Netherlands - Customs
Arriving by Yacht:
If arriving from outside the EU by private vessel, you will need to file a declaration if you are taking goods with you from that country with a total value of more than € 300. These are the goods you bought or were given there. You must also file a declaration if you are travelling with cash totalling € 10.000 or more. It makes no difference what currency you are carrying.
You must also file a declaration if you are carrying more alcohol or tobacco products to the Netherlands than you are allowed to import duty free. For all of the above situations, you will need to contact a Customs office. A list can be found here.
You should also check that your goods are not prohibited.
Length of Stay:
An EU resident travelling into another EU Member State with a pleasure craft (boat), must demonstrate that import duties and VAT have been paid for the pleasure boat in one of the EU countries by means of an invoice or a statement from the Customs authorities of an EU country. This statement is issued by Customs – National Yachts Team (Douane – Landelijk Team Jachten). See more details here.
Travellers who are not EU residents and want to stay in the Netherlands with their pleasure boat for a short period of time can be granted a temporary exemption from customs duties and VAT. In this case, however, Customs may first demand ‘security’ for the customs duties and VAT. See EU VAT page for more information.
For more information, contact Customs Information Line.
Other Items:
- Bringing any weapons, ammunition and explosives are prohibited in Netherlands and the European Union (EU). Visitors are only allowed to bring in weapons, ammunition and explosives if a licence by the Dutch government have been obtained. You also must have a licence for firearms used for shooting sports and hunting.
- There are restrictions concerning signalling pistols. Very type flare pistols must be accompanied by a firearms certificate issued in the country of origin.
- A radio operator’s licence may also be requested.
- Import of raw meat is prohibited.
- Medicines are only allowed to bring in for your own use. A medication passport obtained at your physician or pharmacy can prove that the medication is for yourself (or for your children). It is advisable to take medicines with you in the original pharmacy packaging with label.
- You are not allowed to bring veterinary medicines with you.
- The yacht may not be sold, rented or borrowed while in the Netherlands, unless the appropriate taxes have been paid.
- EU regulations apply concerning temporary importation. See EU VAT page for more information.
Last updated: February 2022
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Amsterdam rail bridge not operating from 1st Oct 2023 until 31st May 2024 for vessels with more than 6.25 m above normal canal level. Use the Haarlem route instead.
A port not to be missed when sailing the Friesian Islands is Harlingen. Both Vlieland and Terschelling are within reach, there is a connection to the inland waterways via the Van Harinxma Canal, and it is a beautiful town with a real seafaring feeling, including a very recognizable tidal scope. Waiting for the train bridge and town bridges to open up can take up to 30 minutes, but not more.
There is a much nicer and roomier marina in Amsterdam now, Amsterdam Marina (amsterdammarina.com). Newly built, great facilities. It’s a bit further from the centre, but 15min free ferry ride to the centre.
More detailed info regarding Standing Mast Route: http://www.varendoejesamen.nl/?language=en
A passport stamped with an entry into France (or any other Schengen Area country) does not negate the need to report your arrival into a different country, it only starts the clock ticking on your permitted length of stay in the Schengen Area.
Dutch formalities are a little unclear, we arrived in Rotterdam from Belguim via the MAAS and followed the VTS radio reporting rules as required reporting on each segment and requesting entry etc, see http://www.portofrotterdam.com.
we contacted the Harbour Master at Veerhaven before arrival and advised eta. Upon arrival and after berthing at Veerhaven spoke to HM and was advised no other formalities required. 1 hour later (7 pm Sunday evening) police launch arrived and had a good look at us from the cabin and 10 mins later 2 police officers arrived to advise us we had failed to report our arrival.
We were advised that Schengen formalities were not valid as we had arrived from the sea and although we had already cleared into France we needed to act as if we were arriving from international waters. We showed our passports with French EU entry stamps and French Customs inspection papers, this was apparently still not sufficient and another reporting was required although they were not able to tell us what.
We provided copies of all documentation and they advised that they would return if they needed any further information. they also advised that we would need to report to the HM at each port within the NL if we exited via sea eg Rotterdam to Scheveningen. We asked what documents or forms may be required or was there a website with such information and they advised us just to contact the HM on arrival.
We spoke to the Veerhaven HM again the next morning and he said he had no idea what they wanted and what we needed to do. as far as the triplicate customs forms and 1-year permit described above or any other papers at this stage no one seems to have any information on such documents.
Andrew s/v Katherine http://www.svkatherine.com