Ordering from outside the Netherlands or the EU? Only do so when it is truly necessary
Ordering from outside the EU may lead to:
- Additional costs for customs duties, VAT, and handling fees;
- Delivery delays due to customs inspections;
- Additional administrative work across different parts of the organization;
- Uncertainty about who is responsible for import duties and VAT;
- Risks associated with returns or cancellations.
What can you do as an order requester to avoid additional costs and delays?
Before placing an order, always check whether the product is available through a known supplier in the Netherlands. If that is not possible, look for a supplier within Europe. Only when no suitable alternative is available should ordering from outside the EU be considered.
By consciously choosing established suppliers in the Netherlands or elsewhere within Europe, we as a university can avoid unnecessary costs, delays, and administrative processing. This helps keep the ordering process simpler, faster, and easier to manage.
Do you still need to order from outside the EU?
If so, make sure in advance that it is clear:
- Whether the supplier invoices and ships the goods correctly;
- Who is responsible for import duties, VAT, and other costs;
- Which delivery terms and conditions apply;
- Whether returns or cancellations are possible;
- Whether all required customs information is provided accurately and completely.