Starting a webshop in the Netherlands is a mix of choosing a platform and handling rules: registration, VAT, what must appear on your site and what happens when a customer wants to cancel. This guide follows the Dutch government's own checklist for webshops (business.gov.nl) and adds what we know from building shops.
We build webshops, so we have an interest. The rules in this article come from business.gov.nl and are linked at the end. Our own opinions are marked.
This was checked on 26 October 2026. Rules, dates and fees change, so check the linked page before you act. This is not legal or tax advice.
Before you build anything
business.gov.nl lists these as mandatory first steps:
- Check that you are allowed to stay and work in the Netherlands. Non-EU citizens may need a residence permit.
- Determine whether your shop is a business. Criteria include whether it makes a profit, is independent and has a number of customers. If it qualifies, you register in the Business Register of the Chamber of Commerce (KVK).
- Home shops: your business must not cause nuisance to neighbours, for example from extra delivery traffic. Report your plans to your municipality and, if you rent, ask your landlord.
- Get a business bank account (IBAN).
- Register a domain name. It must be unique and must respect copyright, trademarks and trade names. The portal also says your website must be secure and points to the NCSC guidance "Mijn website veilig".
- Register with the KVK. The KVK passes your details to the Tax Administration, so you do not register separately unless you form a limited company or association.
Taxes, records and selling abroad
- Income tax: if your shop is a source of income you are likely to be treated as an entrepreneur and pay tax on the company profit, and you may be entitled to an income tax reduction.
- VAT: the Netherlands has three VAT rates, 0%, 9% and 21%. Some goods and services are exempt. You may include VAT in your prices and pay it to the Tax Administration after the sale.
- Records: you must keep business records for at least 7 years, and in some cases 10 years if your shop pays VAT in other EU countries. If you want the entrepreneur allowance, keep a record of the hours you work.
- Selling to other EU countries has different rules, including for VAT. You may also not block or treat EU customers differently based on their country or nationality (geo-blocking).
- Selling outside the EU has additional requirements such as an export declaration.
Rules for the shop itself
business.gov.nl lists these obligations for every online seller:
- A cancellation button since 19 June 2026. Your shop must have a button that lets customers cancel an order easily within the statutory 14-day cooling-off period. It does not replace the model cancellation form, which you must still offer.
- Tell visitors when you use AI. If you use AI-generated images or text, or any other AI such as a chatbot, you must clearly inform visitors.
- Information and ordering rules protect your customers. The portal links to them, so read them rather than relying on a summary.
- Privacy: ask only for what you need, use HTTPS where you collect personal data, do not pre-tick marketing boxes, explain how you use customer data in a privacy statement and do not share customer data without consent.
- Cookies: follow the cookie rules.
- General terms and conditions are recommended for payment, delivery times, guarantees and disputes. The portal points to the model terms from Thuiswinkel.org.
- Product rules: products must be safe, and packaging and labelling rules apply.
Imports from outside the EU
If your goods come from outside the EU, business.gov.nl says that since 1 July 2026 import duties apply to e-commerce parcels up to €150 that were previously exempt, and that from 1 November 2026 an extra handling fee applies to e-commerce consignments from outside the EU.
Payment methods
business.gov.nl says you cannot legally require prepayment, so you cannot offer iDEAL as the only payment option. You need to offer another method as well, such as credit card or PayPal. Each transaction carries a cost. Whether a particular platform supports a method is something to check with the platform or the payment provider.
Selling through bol or Amazon
If you sell through marketplaces, the portal says to follow their rules. If you sell your own branded goods, register the trademark with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP). For bol, read how to sell on bol, and how to make your product pages work in optimising your bol.com product listing.
Choosing the platform
This part is our opinion. Pick the platform last, after you know what you sell, how you ship and which payment methods you need. For how WordPress with WooCommerce, Shopify and Wix compare, see WordPress, Shopify or Wix. For what a site costs, see website cost in the Netherlands. When the shop is live, it needs maintenance.
A checklist to print
- [ ] Right to work and KVK registration done
- [ ] Business bank account
- [ ] Domain registered, website secure
- [ ] VAT and records set up
- [ ] Cancellation button and model cancellation form in place
- [ ] Privacy statement, cookie settings and terms and conditions published
- [ ] At least two payment methods
- [ ] AI use disclosed, if any
- [ ] Imports checked, if you buy from outside the EU
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register with the KVK to run a webshop?
According to business.gov.nl, you register if your shop counts as a business. Check the criteria on the KVK page it links to.
What VAT rates apply?
0%, 9% and 21%, depending on the product or service. Some are exempt.
How long must I keep records?
At least 7 years, and in some cases 10 years.
Do I need a cancellation button?
Yes. business.gov.nl says since 19 June 2026 an online shop must have one for the 14-day cooling-off period, alongside the model cancellation form.
Want a shop built?
Tell us what you sell and we will say which platform and package fits. A 30-minute consultation costs €30, or build a quote yourself. You can also run an existing site through our free Website X-ray.
Sources
All sources were read on 26 October 2026.
Rules, dates and fees change. Check the linked page before you act.
Next step
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