For Turkish families living in the Netherlands, Turkish restaurants and cafés, interior designers and furniture retailers, bringing furniture over from Turkey is attractive on both quality and price. Bedroom suites from İnegöl and Kayseri, sofa sets from Bursa and woodwork from Gaziantep are in demand from Amsterdam to Eindhoven. Thanks to the Turkey–EU Customs Union, Turkish furniture enters the Netherlands free of customs duty; what remains is the 21% import VAT and the delivery challenges unique to the Netherlands (narrow staircases, canal houses, parking permits). This guide covers the tax, document, packing, furniture-hoist delivery and assembly aspects of shipping new furniture from Turkey to the Netherlands.
Taxes on Importing New Furniture
| Item | How it applies in the Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | 0% with an A.TR movement certificate (Customs Union) |
| Import VAT (btw) | 21%; on goods value + freight + insurance |
| Declaration fee | Service fee of the Dutch customs broker |
| Turkish VAT | 0% if the seller issues an export invoice |
VAT-registered businesses in the Netherlands (BV, eenmanszaak) reclaim the import VAT on their return; importers holding an Article 23 licence defer the VAT to their return instead of paying it in cash at customs. For a private buyer the 21% VAT is a final cost; we show the estimated amount as a separate line in the quotation.
Your used household goods are treated differently: goods arriving as part of a transfer of residence are tax-free under the verhuisboedel exemption. See moving from Turkey to the Netherlands.
Documents and Export Formalities
- Commercial invoice: product description, HS code (9401/9403), quantity, value, Incoterms. Ask the seller for an "export-registered invoice"; you then pay no VAT in Turkey.
- Packing list: dimensions and weights of each piece/box.
- A.TR movement certificate: endorsed in Turkey at the time of export; we issue it.
- Export declaration: for private senders, we or our partner customs broker act as exporter of record.
- Consignee details: ID + address for a private buyer; EORI and btw number for a business.
- ISPM-15 stamped pallets and crates.
Packing Standards
- Large pieces are dismantled; fittings travel in labelled bags.
- Corner protection, stretch film and removal blankets; moisture-proof plastic for upholstered items.
- Glass, mirrors, marble: wooden crates.
- Commercial shipments are palletised, strapped and secured in the vehicle.
- Every piece is numbered and matched to the packing list.
Furniture-Hoist Delivery: The Dutch Specialty
The historic buildings of Dutch city centres are famous for their narrow, steep, winding staircases; most sofas, beds and wardrobes simply will not fit. The solution is an external furniture hoist (verhuislift): a lorry-mounted or free-standing platform that lifts the furniture to window or balcony level. What you need to know:
- At the survey stage we determine whether a hoist is needed based on the floor, window width and street layout; it appears as a separate line in the quotation.
- Setting up the hoist requires space on the street; in central Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht a parkeerontheffing (parking exemption) is obtained from the municipality (1-2 weeks ahead).
- Canal streets in Amsterdam may restrict vehicles over 7.5 tonnes; delivery is then made with a panel van plus furniture hoist.
- For very large pieces that will not pass through a window (for example a 3-metre corner sofa), we recommend confirming the measurements before you buy.
Assembly Service
Items shipped dismantled are reassembled by our crew at delivery: beds and bases, wardrobes, dining tables, TV units, bookcases. After assembly the packing waste is removed (in the Netherlands, cardboard and plastic are separated for disposal). Assembly is optional and shown separately in the quotation; for retail and project deliveries, installation follows your layout plan.
Transport Options and Transit Times
- Groupage (part-load): a single suite or a few pieces; weekly departures; distribution to the Netherlands via Frankfurt; 5-9 days.
- Dedicated (full-load) vehicle: retail, restaurant and project shipments; direct delivery; 4-6 days.
- Storage: if the delivery address is not ready, we hold the goods at our Frankfurt depot and deliver in stages.
For Businesses
If you run a furniture store, e-commerce site, restaurant or hotel in the Netherlands, our weekly departures and consolidation service at our Istanbul/Gaziantep depots suit regular supply from Turkey. Import with your EORI + btw number, VAT deferral under Article 23, zero customs duty with the A.TR. For details, see commercial freight.
What Determines the Cost?
- Volume and number of pieces: a dismantled bedroom suite is 3-5 m³, a corner sofa 4-6 m³.
- Packing standard: standard wrapping or wooden crating.
- Delivery scope: kerbside delivery, furniture hoist, carrying upstairs, assembly.
- Customs and taxes: export declaration, A.TR, Dutch import declaration, 21% VAT.
- Insurance: full cover on the invoice value.
- Delivery city: the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht) and Eindhoven are served regularly; the northern provinces need extra distribution time.
Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Measure the window/balcony opening of your home in the Netherlands; pieces going up by furniture hoist must fit through this opening (typically 90-110 cm).
- Avoid one-piece corner sofas and wide wardrobes; choose modular/knock-down products.
- Check for CE marking and Schuko plugs on items with integrated lighting.
- Ask the manufacturer for an export-registered invoice and the HS code.
- Before buying, send us the floor, staircase and street details of the delivery address; we will confirm the product's suitability with a survey report.
Example Scenario: A Living Room and Dining Set from Istanbul to Amsterdam
A family living on the second floor in Amsterdam's Jordaan district buys a modular corner sofa and a dining set from a store in Istanbul. The store issues the export invoice and the items are crated in wood at our Istanbul depot (glass dining table). The survey shows the staircase is narrow, so a furniture hoist is planned and a parkeerontheffing obtained from the municipality. Customs duty is zero with the A.TR and 21% VAT is paid. On day eight the delivery is made by panel van and furniture hoist: the sofa modules and table are lifted in through the window, our crew completes the assembly and the packaging is removed.
Why REG Transport?
- Over 12 years of hands-on experience: thousands of completed shipments for families and businesses on the Turkey–UK and Turkey–Europe routes.
- Our own fleet and depots: warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt; weekly scheduled departures that do not depend on third-party hauliers.
- Licensed customs operation: export declarations in Turkey and import declarations in the destination country are handled by our partner customs brokers; we prepare all documents on your behalf.
- One point of contact: the same account manager from survey to delivery, with updates at loading, border crossing and delivery.
- Transparent quotation: freight, packing, customs, insurance and delivery are itemised separately in writing; no surprise costs.
- Insurance: CMR included; optional full-cover insurance on the declared value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax will I pay in the Netherlands on furniture bought in Turkey?
Customs duty is 0% with the A.TR; 21% VAT is charged on the goods value and freight. We show the estimated amount in the quotation.
Can the seller deliver the furniture to your depot?
Yes; to our Istanbul and Gaziantep depots. We also collect directly from manufacturers in İnegöl, Kayseri and Bursa.
Is a furniture hoist always necessary?
No; it is not needed in new-build developments or buildings with wide staircases. We determine this at the survey.
What if something is damaged?
CMR insurance is included; full-cover insurance on the invoice value can be added.
Can I ship it together with my used household goods?
Yes; in the same vehicle, shown separately on the declaration.
Get a Quote
Fill in the quote form with your furniture invoice / dimensions and your delivery address (floor, lift, street conditions); we will send a written quotation the same day covering freight, customs, estimated VAT, furniture hoist and assembly. Details: international furniture shipping, Netherlands route.
