DHL vs PostNL: what are the differences?
Want to send a parcel and wondering how DHL and PostNL (post and express) differ? Below we explain the differences and tell you more about both carriers.
DHL vs PostNL: the biggest difference
The biggest difference is that PostNL sends your parcel by post, while DHL sends it with a courier (express). You can ship a parcel by post, by express, in a sea container or by air freight. For shipping bulk goods worldwide, sea or air freight is a good option. A single parcel goes by post or express.
Shipping with PostNL
What is PostNL? PostNL (formerly PTT) is the Dutch postal company. Over the years it has changed its name several times (TPG Post, TNT Post), and the government has designated it as the universal postal service. When you send a letter in the Netherlands, it goes with PostNL. You can send parcels with PostNL too: you drop your parcel off at a drop-off point, and depending on the destination it reaches the recipient within a few days to a few weeks. A postal network like PostNL is usually a national network. Within the Netherlands, sending by post works well and is sometimes delivered within 1 to 2 days, because your parcel stays within the same postal network. In the Netherlands that is PostNL; in Belgium it is bpost.
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Shipping abroad with PostNL
Say you want to send a parcel to the US. You drop it off at a drop-off point, and from then on it is on its way. As soon as your parcel goes abroad, the local network (PostNL in this example) passes your shipment on to another postal network.
PostNL's network stops once the shipment leaves the country and crosses the border. PostNL doesn't deliver your parcel in the US itself. Your parcel is handed over to, for example, Royal Mail (United Kingdom), where the tracking number changes and the shipment is taken to the US. Once it arrives in the US, it gets yet another tracking number and is delivered by the postal company USPS. So your parcel passes through several postal companies. That affects delivery: it can take 14 to 21 days to arrive, and your parcel is often harder to track.
Shipping with ParcelParcel? Then it doesn't go with PostNL, because ParcelParcel specialises in express shipments.
Shipping with DHL
As the name suggests, DHL Express focuses on express shipments: fast delivery by courier. To keep it fast, DHL uses its own network and its own customs department, with its own vans, trucks, aircraft and people. That network gets your parcel delivered quickly. A document to the US, for example, can be delivered within 24 hours. The same goes for an import shipment from Hong Kong: delivered in the Netherlands within 24 hours. So if you are sending a business parcel, express is the better choice.
A nice story: how did the DHL Express network start?
The company was founded by three men: Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn. The first letters of their surnames form the name DHL. They found a way to get shipping documents for sea freight to customs faster. They flew the documents from San Francisco to Honolulu in a small plane, so the paperwork was done before the ship arrived. That saved time, and it saved the shipping line costs such as waiting fees. Parcels, pallets and documents cleared customs with less delay. That was the start of international air express. In the years after this success, DHL expanded its network, and it has kept a good relationship with customs in almost every country in the world. DHL Express has been owned by Deutsche Post since 2002.
PostNL vs DHL: the differences in short
For shipments abroad, PostNL uses other postal networks; DHL uses its own network
PostNL has longer delivery times for international shipments; DHL Express offers speed and short delivery times
With PostNL, your tracking number can change as the parcel moves between postal networks; DHL Express always uses its own tracking number within its own network
As you can see, choosing PostNL or DHL Express depends on what you need. To send a parcel abroad, we recommend DHL Express or one of our other carriers. Read more about shipping with DHL and sending a DHL parcel.
Compare several carriers with our rate calculator
Looking for the best deal for your shipment? With ParcelParcel you can compare carriers such as FedEx, UPS, TNT, DPD, DSV, DHL and SkyNet in 30 seconds with our rate calculator, no account needed. The platform is easy to use, so you quickly find the best option. And because we buy in bulk, you get big discounts on shipping rates. Compare and save on your next shipment.
More information
We're happy to help you send your parcel and give advice where needed. That way we make sending a parcel, a document or a pallet easier for you.
