Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From the United States to the Netherlands

Shipping from the United States to the Netherlands is common for commercial cargo moving into European distribution networks—especially industrial equipment, parts, chemicals, medical products, retail inventory, and time-sensitive replenishment shipments. Because routing often includes a mix of seaport, airport, and inland delivery legs, the fastest way to reduce delays is to align your transport mode, documentation, and destination handling plan before booking.

On the macro level, official U.S. trade statistics show high goods volumes between the two markets. In 2024, U.S. exports of goods to the Netherlands totaled $88.2B and imports totaled $34.1B (nominal, not seasonally adjusted). Source: U.S. Census Bureau — Trade in Goods with Netherlands.

This page explains your freight options (ocean, air, and air express), typical transit time ranges, and the customs/documentation basics to plan before you ship from the US to the Netherlands.

US–Netherlands Freight Options at a Glance

Shipping from the United States to the Netherlands usually involves choosing between ocean freight and air freight, depending on shipment size, urgency, and cost sensitivity.

• Ocean Freight: Most cost-efficient for large, heavy, or non-urgent cargo
• Air Freight: Faster option for time-sensitive or high-value shipments
• Air Express: Expedited, door-to-door service for parcels and small boxes

Most shippers compare speed, cost, and shipment volume before selecting a transport mode on this trade lane.

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From the United States to the Netherlands?

Shippers moving cargo from the United States to the Netherlands generally choose between three freight options:

Ocean Freight From the United States to the Netherlands

Ocean freight is the most cost-effective option for large or heavy shipments where transit time is flexible.

• FCL (Full Container Load): Ideal for full container volumes or regular shipments
• LCL (Less than Container Load): Suitable for smaller loads sharing container space

Learn more about container options in Ocean Freight FCL and Ocean Freight LCL.

Air Freight from the United States to the Netherlands

Air freight prioritizes speed and reliability and is commonly used for high-value, time-critical, or low-volume cargo. Pricing is typically based on chargeable weight (actual vs volumetric).

Air Express from the United States to the Netherlands

Air express is designed for parcels, documents, and small shipments that require fast, door-to-door delivery with simplified handling.

US–Netherlands Shipping Mode Comparison

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From the United States to the Netherlands?

The cost of shipping cargo from the United States to the Netherlands will depend on the following factors: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

For a shipping cost estimate, use our freight costs calculator. The table below also lists the current cost for shipping a standard 20-foot container from the US to the Netherlands:

How long does it take to ship cargo from the United States to the Netherlands?

The time it takes to ship goods from the United States to the Netherlands is largely dependent on the international shipping mode selected. However, the following factors also play a role:

• The season (peak or low) during which you ship
• Whether the shipment route is direct
• The popularity of the trade lane
• Geopolitical instability
• Incidents that might occur at ports

Transit times on the US–Netherlands trade lane vary significantly by transport mode:

• Air Freight: typically 2–8 business days, depending on routing, capacity, and customs processing
• Air Express: typically 1–5 business days for parcels and urgent shipments
• Ocean Freight: typically 15–50 days, depending on port pairs, vessel schedules, and inland connections

For lane-specific timing expectations and seasonal variability, use the Transit Time Calculator.

Customs Clearance in the United States and the Netherlands

Customs clearance applies to both air and ocean shipments moving between the United States and the Netherlands. While processing locations differ, core requirements are similar:

• Commercial invoice and packing list
• Correct HS codes and declared values
• Transport document (Air Waybill for air shipments, Bill of Lading for ocean shipments)
• Any required permits/approvals (commodity-dependent)

For imports into the Netherlands (EU entry), an import declaration is generally required when goods enter the EU for use in the EU. Source: Dutch Customs — Import: submitting a declaration.

For ocean shipments arriving to the United States, many importers must comply with advance cargo data requirements (Importer Security Filing / “10+2”). Source: U.S. CBP — Importer Security Filing (10+2).

For document examples and templates, review Air Freight Shipping Documents and the general Shipping Documents.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Choose air freight when:

• Delivery speed is critical
• Cargo value is high relative to weight
• Stock-outs or production delays must be avoided

Choose ocean freight when:

• Cost optimization is the priority
• Cargo is heavy or bulky
• Transit time flexibility exists

Many businesses use ocean freight for planned inventory movements and air freight for urgent or exception shipments on the same trade lane.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in the United States

Port of Houston

The Port of Houston is the busiest in America by foreign waterborne tonnage. It boasts an area of 50 miles, which houses over 200 terminals. It is also hailed as the largest port on the Gulf Coast, handling 52% of project cargo in the region. 

Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland is home to the first terminals for container ships, making it the first important port on the Pacific Coast. It is one of the top three gateways on the West Coast, handling 99% of all containerized goods that move through Northern California. 

Port of South Carolina

The Port of South Carolina comprises the ports of Georgetown and Charleston. It’s important to the region’s economy, providing 10% of all jobs in the state. The port mostly handles containers, receiving over two million TEUs per year. 

Cargo ports of arrival in the Netherlands

Port of Scheveningen

The Port of Scheveningen is on the Netherlands’ western coast, 20 kilometers from the Hook of Halland. It boasts three harbors and eight wharves capable of handling over 1 million tonnes of cargo annually. 

Port of Vlaardingen

The Port of Vlaardingen is located nine kilometers from Rotterdam. It boasts three commercial harbors that handle general cargo vessels, tankers, and bulk carriers. The port also has a tank farm that can store 435,000 cubic meters of oils and other liquid cargo. 

Port of Harlingen

The Port of Harlingen is an essential industrial port on the Netherlands’ northwestern coast. It is a regional port and logistics hub that spans 30 hectares. It houses 20 wharves and 10 warehouses that handle general cargo, containers, breakbulk, project cargo, and RORO. 

Air Freight from the United States to the Netherlands: An airport guide

Airports of origin in the United States

Salt Lake City International Airport

The Salt Lake City International Airport is a military public airport located 4 miles west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the closest commercial airport for 2.5 million people in the region and a hub for Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines, Delta Connection, and more. 

Laredo International Airport

The Laredo International Airport is located 3 miles northeast of downtown Laredo, Webb County, Texas. It is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service airport and operates over 45,000 aircraft annually. 

Kansas City International Airport

The Kansas City International Airport is in Kansas City, Missouri, 15 miles northwest of Downtown Kansas City. It is a hub for Frontier Airlines, Trans World Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and more. In 2023, a new airport complex opened, effectively replacing the old one constructed in 1972.

Airports of arrival in the Netherlands

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the main international airport in the Netherlands. It is located 9 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam and is a hub for KLM, KLM Cargo, KLM Cityhopper, and Martinair.

Rotterdam The Hague Airport

The Rotterdam The Hague Airport is a minor international airport that serves the second-largest city, Rotterdam, and The Hague, the administrative and royal capital of the Netherlands. It is the third busiest airport in the country. 

Groningen Airport Eelde

The Groningen Airport Eelde is a minor international airport located in Northeastern Netherlands, near Eelde in Drenthe Province. Although it has two runways, only one is in use. The airport is also used as a home base for a flight academy and aero club.