Money and duty free for Netherlands
Currency and Money
Currency information
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Credit cards
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted.
ATM
ATMs are widely available. ATMs accept bank cards with a Cirrus logo, some ATMs also accept cards with the PLUS logo.
Travellers cheques
Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros.
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Only major banks are open on Saturdays. GWK Travelex offices are open seven days a week.
Currency restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.
Currency exchange
Money exchange is possible at banks, post offices, at many hotels and at exchange offices. Exchange offices are indicated by the letters GWK. GWK is a national organisation with currency exchange offices at major railway stations, at Schiphol Airport and at the border crossings with Germany and Belgium. Hotels tend to charge high commissions. Verkoop means sell, while Koop means buy.
Netherlands duty free
Overview
The Netherlands is within the European Union. If you are travelling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices.
If you are travelling from within the EU, there is no limit on the amount or value of goods you may import, providing your goods are for personal consumption. Goods imported for commercial purposes are subject to duty and the following guideline amounts are in place to determine whether this is the case:
• 800 cigarettes
• 400 cigarillos
• 200 cigars
• 1kg of tobacco
• 10L of spirits over 22% volume,
• 20L of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume
• 90L of wine (no more than 60L of sparkling wine)
• 110L of beer.
If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into the Netherlands by persons 17 years of age and older without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume.
• Other goods up to the value of €430 or €300 if arriving by private aircraft or yacht.
Banned Imports
Counterfeit goods, endangered plant and animal species, arms and ammunition, narcotics, antiques without an export permit from the country of origin, and uncertified plants, meat and dairy products from outside the EU.
Banned Exports
Counterfeit goods, uncertified plant and animal products, endangered plant and animal species, arms and ammunition, and unlicensed cultural artefacts.
