Countries · NL
Netherlands: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 49 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Netherlands.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Netherlands in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Netherlands may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
49 entries on the official lists name Netherlands — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 41 | 41 | — | — |
| US OFAC — Consolidated (Non-SDN) Lists | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| UN Security Council Consolidated List | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Netherlands recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Netherlands: logistics and trade
Logistics hub of Europe / Gateway
The Netherlands (NL) is Europe's central logistics gateway and a hub for goods moving between overseas markets and the EU single market. As a member of the EU customs union and the eurozone, Dutch Customs (Douane) processes imports and exports electronically through the DMS system, which has replaced AGS; the standard import VAT (BTW) rate is 21 percent (reduced 9 percent), and the Article 23 licence allows import VAT to be deferred to the tax return. Its key gateways are Rotterdam, Europe's largest container port (around 14.2 million TEU in 2025), followed by Amsterdam, North Sea Port and Moerdijk; in air freight Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) leads. The dedicated Betuweroute freight railway, a dense inland-waterway network in the Rhine-Meuse delta and motorways such as the A15 and A12 connect the ports to the German and central European hinterland. Typical goods include containers, mineral oil and chemicals, agricultural and horticultural products and e-commerce shipments; the main trading partners are Germany, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Population
- 18,131,238
- Area
- 41,543 km²
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Continent
- Europe
- Region
- Benelux
- Economic area
- EU / Eurozone / Schengen / Benelux
- Religions
- Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Humanism
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Inland waterway · Road · Rail · Air · Pipeline
- Current situation
- Rotterdam remained Europe's largest container port in 2025 with around 14,2 Mio TEU (plus 3,1 percent); Schiphol air cargo around 1,43 Mio tonnes. The DMS customs system has fully replaced AGS. (As of 2026-07-18)
- Seasonal conditions
- Maritime climate; autumn and winter storms on the North Sea can disrupt shipping, and low Rhine water levels in summer can restrict inland navigation.
Main seaports
- Rotterdam
Rotterdam (NL RTM): Europe's largest seaport, 14.2M TEU in 2025, automated Maasvlakte terminals and Rhine hinterland to Basel handling every cargo type.
- Amsterdam
Amsterdam (NL AMS): Europe's largest petroleum and gasoline port and top cocoa-import harbour, 74M t in 2024. Containers move via Rotterdam.
- Dordrecht
Dordrecht (NL DOR): the Netherlands' most inland seaport — 5.8m tonnes of bulk (2022), steel, project cargo, shipbuilding. Containers route via Rotterdam.
- Europoort
Europoort (NL EUR): deep-water tankers, liquid/dry bulk, RoRo; P&O daily Tilbury, weekly Hull; Rotterdam 212 Mt H1 2026 (+0.4%). Rail/barge hinterland to Germany/CH.
- Vlissingen
Vlissingen (NL VLI): breakbulk, ro-ro and bulk port in the North Sea Port group on the Western Scheldt. Cargo, terminals, customs and alternatives.
- Ijmuiden
IJmuiden (NL IJM): sea gate to the North Sea Canal, DFDS Newcastle ferry, major fish landings, Tata Steel bulk, offshore wind base. Containers via Amsterdam.
Main cargo airports
- Amsterdam Airport SchipholAMS
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): about 1.43 million tonnes of air cargo in 2025, KLM/Martinair hub, world centre for flowers and pharma, Swissport expansion, RFS network.
- Maastricht Aachen AirportMST
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST/EHBK): 41,636 t cargo in 2025 (+40%), freighters from Turkish, Ethiopian, Emirates SkyCargo; perishables, pharma, 24h customs.
- Eindhoven AirportEIN
Eindhoven Airport (EIN): the Netherlands' second-busiest airport, civilian traffic on an active air base with A330 MRTT fleet, no commercial cargo infrastructure.
Road corridors
- A15 / Betuwe corridor Rotterdam-Ruhr area
- A12 Rotterdam-Utrecht-Arnhem-DE
- A2 Amsterdam-Eindhoven-Maastricht
- A16 Rotterdam-Antwerp
Rail corridors
- Betuweroute (Rotterdam-Emmerich, dedicated freight railway)
- Rhine-Alpine Corridor (RFC1)
- Rotterdam-Venlo-Duisburg
Inland ports
- Nijmegen
- Born
- Moerdijk
- Meppel
Main trade lanes
- Netherlands-Germany
- Netherlands-Belgium
- Netherlands-United Kingdom
- Asia-Rotterdam (deep-sea)
- Netherlands-USA
Customs and import
Customs authority Douane (part of the Belastingdienst)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- EU Customs Code (UCC); electronic import declaration via the DMS system (Douaneaangiften Management Systeem), which has replaced AGS.
- Export customs system
- Electronic export declaration via DMS Uitvoer (AES/ECS), which has replaced AGS Uitvoer; UCC-compliant.
- Import VAT
- Import VAT (BTW) standard rate 21 percent (reduced 9 percent, 0 percent). With an Article 23 licence, import VAT is shifted to the tax return instead of being paid at the border.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- EU preference proofs: movement certificate EUR.1/EUR-MED, origin declaration (REX system) and supplier declaration; EU free trade agreements apply.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Restrictions include, among others, weapons, drugs, counterfeit goods, CITES species, waste shipments (EVOA) as well as food and veterinary controls under EU law.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Import declaration (DMS)
- Preference proof (EUR.1 / origin declaration)
- Transport document (B/L, CMR, AWB)
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Export declaration (DMS/AES)
- Proof of origin
- Transport document (B/L, CMR, AWB)
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium
- Customs delays
- Low to medium
- Port congestion
- Medium
- Dangerous goods relevance
- High
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- High
- E-commerce relevance
- Very high
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Machinery
- Crude oil
- Vehicles
- Pharmaceuticals
- Electronics
Top export goods
- Machinery
- Petroleum products
- Chemicals
- Food
- Flowers
Typical cargo
- Containers
- Mineral oil and chemicals
- Agricultural and horticultural products
- Machinery
- E-commerce shipments
Upcoming public holidays
- Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Boxing Day / Second Christmas DaySat, 26 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- Good FridayFri, 26 Mar 2027
- Easter SundaySun, 28 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Easter MondayMon, 29 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- King's DayTue, 27 Apr 2027 · businesses closed
- Liberation DayWed, 5 May 2027
Latest logistics news
- High Diesel Prices: IRU Calls for Targeted Support for Transport Operators2 Nov 2026
The IRU demands relief measures due to high diesel prices. An association's demand does not yet replace a government decision on state aid.
- EU Parliament Wants to Relieve Small Businesses of Packaging Representative Obligations28 Oct 2026
The EU Parliament wants to relieve certain small companies of the authorized representative requirement. The position is not yet a valid exception.
- Container Spot Rates from Asia to Europe on the Rise27 Oct 2026
Drewry reports higher container spot rates to Rotterdam and Genoa. A sustainable trend reversal is not yet secured.
- Twentekanaal: Maersk Imposes €178 Surcharge for Rerouting27 Oct 2026
Maersk charges an additional rerouting fee for affected container services via Hengelo, Doesburg, and Almelo. A low water surcharge may be added on top.
- Rhine Low Water Levels Impact Hinterland Traffic to Basel and Rotterdam-Antwerp24 Oct 2026
Low water levels on the Rhine reduce loading capacity in Duisburg-Ruhrort by approximately one-third and strain hinterland transport between Rotterdam/Antwerp and Basel/Duisburg.
Logistics questions
Which port is most important for imports into the Netherlands?
Rotterdam is Europe's largest port (around 14,2 Mio TEU in 2025) and the main sea gateway; Amsterdam, North Sea Port and Moerdijk are also relevant.
What is the import VAT (BTW) rate?
The standard rate is 21 percent and the reduced rate is 9 percent. With an Article 23 licence, import VAT is shifted to the tax return instead of being paid at the border.
What is the Article 23 licence and why is it important?
It allows registered companies not to pay import VAT in cash at the border, but to offset it in the VAT return, a liquidity advantage that makes the Netherlands attractive as an EU import gateway.
Which customs system do the Netherlands use?
The Douane (part of the Belastingdienst) operates under the EU Customs Code; import and export declarations are submitted electronically via the DMS system, which replaces AGS.
How is air cargo organized in the Netherlands?
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is one of Europe's largest air cargo hubs (about 1,43 million tonnes in 2025); Maastricht (MST) and Eindhoven (EIN) complement the network.
How good is the hinterland connection of Rotterdam?
Very good: the dedicated freight rail line Betuweroute, dense inland waterways in the Rhine-Meuse delta and top motorways connect the port directly with Germany and Central Europe.
Are the Netherlands part of the EU and the euro area?
Yes, the Netherlands is a founding member of the EU and belongs to the euro area, the Schengen Area and the Benelux cooperation; the currency is the euro.
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Powered by Freight Academy, verified 18 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.