PostNL shipping conditions (Netherlands)

 Purpose: view the shipping conditions of Dutch postal carrier PostNL.   

You'll no longer be able to select the following methods for PostNL shipments to Belgium:

• PostNL Abroad 0-23kg
• PostNL Abroad NMG
• PostNL service point 0-23kg

Below you'll find the new shipping methods:

Shipping packages within the Netherlands

PostNL Standard 0-23KG / 23-31.5KG

Service Presentation:

Home delivery within 24 hours (in 98% of cases), everywhere in the Netherlands. You can hand-in these shipments to a service point for delivery. From 500 shipments per month you can request a fixed collection.

Shipping method features:

• 1 delivery attempt
• Not insured
• Research on domestic shipments has a lead time of 7 days

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG / 31.5KG
• Maximum dimensions 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

• PostNL Standard
  This is the correct method to select when you intend to hand your parcels over to a service point for delivery.
• PostNL Standard Collection
  This is the shipping method that is selected when PostNL will collect parcels directly from you via a Sendcloud pickup.
• PostNL Standard Return (Direct contract only)
  You can use this method to return shipments from Belgium or the Netherlands back to the Netherlands

PostNL Home Address only 0-23KG / 23-31,5KG

Service Presentation:

If the recipient is not at home during delivery, the shipment goes to a service point. Shipments with the Home Address only method are not handed over to neighbors.

Shipping method features:

• 1 delivery attempt
• After a failed delivery attempt, the shipment can be picked up after 15h on the next day
• No delivery at neighbors

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG / 31.5KG
• Maximum dimensions 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Signature on Delivery 0-23KG / 23-31,5KG

Service Presentation:

Shipping method features:

• No service point delivery
• Signature on delivery required

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG / 31.5KG
• Maximum dimensions 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Sunday Delivery 0-23kg / 23-31.5KG

Service Presentation:

Home delivery on Sundays everywhere in the Netherlands except the Wadden Islands. If the recipient is not at home during delivery, the shipment goes to a neighbor or back to PostNL. 

Shipping method features:

• Delivery on Sunday
• Delivery time between 12 and 6pm

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG / 31.5KG
• Maximum dimensions 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Evening Delivery 0-23KG / 23-31,5KG

Service Presentation:

Offer your customers the convenience of evening delivery! PostNL can deliver your packages on weekdays between 5:30 and 10 p.m.

Shipping method features:

• Delivery bewteen 5:30 and 10 p.m.

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG / 31.5KG
• Maximum dimensions 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Service Point 0-23KG / 23-31,5KG

Service Presentation:

Home delivery within 24 hours (in 98% of cases), everywhere in the Netherlands. You can hand-in these shipments to a service point for delivery. From 500 shipments per month you can request a fixed collection.

Shipping method features:

• 1 delivery attempt at a service point
• Not insured
• Research on domestic shipments has a lead time of 7 days

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG
• Maximum dimensions 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Mailbox Parcel 0-2KG

Service Presentation:

Delivery of your letterbox shipments within the Netherlands. You can hand-in these shipments to a service point for delivery.

Shipping method features:

• No Tracking (only first scan)
• 1 delivery attempt through your mailbox
• Not insured
• Research is not possible

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 2 KG
• Maximum dimensions 38,0 x 26,5 x 3,2 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Mailbox Parcel Return 0-2 kg

Service presentation

Return method with PostNL whereby the end customer can return their package by dropping it off at their local parcel shop.

Shipping method characteristics 

• No tracking available (only first scan)
• Not insured
• Claiming is not possible
• 1 delivery attempt (in mailbox)

Parcel dimensions

• Maximum weight: 2 kg
• Maximum dimensions 38.0 x 26.5 x 3.2 cm (L X W X H)

The price of this return method is €4.25 per label. No discount based on volume possible.

Shipping within Europe

PostNL Abroad

Service Presentation:

Delivery to private and business addresses within Europe. You can hand-in these shipments to a service point for delivery. From 500 shipments per month you can request a fixed collection.

Shipping method features:

• Included signature on delivery
• Insured up to 500 euros (60% of sales value)
• Research on domestic shipments has a lead time of +/- 45 days

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 23 KG
• Maximum dimensions; EU to Consumer/Premium: 100 x 70 x 58 cm (L X W X H) 

PostNL Pakket Nederland België 

As you may have read at the top of the article, the PostNL shipping methods from the Netherlands to Belgium have changed per 21-12-2021. Below you find the shipping conditions for those new shipping methods:

All PostNL Pakket Nederland België shipping methods contain Tracking. The delivery can takes place from Monday - Saturday. There are two delivery attempts before the parcel will be sent to a service point. 

Shipping worldwide

PostNL Globalpack

Service Presentation:

Home delivery outside Europe. You can hand-in these shipments to a service point for delivery. From 500 shipments per month you can request a fixed collection. 

From 1 July 2021, PostNL will also take  volumetric weight into account for GlobalPack shipments. This is calculated as  follows:  Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm) /12000

Please note: an additional cost per kg will be included on top of the fixed cost of the shipping label. 

For a number of European countries or areas, you also need to choose Globalpack as shipping method:

• Greenland
• Andorra
• San Marino
• The Vatican
• Canary Islands
• Gibraltar
• Channel Islands (e.g. Guernsey, Jersey etc.)
• Faroe Islands

Shipping method features:

• Included signature on delivery
• Insured up to 500 euros (60% of sales value)
• Research on domestic shipments has a lead time of +/- 45 days

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight 20 KG
• Maximum dimensions; 100 × 70 × 58 cm (L X W X H) 
• Maximum belt circumference 300 cm (2x the height + 2x the width + 1x the longest side of the package)

PostNL International Packets Tracked

Service Presentation:

PostNL International Packets is a flexible and affordable delivery option for if you regularly ship small packages which are no larger than a shoebox (up to a maximum of 2 kg) to international destinations. It’s available to users who have PostNL Packets included in their PostNL contracts.  

Packets are characterised as small, showbox sized packages and differ from the usual Parcel products which you may be familiar with. Unlike regular parcels which are sent through the parcel shipping network, packets are sent via the international postal network. 

Here you will find an overview of the average transit times of PostNL for shipping within and outside of Europe.

Characteristics of the parcel: 

• Maximum weight: 2kg
• Maximum size: 90cm (length + width + height)
• Maximum length: 60cm

Note: to avoid unwanted surcharges, be sure that the packet does not exceed the dimensions above. Click here for more information about surcharges from PostNL. 

Shipping method features:

Packet Tracked

• Fast and reliable service through Postal Exprès service
• Tracking information available 
• Not insured by default
• Ships to 46 major worldwide locations

For a more comprehensive overview of the conditions, we recommend that you carefully read the surcharges and conditions article.

PostNL shipments can be handed-in to 1 of the 3000 PostNL service points. These are located throughout the Netherlands, a PostNL point in your area can be found via the online location selector.

Multicollo Shipments

Multicollo shipment is available for all PostNL services except for Brievenbuspakketje and only for deliveries within the Netherlands and Belgium. Please note that multicollo is not available for shipments requiring a customs form. 

Each collo will be assigned it's own Tracking number and receive individual Tracking updates. You can view how many shipments are linked to a parcel in the shipment detail view of your panel.

If you need to cancel a collo within the shipment, all labels must be cancelled and recreated. 

Smart returns (paperless returns)

PostNL also supports Smart returns. This means that your customers no longer need to print their label. Instead, they can simply show the barcode they get via email at the service point. For more information, click here.

Claim procedure

Uninsured shipments

Most shipments of PostNL (including PostNL Standard, PostNL service point, PostNL mailbox parcel, PostNL with signature, PostNL evening delivery etc.) are not insured. Keep in mind that if you ship via Sendcloud, only the shipping methods that are mentioned below at 'Insured shipments' have insurance. If you do not insure the shipments mentioned above with the help of our Sendcloud Insurance, no claim can be submitted based on purchase - / sales value. In this case, you are only entitled to a a reimbursement of the shipping costs. There is no compensation possible for Mailbox shipments. This also means that the shipping costs can not be reimbursed.

To submit such a claim, we need the purchase and sales invoice including a content description.

Insured shipments

PostNL's international methods are insured as standard (PostNL Abroad and Globalpack are both insured up to 500 euros). A claim for these types of shipments can be submitted via the Sendcloud panel. Click on the concerning shipment, then click on the bottom right to request help -> submit a claim for a lost / damaged shipment.

This way the correct documents are collected and the claim file will be complete so the carrier can process a claim in the quickest way. If you have to fill in a field that is not available to you (for example if you do not have a purchase invoice), you can also upload a word file with an explanation.

Please note: damage to a shipment must be reported to us within 7 days of delivery, otherwise PostNL cannot handle the claim.

Do you want to insure your shipments for a higher value? This is possible with the help of our Sendcloud Insurance.

Like every carrier, PostNL has prepared a document concerning their General Transport Conditions. If you deviate from the conditions, you will be charged a surcharge on your invoice afterwards. When you ship with PostNL, you automatically agree to the following terms and conditions:

General conditions PostNL