Business buyers from Belgium, Germany and other EU countries can generally buy return goods from a wholesaler in the Netherlands without many additional formalities. What you need is a valid VAT number, clear agreements on transport and documents, and a supplier who speaks your language. This article describes how such a cross-border B2B purchase generally works; it is not tax or legal advice.
How an order from Belgium or Germany works in practice
The ordering process is the same for a Belgian or German company as for a Dutch one. You browse the product lines and prices per kilogram on the website without an account, and contact us via the form, e-mail, phone or WhatsApp. We confirm the available stock and send a final quote including freight to your address. We then agree on delivery or collection, you receive a (pro forma) invoice, and after payment by bank transfer the lot is shipped or made ready.
There is no online checkout and no online payment method; everything runs through personal contact and an invoice in your company's name. So keep the following details at hand when you get in touch. The more complete your request, the sooner the quote is right.
- Official company name, registered address and your VAT number
- Delivery address and whether a tail lift or forklift is available there
- Desired product line and quantity in kilograms or boxes
- Preference for delivery or collecting yourself in The Hague
- Language in which you want to receive communication and the invoice
Valid VAT number and intra-Community supply
When a Dutch wholesaler supplies goods to a VAT-registered business in another EU member state, this is generally treated as an intra-Community supply. Subject to conditions, the supplier then charges no Dutch VAT and states on the invoice that the VAT is reverse-charged; you subsequently declare the intra-Community acquisition in your own country. Key conditions are usually a valid VAT number of the buyer, which the supplier checks through the European VIES system, and proof that the goods have actually left the Netherlands.
If your VAT number is incorrect, or the proof of transport is missing, the supplier may generally still have to charge Dutch VAT. So pass on your number exactly as it is registered, including the country code. The precise rules and the way you declare the acquisition differ per country and per situation; discuss this in advance with your accountant or tax adviser and check the information from the Dutch tax authority or the tax authority in your own country.
Transport documents and proof of shipment
In an intra-Community supply, the proof of transport is not a formality but a core part of the file. Think of a consignment note (CMR) from the carrier, a packing list with weight and number of packages, and the invoice showing the VAT numbers of both parties and the reverse-charge statement. Keep these documents together with the purchase invoice, so that you can show where the goods went if a tax authority asks.
If you collect the lot yourself in The Hague, you handle the transport and therefore also the proof. A supplier will then usually ask for a signed collection statement with number plate, date and destination, and for the driver's details. Ask in advance exactly which documents your supplier needs and which ones your own accountant wants to see; that prevents discussions afterwards.
- Consignment note (CMR) or collection statement with number plate and destination
- Packing list with weight and number of packages or pallets
- Invoice with both VAT numbers and the reverse-charge statement
- Proof of payment of the bank transfer
Freight to Belgium and Germany, or collecting in The Hague
All prices on our website are exclusive of VAT and exclusive of freight; freight is quoted per request and included in the final quote. What determines freight is mainly the weight and the number of pallets or boxes, the distance to your address and the unloading facilities on site. A delivery of parcel returns to Antwerp or Cologne is logistically a different task from a full truck to Bavaria; so always provide the exact delivery address.
Collection is also possible: our warehouse is at De Werf 11 in The Hague, and viewing is possible by appointment. For buyers from Belgium or western Germany the drive to The Hague is relatively short, which makes a viewing easy to combine with collecting a trial lot. Larger volumes, such as Amazon Overstock Boxes from 66 boxes or the Amazon Mystery Box mix from 5,000 kg, require a truck with a tail lift or an unloading point with a forklift; we are happy to think along about the most practical solution.
Invoice language, communication and payment
Our website is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Polish and Spanish, and communication about quotes and deliveries takes place in English, German or French as well as Dutch. State your preferred language in your request; that also applies to the invoice. As a rule, the tax authority in your country sets requirements for the details on a purchase invoice, such as both VAT numbers, a description of the goods, the weight and the price per kilogram, rather than for the language, but ask your accountant what your administration actually needs.
Payment is made by bank transfer in euros on the basis of the (pro forma) invoice; only after receipt of payment is the lot shipped or made ready for collection. With an international transfer, allow for your bank's processing time and quote the invoice number, so that the payment is matched to your order immediately.
The same lots and terms as for Dutch buyers
Buyers from Belgium and Germany get the same product lines at the same public prices as Dutch buyers: Amazon Shipping Bags (BP2) at €5.25 per kilogram, Parcel Returns Small/Mid at €6.00 per kilogram, Amazon Overstock Boxes at €4.50 per kilogram (€450 per box of around 100 kg, minimum 66 boxes) and the Amazon Mystery Box mix at €4.25 per kilogram from 5,000 kg. There is no volume discount anywhere. CNJ is an independent wholesaler; these names only describe the origin of the goods.
The terms are the same too: we supply businesses only, there is no guarantee on contents or resale value, photos are representative examples and goods may be incomplete, used or untested. If you then resell the goods to consumers in your own country, that country's consumer rules apply; have a lawyer or the consumer authority in Belgium or Germany inform you about them. Preferably start with a trial lot to test your sales channel and the cross-border logistics.
Buying return goods from a Dutch wholesaler from Belgium or Germany is generally straightforward to organise: a valid VAT number, a complete transport file and clear agreements on freight or collection are the core. Always have the VAT treatment confirmed by your accountant and start small to test your process. Thinking about starting your own mystery box business? Get in touch — we are happy to help you find a suitable first lot.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a Belgian or German company buy return goods from a Dutch wholesaler?
- Yes, provided you buy as a business; we supply B2B only. You request a quote with your company details and VAT number, receive a final price including freight and pay by bank transfer. The lot is then shipped to your address or you collect it in The Hague. Otherwise the process is the same as for Dutch buyers.
- Do I pay Dutch VAT if return goods are delivered to Belgium or Germany?
- Generally not, if the conditions for an intra-Community supply are met: a valid VAT number of your business and proof that the goods have left the Netherlands. The VAT is then reverse-charged and you declare the acquisition in your own country. Have your accountant confirm how this works in your situation.
- Can I collect a lot myself in The Hague?
- Yes, collection from our warehouse in The Hague is possible by appointment, and you can view the goods beforehand. Bear in mind that when collecting you arrange the proof of transport for the intra-Community supply yourself, for example with a signed collection statement. Agree in advance which documents are needed and whether a tail lift or forklift is required.