Other logistics services

Warehousing and storage

Packaging and repackaging

Transport insurances

Supplier Management in China

3PL Service

Shipment of personal effects

FAQ |FREIGHT SHIPPING BETWEEN CHINA AND THE NETHERLANDS | DOCSHIPPER

How much time does it take to ship from China to the Netherlands?

What is the fastest rail freight from China to Netherlands?

How will DocShipper help you?

How to ship from Alibaba to the Netherlands?