European logistics, storage and fulfilment in the Netherlands
The internet enables companies to sell their products across the globe to businesses and consumer in local markets. Amazon, Zalando, Otto, Tesco, Apple, Asda and Shopdirect are in Europe’s top 10 of biggest e-tailers. Successful Dutch internet retailers and market leaders are Bol, Coolblue, Wehkamp and Hema. Also in Europe E-commerce is booming and changing the business landscape.
Export to Europe and logistics services location
If your company exports or sells products via the internet to businesses or consumers in Europe, choosing the right business location in Europe for your logistics activities is critical for your bottom line and customer service levels.
Still internal competition between EU member states
The European market is not comparable with the United States: within the European Union there’s still considerable internal competition between EU member states on social, legal, fiscal, VAT, cultural, lingual and logistics aspects.
1 million European shipping and logistics companies
Also, compared to the US, Europe gives shippers almost an unlimited choice in European shipping, storage, logistics, fulfillment and distribution services. Did you know Europe counts over 1 million companies in the logistics/shipping industries? This makes it hard for “outsiders” to contract the most suitable European logistics provider, services and pricing for their European business.
Doing business in Europe via The Netherlands
Across the globe it is known that the Netherlands (Holland) offers international companies highly attractive fiscal, legal, logistics and digital advantages. Succesful multinationals like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Intel, IBM, Cisco, Huawei and hundreds of other international enterprises do already business in Europe via The Netherlands.
Where to locate your logistics activities in The Netherlands
But companies should also consider WHERE to locate their physical logistics and fulfillment activities within The Netherlands. Major Dutch cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam are really great business/office locations. Cities like Maastricht, in the province of Limburg in close proximity to Belgium and Germany, might be much more suitable for European crossborder logistics operations. Here’s why.
- Opposed to Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, Maastricht is very close to Belgium, Germany and France. The Maastricht region enables international shippers and their European customers to order late and still deliver shipments next day at consumers and businesses in Belgium, Germany, France and many other major European markets.
- A late cut-off time gives international merchants the possibility to maximize their sales turnover throughout the day. In Europe, most consumers are not home during the day. Orders are mostly placed at home in the evening and weekends. For international shipments the Maastricht locations offers later cut-off times then many other Dutch logistics locations.
- From Maastricht, shippers benefit from national delivery charges for international shipments to Belgium, Germany and France. Maastricht can save up to 30% on your international shipping costs.
- By delivering directly from Maastricht to national postal and parcel services in Belgium, Germany or France buyers get their usual national delivery experience. This will increase customer satisfaction and increases chances on repeat business.
- From Maastricht international shippers have easy access to national, European and global delivery services and various standard and express delivery options. For example Post NL , the Dutch marketleader, has a strategic sorting and distribution center near Maastricht. UPS, FedEx, TNT, DHL, DPD and GLS also have European depots in the vicinity of Maastricht. This also applies to various European distribution networks for docs, pallets, LTL and FTL shipments. This gives shippers more choice and more delivery options.
- Urgent or express shipments? Various aircargo options are available via the airports of Maastricht, Liège, Eindhoven, Dusseldorf, Cologne and Brussels. This allows international shippers to maximize customer satisfaction and to avoid "out of stocks"
- Import into Europe from the US, Asia or other continents? Maastricht offers direct connections by road, rail and inland shipping from/to the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. By shipping containers for the German, Belgium or French market directly, without transshipment, from Antwerp or Rotterdam to a logistics fulfillment or distribution centre in the Maastricht region, overall logistics costs and risks can be reduced.
- Maastricht is multilingual by nature. Dutch, French, German and English are common languages. With "native speaker" customer service centers , international sellers will maximize customer satisfaction on a local European level.
European logistics services for non-FBA transactions via Amazon Europe
Sell ??on Amazon Europe? French, German and other European Amazon fulfilment centres can be quickly supplied from Maastricht. Products which can not be sold via "Freight by Amazon (FBA)" because of dimensions or weight, can be stored and distributed directly from Maastricht to Amazon buyers across Europe.
Dutch logistics, warehousing, fulfillment & shipping services
More information on international European warehousing, fulfilment & logistics services via our distribution facilities in Maastricht, The Netherlands? Then contact us. With us, selling in Europe becomes easier and safer!
Louis Coenders, KWL European warehousing & logistics
+31 (0)43 3585422