Shopper with bags in a city arcade

VAT Refund in the Netherlands: Tax-Free Shopping for Tourists

How visitors from outside the EU can get Dutch VAT back on shopping: the minimum purchase, the forms, customs at Schiphol, deadlines, and why EU residents and expats can't.

← Living in the NetherlandsCities and travel4 min readUpdated 5 Oct 2026
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Who can claim

Can claimCannot claim
ResidenceYou live outside the EUYou live in the EU, including expats living in the Netherlands
GoodsUnused goods you take home in your luggageServices, hotel stays, meals
Infographic: Dutch VAT rates sorted by product

How it works

  1. 1
    Shop at a tax-free shop

    Spend at least €50 including VAT in one shop on one day, and ask for a tax-free form.

  2. 2
    Keep the goods unused

    Customs may ask to see them.

  3. 3
    Get the customs stamp when you leave the EU

    At Schiphol, go to customs before check-in if the goods are in your checked bag.

  4. 4
    Claim the refund

    Through the refund company at the airport or by post, minus their fee.

You must export the goods by the end of the third month after purchase.

Businesses from other EU countries

Companies from another EU country reclaim Dutch VAT through the VAT refund portal in their own country, not at the airport.

Sources

This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.

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