How do I obtain a Dutch (NL) EORI number?

Follow Dutch Customs guidance for obtaining an EORI number and apply through the official National Customs Helpdesk (NHD) webform/application flow as described on the Dutch Customs website.

Is applying for an NL EORI free?

Yes. Dutch Customs states that you don’t have to pay for the EORI number when applying through their official channels.

How is the NL EORI number structured?

In general it starts with NL followed by the RSIN-based identifier (zero-padded to the required length). Your Dutch Customs guidance explains the exact build rule.

How do I check my Dutch EORI?

Use the EORI checker to validate EU prefixes against official services when available.

Do I need to reapply if I become headquartered elsewhere?

When your establishment changes, customs may require updates. Keep your EORI data current before declarations.

Netherlands EORI Number (NL) — Format, Example & Checker

Format & example

NL + up to 15 alphanumeric characters (EORI prefix + national identifier; often NL + RSIN/BSN-based numeric identifier).

Valid example NL123456789

Regex (reference):

^NL[A-Z0-9]{8,15}$

Check an EORI number EORI format hub

Authority & validation

Issuing authority Dutch Customs (Douane Nederland)
Processing time For complete applications, many traders can obtain their EORI quickly. Timing depends on the application route and review.
Validation method EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + official Dutch customs confirmation.

Check an EORI number

Free validation on our website

Notes & what to watch out for

Rotterdam is Europe's largest port by cargo volume, and that scale is a big reason so many non-EU businesses — including companies with no other presence in the Netherlands — choose to register their first EU EORI there, even when the goods are ultimately destined for other member states. Dutch Customs manages registration through the National Helpdesk Douane (NHD).

For companies headquartered in the Netherlands, the EORI is typically structured from the RSIN. Registration is free of charge.

What is the EORI number in the Netherlands?

the Netherlands' customs authority, Dutch Customs (Douane Nederland), identifies traders using the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number — a single reference quoted on every customs declaration. The number takes the form NL plus a national identifier, shaped like NL123456789, and once issued it is recognised for customs purposes across the whole EU, not just Netherlands. No EORI on file means no import or export can be declared under your name.

Who needs an NL EORI number?

The rule is simple: if you're established in Netherlands and your name appears on a customs declaration as importer or exporter, you need an EORI number first. That applies whether you're a limited company, a sole trader or a partnership, and whether the goods are inbound stock from outside the EU, outbound sales to overseas customers, or cross-border orders placed through an online marketplace. A forwarder or courier can submit the declaration on your behalf, but it will still show your EORI, not theirs.

There is only one place to register: the EU member state where your business is legally established. For a company based in Netherlands, that is Dutch Customs (Douane Nederland). The NL-prefixed EORI it issues is then usable on customs declarations across the entire EU, all 27 member states, so there's no need to apply again elsewhere in the bloc. A non-EU business can likewise obtain its EORI in Netherlands if that's where it first lodges an EU customs declaration.

Great Britain sits outside this EU-wide recognition, so a NL EORI on its own will not clear a UK import. If your Netherlands business imports into the UK in its own name, apply separately to HMRC for a GB EORI — see our UK EORI guide.

How to apply for an EORI number in the Netherlands

Check whether you already have one. Authorities often assign EORI numbers automatically when a business first interacts with customs. Search old customs correspondence or ask your forwarder, and try our EORI checker with your likely number — the format is usually NL plus your national tax or business identifier.
Gather your business details. You will typically need your company registration number, VAT or tax ID, legal form, registered address and contact details of an authorised person.
Apply with Dutch Customs (Douane Nederland). Applications go through the official portal — for complete applications, many traders can obtain their EORI quickly. Timing depends on the application route and review. Registration is free of charge; no official authority charges for issuing an EORI.
Validate before your first shipment. Once issued, confirm the number is active with our free checker so your first declaration is not rejected over a typo or a not-yet-propagated registration.

Official Netherlands EORI application page

Checking and using your Netherlands EORI number

EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + official Dutch customs confirmation. Because the EOS database behind NL numbers is EU-wide, not just the Netherlands' own system, counterparties anywhere in the bloc can look your number up too — a routine step many businesses take before trading with a new supplier or customer.

Once active, your EORI appears on every customs document tied to your business: import and export declarations, transit paperwork, safety and security filings, and any customs authorisations you hold. Couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS will ask for it before they can clear commercial goods in your name. Keep the exact string handy in your shipping profiles — a single mistyped character is enough to stop a consignment at the border. You can compare your number against the national pattern in our EORI format hub, which covers every country's structure with valid examples.