If you want to sell on bol.com, the good news is that getting started costs nothing: there is no monthly subscription and listing your products is free. You pay a commission only when something sells. The less obvious part is everything around it: the documents bol asks for, how the commission is calculated, what fulfilment really costs, and the rules that decide whether you get paid on time.
This guide is for small brands and online shops, including founders based outside the Netherlands, who want a clear picture before they register. Every fee rule below comes from bol's own partner documentation; we link to the sources so you can check the current numbers yourself.
Why bol is worth a look
Bol is the largest online store in the Netherlands and Belgium. For many Dutch shoppers it is the first place they search, the same way people elsewhere start on Amazon. That has two consequences for a small seller:
- Demand is already there. You don't have to bring every visitor yourself, as you do with your own webshop.
- Competition is on the same page. Your product sits next to similar offers, often from bigger sellers. Price, delivery promise and listing quality decide who gets the sale.
Bol works best as an extra sales channel next to your own website, not as a replacement for it. On your own site you own the customer relationship; on bol you rent attention.
What selling on bol.com costs
No subscription, no listing fee
Offering your range on bol is free. According to bol's commission page, you only pay when you sell something.
Commission per item sold
Every sale has a commission made of two parts:
| Part | How it works |
|---|---|
| Fixed amount | A set amount per item, depending on the product type and the sales price |
| Percentage | A percentage of the sales price including VAT, depending on the category |
The rates differ per (sub)category. Bol's own example for kitchen products shows percentages between 5% and 12.5% and fixed amounts between €0.05 and €0.95. For a pasta machine sold at €206.50 with 12.4% and a €0.95 fixed amount, the commission is €26.55, excluding VAT.
You can see the exact commission for your product in your seller account: enter the item and your price under "Articles" and bol calculates it for you. Do this before you decide on your price, not after.
VAT on the commission
If your business is registered in the Netherlands, bol charges 21% VAT on its commission. EU businesses outside the Netherlands can provide their VAT number to be invoiced without VAT, and businesses outside the EU are charged without VAT.
Fulfilment: ship yourself or use Logistiek via bol
You can ship orders yourself or let bol store and ship them with Logistiek via bol (LVB). LVB fees depend on the size and weight of the item. Storage is charged per day, and two surcharges are worth knowing about (LVB rates):
- +40% on storage in November and December, when warehouse space is scarce.
- +100% on storage for items that stay longer than 180 days.
LVB makes sense for small, fast-moving products. For slow sellers or bulky items, shipping yourself is often cheaper, as long as you can keep bol's delivery promise.
What you need to register
For a business based in the Netherlands or Belgium, bol's registration page lists:
- A valid company registration (KvK in the Netherlands, KBO in Belgium)
- A valid VAT number
- A valid passport or ID card
- An active business bank account in a SEPA country
- A Dutch or Belgian postal address
Bol then checks your details, which takes 3 to 5 working days.
Selling from another EU country
Bol also accepts European partners. You need a VAT number from your own country, a NACE code related to e-commerce, a reference to your website or another platform where you already sell, and details of the ultimate beneficial owners (UBO) of your company (EU registration). Your listings must still be in Dutch, so plan for proper translation, not machine output.
Step by step: from account to first order
- Prepare your documents (see the list above) so the check doesn't stall.
- Register and wait for approval. Use the waiting days to prepare your product data.
- Check your EANs. Products on bol are matched by EAN barcode. If your product already exists on bol, you add an offer to the existing page; if not, you create new content.
- Calculate your margin per product. Commission, VAT on commission, shipping or LVB fees and returns, all per item. Drop products that don't make money.
- Write your listings in good Dutch. Clear title, the right category, complete specifications and sharp photos. This is where most small sellers lose sales.
- Choose your delivery promise and only promise what you can keep.
- Start with a few products, learn from the first orders, then expand.
Getting paid: the rules that matter
Bol pays out in principle once per calendar month. Two rules in the updated terms of June 2026 are worth knowing (terms update):
- If an order is still not delivered two working days after the expected delivery date, bol may not pay you for it.
- Bol may change the commission per (sub)category twice a year, with 7 days' notice. Recheck your margins after every change.
Five mistakes we see often
- Pricing before calculating commission. A product that looks profitable at 30% margin can end up at zero after commission, VAT on commission and shipping.
- Machine-translated listings. Dutch shoppers notice immediately, and so does conversion.
- Missing specifications. Shoppers filter by size, material and colour. Empty fields mean you don't appear in those filters.
- Sending slow movers to LVB. Daily storage plus the 180-day surcharge can eat the margin of a product that sells once a month.
- Promising next-day delivery you can't keep. Late orders hurt your seller rating and, under the new terms, your payout.
Bol or Amazon.nl?
You don't have to choose one forever, but start with one. Bol is the household name for Dutch and Belgian shoppers, so it is usually the stronger first channel if your customers are in the Netherlands or Flanders. Amazon.nl makes sense if you already sell on other Amazon stores in Europe and can reuse your setup. Whatever you choose, keep your own website as the place where returning customers find you.
Frequently asked questions
Is selling on bol.com free?
Registering and listing products is free and there is no subscription. You pay a commission per item sold: a fixed amount plus a percentage of the price, which differs per category.
Can I sell on bol.com as a private person?
No. To sell as a business you need a company registration and a VAT number. Private individuals can only sell second-hand items through bol's separate consumer options.
Can I sell on bol.com from outside the Netherlands?
Yes, companies from other EU countries can register as European partners. You need your own VAT number, an e-commerce NACE code, a reference to your existing sales channel and UBO details.
How long does registration take?
After you submit your details, bol's checks usually take 3 to 5 working days.
Do I need Logistiek via bol?
No, it's optional. It works well for small products that sell quickly. For bulky or slow-selling products, shipping yourself is often cheaper.
Want help getting started?
Setting up an account takes a few days. Getting listings, prices and ads right is where the real work is, and where most of the profit is won or lost. We do that for small brands with fixed, published prices; see our Amazon & Bol.com marketplace management.
Selling through your own website as well? Check how it performs with our free Website X-ray, and read what a website costs in the Netherlands if you're planning a new one.
Next step
Want this done for your business?
Tell us what you need. You get a fixed scope and a public price, usually within a day.
Start a project
