Package shipping and costs

Sending a parcel can be done in the Netherlands through several major parcel services. These almost always charge standard rates per country, depending on the weight of the parcel. These large parcel services can usually send packages up to 23kg. Above that we speak of a heavy parcel. To send a heavy or large parcel you usually need to request a quote from a courier.

Get quotes

Sending a package with one of the major parcel carriers

The easiest way to send a package is through one of the major parcel carriers such as PostNL, DPD, DHL or GLS. These major carriers have so-called drop-off points (also called parcel points) throughout the Netherlands where you can bring a package. You can do this in two ways:

Pay at the package point and have a label printed there.
Create your own label online, print it and stick it on the package.

The second option is often slightly cheaper. Due to the large network of these carriers, the package within the Netherlands can often be delivered the very next day. It is not easy to say what the best carrier in the Netherlands is. Sometimes you hear people say something very definite about this but that often has to do with personal experiences and those can be different for everyone. The fact is that every large parcel carrier sometimes loses a package, and shipments are also regularly delayed by every large carrier. With the rise of online stores in recent years, the pressure on the logistics chain is also enormous. Because of this, sporadic mistakes are unfortunately often unavoidable.

Rates of major parcel services

For individuals, package shipping rates are easy to look up. For business customers, rates are usually on a quote basis. Below we have listed the rates of the major parcel services. Here we have looked at the rates of PostNL, DHL, DPD and GLS. You may find other rates elsewhere on the Internet; these are not the rates for parcels for individuals but business rates. Further on we explain some more about the differences between the major parcel services.

Rates letterbox packages

These are small packages that fit through a mailbox.

Pakketdienst	Soort zending	Gewicht	Maximale afmetingen (cm)	Prijs	Verzekerd	Handtekening
PostNL	Brievenbuspakket	Tm 2 kg	38 x 26,5 x 3,2	€4,60	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Brievenbuspakket met online frankering	Tm 2 kg	38 x 26,5 x 3,2	€4,10	Nee	Nee
DHL	Brievenbuspakket label printen in DHL shop	Tm 2 kg	38 x 26 x 3	€4,95	Nee	Nee
DHL	Brievenbuspakket met online frankering	Tm 2 kg	38 x 26 x 3	€3,95	Nee	Nee
DPD	Brievenbuspakket	Onbekend	38 x 26,5 x 3,2	€3,90	Nee	Nee

Rates small packages

These are packages up to 10kg.

Pakketdienst	Soort zending	Gewicht	Maximale afmetingen	Prijs	Verzekerd	Handtekening
PostNL	Bezorgd op huisadres met online frankering	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€6,75	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€7,25	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Bezorgd op PostNL punt (alleen online te frankeren	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€6,25	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Aangetekend (tot €500,- verzekerd)	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€9,20	Tot €500,-	Ja
PostNL	Aangetekend (tot €500,- verzekerd) met online frankering	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€9,70	Tot €500,-	Ja
PostNL	Aangetekend (tot €5.500,- verzekerd)	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€14,90	Tot €5500,-	Ja
DHL	Bezorgd op DHL ServicePoint	tm 10kg	80 x 50 x 35	€4,50	Nee	Nee
DHL	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 10kg	80 x 50 x 35	€5,75	Nee	Nee
DHL	Toeslag pakketlabel laten aanmaken bij een DHL ServicePoint			+ €1,00
DHL	Toeslag Pakket versturen met Extra Zeker (binnen Nederland verzekerd tot €500)			+ €2,95	Tot €500,-	Ja
DHL	Toeslag Pakket niet bij de buren bezorgen			+ €0,95
DPD	Bezorgd bij Pickup shop	tm 1kg	100 x 50 x 50	€4,25	Nee	Nee
DPD	Bezorgd bij Pickup shop	tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€4,40	Nee	Nee
DPD	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 1kg	100 x 50 x 50	€5,00	Nee	Nee
DPD	Bezorgd op huisadres	1 tm 10kg	100 x 50 x 50	€5,60	Nee	Nee
GLS	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 32kg	Langste + kortste zijde max 50cm	€6,25	Tot €500,-	Ja
GLS	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 32kg	Langste + kortste zijde max 80cm	€7,95	Tot €500,-	Ja
GLS	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 32kg	Langste + kortste zijde max 150cm	€11,71	Tot €500,-	Ja

Rates medium packages

These are packages that parcel services still take. It varies by parcel service up to what weight they go.

Pakketdienst	Soort zending	Gewicht	Maximale afmetingen	Prijs	Verzekerd	Handtekening
PostNL	Bezorgd op huisadres met online frankering	10 tm 23kg	176 x 78 x 58	€13,00	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Bezorgd op huisadres	10 tm 23kg	176 x 78 x 58	€12,50	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Bezorgd op PostNL punt (alleen online te frankeren	10 tm 23kg	176 x 78 x 58	€15,50	Nee	Nee
PostNL	Aangetekend (tot €500,- verzekerd)	10 tm 23kg	176 x 78 x 58	€15,00	Tot 500	Ja
PostNL	Aangetekend (tot €500,- verzekerd) met online frankering	10 tm 23kg	176 x 78 x 58	€21,10	Tot 500	Ja
PostNL	Aangetekend (tot €5.500,- verzekerd)	10 tm 23kg	176 x 78 x 58	€7,50	Tot 5500	Ja
DHL	Bezorgd op DHL ServicePoint	10 tm 20kg		€8,75	Nee	Nee
DHL	Bezorgd op huisadres	10 tm 20kg		8,75	Nee	Nee
DHL	Toeslag pakketlabel laten aanmaken bij een DHL ServicePoint			+ €1,00
DHL	Toeslag Pakket versturen met Extra Zeker (binnen Nederland verzekerd tot €500)			+ €2,95	Tot €500	Ja
DHL	Toeslag Pakket niet bij de buren bezorgen			+ €0,95
DPD	Bezorgd op huisadres	10 tm 20kg	100 x 50 x 50	€9,50	Nee	Nee
DPD	Bezorgd bij Pickup shop	10 tm 20kg	100 x 50 x 50	€9,00	Nee	Nee
GLS	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 32kg	Langste + kortste zijde max 50cm	€6,25	Tot €500,-	Ja
GLS	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 32kg	Langste + kortste zijde max 80cm	€7,95	Tot €500,-	Ja
GLS	Bezorgd op huisadres	tm 32kg	Langste + kortste zijde max 150cm	€11,71	Tot €500,-	Ja

Differences between the major parcel services of the Netherlands

As mentioned earlier, not one of the package carriers is the best or the worst. Below we list the various major carriers.

PostNL

PostNL is the largest parcel delivery company in the Netherlands. With PostNL you can send packages up to 23kg as a private person . For business customers, this is 30kg. There are many PostNL points throughout the Netherlands, which can be found on a handy online location guide. This has the advantage that you always have somewhere nearby to deliver your package. If you register (frank) your package online, you will be slightly cheaper. Registering a package with PostNL online is easy. PostNL is usually slightly more expensive than its competitors but the differences are small (see the table above).

DHL

DHL is Europe's largest parcel carrier and the second largest in the Netherlands. This German company has also rapidly conquered large parts of the Dutch parcel market. Many small to medium-sized webshops ship with DHL. More and more private individuals are also finding DHL. As a private person you can send packages up to 20kg. Throughout the Netherlands there are also DHL service points, which can be found in their online locator. A package is easily registered online with DHL.

DPD

Another German giant. DPD is a lot smaller in the Netherlands than PostNL or DHL. This franchise organization has been active in the Netherlands since the 1990s and benefits from the rise of online shops and the growth of parcel shipping. For individuals, this is often the cheapest option to send a package. Most places in the Netherlands have a DPD Parcelshop on this map. With DPD, packages can be sent up to a maximum of 20kg. You can send a parcel online via DPD.

UPS

UPS is the largest and oldest courier service in the world. The familiar black buses of this American company are also increasingly seen on Dutch roads. UPS does a lot in international transportation. UPS is also able to deliver on average larger and heavier packages than its competitors. UPS goes up to a maximum of 70kg. Pick-up points and drop-off points are located throughout the Netherlands. You can register a package online here.

GLS

GLS is the subsidiary of British Royal Mail. For packages between 20kg and 32kg, we definitely recommend GLS. Within the Netherlands, these can already be sent from €6,25. In addition, packages are standard insured up to €500. You can register packages and find a parcel shop here.

Sending large or heavy package

A package with non-standard sizes is quickly too big or too heavy for companies like PostNL, DHL, DPD or UPS. When a package falls outside the standard sizes that these large mail carriers can carry, it is suddenly quite difficult to arrange proper transportation. We make sure you get appropriate and affordable quotes for your extra-large or heavy parcel shipment even in this case. Read more information about the sizes, weights and prices of packages with special dimensions below. Or request multiple quotes directly from courier services. In this case, a courier will pick up and deliver your package to your location. This is a quick and easy solution for larger packages, but unfortunately often a bit pricier. Another option is to send it on a pallet. Unfortunately, this is not always possible for individuals.

Cost of sending large parcel

Having a package with different dimensions or weight transported by a courier usually costs between 50 and 500 euros. Whereas a package with standard sizes has a clear cost, with extra-large packages this is not so unequivocal. Therefore, we have listed some previous quotes below.

Groot pakket	Kosten (€) incl. btw
Pakket met oven 50kg (120 km)	120
pakket 52 kilo van Leiden naar Arnhem (110 km)	90
Transport 10 pakketten Sindelfingen (Duitsland) - Den Haag 3,29 m3	425
Ophalen van 1 pakket van 26 kg (90x82x30cm) in Koningsbosch (Limburg) en bezorgen in Wolsztyn (Polen)	700
450 gekoelde pakketten binnen de randstad afleveren	500
Soft top in doos 30kg van Mahlberg (D) naar Zaandam (NL)	650
Pakket 80x42x34cm / 31 kg van Arnemuiden naar Leeuwarden	150
Doos 90x70x70 cm / 30kg van Stellendam (NL) naar Helsingborg (Zweden)	950
2 grote dozen van 23 en 10 kg van Zeeland naar Limburg	200
Zakluifel voor caravan van 4 meter lang en 10 cm breed, 9 kg van Zeeland naar Nieuwegein.	140
Pakket 50 kg / 2 meter lengte van Haaksbergen naar Almere	200
Verzenden stalen deur met glas 80 kg, in doos	100
pakket 600 kilo vervoer van schovelbak	419
Groot pakket van Someren naar Smilde	288
Pakket van 3 meter lang en 35 kg van Sloten naar Frankrijk	1600
Pakket hout van Nederweert naar Ouderkerk (afm.400x125x100cm Gewicht 950 kg)	360
Groot pakket Homary terug naar Frankrijk	1000

Transporting extra-large package - points of interest

When transporting an extra-heavy or large package, you need to think about the following things:

Can the package go with one of the major parcel carriers or not? With PostNL, for example, the weight limit is 30 kg and the maximum dimensions are 176 x 78 x 58 cm. Above that you have to look at alternative transport options pretty quickly. We are happy to help you with that.
Permits for heavy parcel. To transport a load over 500 kg, your parcel carrier needs a so-called Euro Permit. If the large parcel crosses the border, the driver needs additional papers on top of that.
Insurance. If the large package represents great value, we recommend purchasing appropriate transportation insurance.
Packaging and protection. Make sure you have the proper stickers on the package. Consider a "Fragile" sticker if the items are fragile. Furthermore, a "This side up" sticker is always useful (preferably several). Not only is this recommended if the package should really only be on one side. Even if it is not, we find in practice that carriers are much more careful with the package with such stickers on the box.
Agreements on paper. Make sure the agreements with the transporter are well written down. The auto transporter will usually have a contract and conditions that you will need to sign. We advise you to work with a car transporter that uses the AVC/CMR conditions.

Dimensions and rates standard packages

The large parcel services mainly carry smaller packages with standard sizes. Incidentally, these services also offer options for extra-large or heavy packages, but sometimes this is only available to business users. Moreover, with these services, a package goes through several hands and terminals before it arrives at its destination. Sometimes it is just more pleasant if the package is taken directly from A to B.

To find out if your package can't just go with one of the major parcel carriers, below are the maximum dimensions they use.

Postvervoerder	Maximale afmetingen	Maximaal gewicht
PostNL	176x78x58 cm	30 kg
DHL	80x60x50 cm	23 kg
DPD	lengte + 2 x breedte + 2 x hoogte = max. 3 meter	20 kg
UPS	Lengte + omtrek van pakketten maximaal 400 cm. Max. 274 cm lang	70 kg

Package or Pallet?

Boxes stacked on a pallet

Pallets are used to transport large loads in a standard way. However, even with individual extra-heavy items, a pallet is sometimes more convenient than a loose parcel. Please note that with the major parcel carriers, pallet transport is only available for business customers.

Among other things, a pallet can be lifted by a forklift, saving you and the transport company from having to drag the heavy package around. A heavy package can stand loose on this pallet, but in many cases it is attached to the pallet to prevent it from falling over. A pallet has the added advantage that the objects on it remain upright on the pallet and, in principle, do not need to be touched by a courier or warehouse employee. This is very practical when, for example, you want to transport lead-acid batteries that are very heavy and should not end up on their side. Furthermore, one pallet shipment is not stacked on top of the other, so the chance of damage is a lot smaller than in a loose box.

The pallet is somewhat less suitable for very long or large shipments. What can be done in such cases is to attach several pallets together. In practice this can be quite expensive and also inconvenient at the terminal where the shipment is processed. This sometimes leads to delays. In such a case it may be worthwhile to look into direct transport with a courier or transport company.

Finally, the pallet must fit into the courier's van. In theory, you can push a pallet with a light load into a van with a couple of men. When it comes to a really heavy load, a box truck with a tailgate is really recommended. This way you can be sure that your shipment will also be delivered safely to the delivery point.

What does a heavy package on a pallet cost?

Palletvervoer	Kosten (€)
Pallet Autodeuren van Lisse naar Stourbridge UK	2500
Palet ophalen met auto Interieur binnen Nederland	180
4 pallets van Zelhem naar Standdaarbuiten	165
Pallet met tuinmeubelset 64kg van Krakow (Polen) naar Den Haag	950
Pallet met vaatwasser van Roosendaal NB naar Nijmegen	260
Palletje met warmtewisselaar van Raamsdonksveer naar Dronten	162

Average rates by type of vehicle

To get a rough idea of the cost of a package with different dimensions, you can also look at mileage and hourly rates of courier services. Below we have listed the average rates for each type of vehicle. The final cost depends on several factors. Therefore, it is best to ask for multiple quotes.

Wagen	Laadvermogen	Laadgrootte (L x B x H in cm)	Aantal pallets (ruimte)	Kilometerprijs	Minimum uurtarief
Bestelwagen (Combo)	500 kg.	140 x 120 x 100	1	€ 0,50	€ 30.00
Bestelbus (klein)	725 kg.	170 x 120 x 115	1	€ 0.55	€ 30.00
Bestelbus (Medium)	900 kg.	180 x 120 x 118	2	€ 0.58	€ 35.00
Bestelbus (Groot)	1025 kg.	290 x 120 x 145	3	€ 0.62	€ 35.00
Bestelbus (Extra groot)	1400 kg.	360 x 120 x 183	4	€ 0.70	€ 35.00
Bakwagen	800 kg.	420 x 210 x 200	8	€ 0.90	€ 40.00
Vrachtwagen	6000 kg.	720 x 245 x 236	16	€ 1.15	€ 50.00

Sending heavy package abroad

International transportation of an outsized package requires additional paperwork from the courier service in some cases:

Even more than in the Netherlands, you need a transport company with the right permits. Transportation of objects within the EUR in many cases requires at least a Euro permit with a CEMT certificate.
When a valuable cargo is involved, you would prefer a party that will hold the cargo from start to finish. Internationally, there is a chance that the valuable item will pass through several hands. This brings additional risk of damage. Try to avoid this as much as possible.
Get insurance that provides ample coverage.
Be sure to pack extremely well. A specialized shipping company will know what to do. Always double check and take pictures of the condition of the shipment at the time of shipment. Make sure there is English text on box and stickers!
Put the arrangements with the carrier on paper properly. Leave no ambiguity as to who is responsible for what.

Courier services carrying large packages

Transportscanner has an extensive network of companies that can take your extra large or heavy package. In many cases a good van will suffice, but for larger volumes we also have several companies with heavier equipment at our disposal. If DHL, PostNL, DPD or GLS can't take your package, these companies can!