Shipping a parcel from Switzerland to the Netherlands
You book from the Netherlands, the carrier picks up the parcel from the sender in Switzerland and delivers it to your door. We create the label and the customs invoice automatically.
10% welcome discount on all your bookings for the first 4 weeks · for businesses
FedEx Regional EconomyEconomy, by road See rate 
DHL Express WorldwideExpress See rate 
UPS SaverExpress See rate FedEx Priority ImportExpress See rate The sender doesn't need an account. You can also compare and book without one.
Calculate your shipping costs from Switzerland now
Switzerland as the collection country and the Netherlands as the destination are already filled in. No need to swap anything round.
Welcome discount · businesses only
10% off all your bookings for the first 4 weeks
Also on import shipments. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
How to have a parcel picked up in Switzerland
Four steps. All the sender has to do is stick the label on the box.
Book from the Netherlands
Enter the collection address in Switzerland and your own address, with the dimensions and weight. You see the cost straight away.
Compare and choose
FedEx, DHL and UPS side by side, with the price and expected delivery day. You pay, not the sender.
Label to the sender
You receive the shipping label and the customs invoice by email. Forward them to the sender, who prints them and sticks the label on the box.
Picked up and delivered
The carrier collects from the sender in Switzerland and delivers to you. You follow the shipment with Track & Trace.
What you arrange, what the sender does
With an import shipment, you book and pay. The sender in Switzerland doesn't need an account and doesn't have to figure anything out.
What you need to book
- ✓The sender's name, collection address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓For each item: what it is, how many and what it's worth (in English)
- ✓Your EORI number if you're importing as a business
What the sender does
- ✓Packs the shipment securely, in a well-filled box
- ✓Prints the label and the customs invoice and sticks the label on the box
- ✓Has the parcel ready on the collection day you choose
Who pays what?
Shipping costs: you pay these when you book.
VAT and import duties: these are for you as the recipient. The carrier pays them upfront at customs and settles them with you, on or after delivery.
Calculate your rate from Switzerland →Import costs on a parcel from Switzerland
Switzerland is outside the EU, so your parcel goes through Dutch customs. These are the costs to allow for.
VAT from the first euro
You pay VAT on everything you receive from outside the EU: usually 21%, for some goods 9%. Since 1 July 2021 there's no longer an exempt lower limit.
Import duty
Depends on what's inside (the HS code) and where it was made. Since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. Online purchases up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pay a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Other shipments, such as business shipments and samples, pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%.
Customs clearance by the carrier
The carrier declares your shipment to customs and pays the VAT and import duties upfront. They charge a fee for this. You pay the total to the carrier.
Gift from a private individual
A gift from one private individual to another worth up to €45 is exempt from VAT and import duties. It does have to be a real gift, not something you bought.
Importing as a business
You need an EORI number. If you have an Article 23 licence, you shift the import VAT to your VAT return instead of paying it upfront.
What will customs cost for your shipment?
Enter the product, value and country and you get an instant estimate of the import duties and VAT, with the right HS code and what to put on your customs invoice.
Calculate your import duties ↓
Switzerland isn't in the EU
Switzerland is in the middle of Europe, but outside the EU and the EU customs union. So your parcel goes through customs. Thanks to the free trade agreement with the EU, industrial products made in Switzerland are usually free of import duty, with a statement of origin from the sender. You always pay the VAT.
Sources: Dutch Customs (import VAT, gifts up to €45, EORI, Article 23 licence); European Commission, flat customs duty of €3 on low-value parcels (29 June 2026). More on import duties and importing (in Dutch).
Tips for a parcel from Switzerland
Most import delays start on the sender's side. With these four points you'll get it right first time.
Ask the sender exactly what's inside
The customs invoice states for each item what it is, how many and what it's worth, in English. Words like ‘gift’, ‘parts’ or ‘samples’ are too vague. That's the most common reason shipments get stuck at customs.
Have the sender pack it securely
A well-filled box that survives a one-metre drop. If you take a transport guarantee, have photos taken of the packaging and the contents before the box is closed.
Agree on the collection day
When you book, you choose the day the carrier comes. Let the sender in Switzerland know when that is, so the parcel is ready with its label.
Measure and weigh accurately
Carriers measure again. If the dimensions or weight are different, an extra charge follows. Ask the sender to measure the box including packaging, and round up.
Booking checklist
Got everything to hand? Then you can book in two minutes
- ✓The sender's name, collection address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓English description, quantity and value for each item
- ✓EORI number for business imports
Good to know when you book
Importing with DHL? Call to confirm the pickup
If you choose DHL for a parcel from Switzerland, call DHL in Switzerland yourself to confirm the pickup. Without that confirmation, there is a risk your shipment is not collected.
What can you have picked up in Switzerland?
The same rules apply to imports as to sending: anything that isn't allowed on the carrier's plane or lorry, we can't have picked up either.
More about Switzerland
Have a shipment picked up in Switzerland and delivered in the Netherlands.
The other way round: compare carriers and rates to Switzerland.
Read more →CustomsCustoms information SwitzerlandRules, prohibited goods and the documents you need.
Read more →Import dutiesHow import duties workHow VAT and import duties are calculated on imports.
Read more →What shippers say about us
Frequently asked questions about importing from Switzerland
How do I have a parcel picked up in Switzerland?+
You simply book the shipment here, from the Netherlands, with Switzerland as the collection country. You receive the label and the customs invoice by email and forward them to the sender. They stick the label on the box and the carrier picks up the parcel.
What does it cost to ship a parcel from Switzerland to the Netherlands?+
That depends on the weight, dimensions and the carrier. The calculator shows FedEx, DHL and UPS side by side, with the price for your shipment. A smaller box often makes a difference, because carriers charge by volumetric weight when it's higher than the actual weight.
How long does a parcel from Switzerland take?+
According to the carriers, an express parcel from Switzerland usually reaches you within 1 to 2 working days after collection. Economy takes a little longer. Customs clearance can add a day. You see the expected delivery day for each carrier when you book.
Does the sender need an account or have to pay anything?+
No. You book and pay for the shipment. The sender just gets the label and sticks it on the box.
Do I pay import duties on a parcel from Switzerland?+
You always pay VAT, from the first euro. Import duty depends on the product and its origin. Since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. Online purchases up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pay a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Other shipments, such as business shipments and samples, pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%. The carrier pays it upfront and settles it with you, plus a fee for the customs clearance.
Who creates the customs invoice?+
We do. When you book, you enter what's inside, how many and what it's worth, and the customs invoice arrives in your inbox together with the label. The sender only has to print it.
Can I have a parcel picked up abroad as a private individual?+
Yes. You book without an account and pay straight away, for example with iDEAL. As a business you can pay by invoice with a free account and get a 10% welcome discount for 4 weeks.
Have your first shipment from Switzerland picked up with a 10% welcome discount
Register your business account and use the discount on all your bookings for four weeks. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
- ✓10% discount on all your bookings
- ✓For four weeks, from the day you register
- ✓No credit card, minimum volume or contract
Shipping as an individual? You can compare and book without an account.