Importing from China to Netherlands: EORI registration
Start with your EORI number: Dutch Customs says you need it to deal with Customs. Agree your Dutch broker's document checklist before ordering and confirm product requirements before production. Your broker handles the import entry; China-side sourcing and a quote to your Dutch port are provided by Cambridge China Bridge.
Start with the importer's EORI number
Dutch Customs states that you need an EORI number to deal with Customs. For a Dutch business buying from Chinese factories, make customs identification the starting point: ask your own broker to check the number against the importing company before shipment.
Send the broker the product description, materials, intended use and destination port before placing the order. Ask for a written checklist covering the import entry and product-specific documents. Buying from China outside the UK explains the wider procurement arrangement; this guide adds the Dutch clearance handover.
Agree a quote to your Dutch port
We can manage sourcing through our UK company, with our own staff in China, and quote shipment from China to your Dutch port. Name the port and delivery term, then ask the quote to identify freight, insurance, destination handling and onward delivery separately. Agree which costs you will arrange with your broker and forwarder.
Write down who sells the goods, who appears as buyer on the commercial invoice and who imports them. Our buy-through-UK-company service helps frame that discussion. The Ireland guide explains the comparable direct-shipment arrangement; use your Dutch broker for the Netherlands entry. For another destination, see importing from China to Italy.
Set product checks before production
Dutch government guidance says some products need CE marking, including toys and electrical appliances. Ask your product compliance adviser to identify the requirements for the exact goods before approving production. Put the agreed testing, label wording, instructions and supporting documents into the factory brief.
Ask the factory for test reports covering the actual model, materials and configuration you intend to buy. We help gather the evidence and compare it with the order specification. Check the report issuer and tested sample rather than accepting a certificate image as sufficient. Keep laboratory evidence separate from the inspection report.
Prepare the documents your broker will use
Dutch government guidance identifies the invoice and packing slip, with additional documents needed for some products. Agree the shipment file with your broker: the factory supplies the commercial invoice and packing list, and we check descriptions, quantities, carton details and buyer information against the order.
Ask the broker whether a certificate of origin is needed and which form they will accept; we coordinate obtaining it from the China side when requested. The factory supplies its relevant test reports, which we gather for your review. Send document drafts to the broker before dispatch so discrepancies can be corrected while the goods remain at the factory.
Inspect in China and hand over for clearance
Our staff in China check the supplier's identity, production site and ability to make the agreed specification. Before shipment, we inspect the finished goods against the approved sample and agreed acceptance criteria, including packaging and labels. The factory audit checklist covers supplier capability; audit versus inspection reports explains what each report proves.
Dutch Customs says goods entering the EU for use there must be declared. Appoint your own customs broker to handle the arrival entry, check classification and valuation, confirm duties and import VAT, and coordinate clearance queries. We supply the agreed China-side documents and inspection findings. Your own customs broker confirms the final entry.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an EORI number to import from China into the Netherlands?
Dutch Customs says you need an EORI number to deal with Customs. Ask your broker to check the importing company's number before shipment.
Can a UK sourcing company ship directly to my Dutch port?
Yes. We can manage the Chinese factory and quote to your Dutch port. Agree the delivery term and destination costs; your own broker handles the Netherlands entry.
Which documents should I request from the Chinese factory?
Request a commercial invoice, packing list and relevant test reports. Ask your broker whether a certificate of origin or other product documents are needed; we coordinate the agreed China-side file.
Does a factory inspection replace CE testing?
No. Inspection checks the order against your agreed specification. Laboratory testing and product compliance evidence are separate; ask for reports covering the exact product configuration.