Air, Sea & Railway Shipping from China to Netherlands

Netherlands is the most significant transport hub in Europe, and the port of Rotterdam, as the gateway to Europe. China-Netherlands trade volume has been on the rise in the last decade.

In this article, we’ll share a complete guide to shipping from China to the Netherlands, written by one of the top China freight forwarder, hoping those into China-Netherlands trade would find it helpful. The content includes shipping methods, transit time, cost, best way of shipping, what to expect from an experienced freight forwarder for your China-Netherlands shipments. 

We have 3 main shipping methods for China-Netherlands trade lane, sea freight, sea freight and railway freight. 

Sea freight from China to the Netherlands

If you are shipping from China to Netherlands on limited budget, you should probably opt for sea freight. Among all the modes of international transportation, sea freight is the least expensive one. A sea shipment from China takes approx. 1 month to arrive in the Netherlands, you should check inventory and plan purchase in advance in case that stock runs out. 
Sea freight is popular not only because of its low shipping cost, but also for the large shipping capacity and capability to transport almost all types of goods, especially those large and heavy cargo, or dangerous goods which are not accepted by other forms of transport. 
FCL (Full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client from China to the Netherlands. Shipping FCL is more cost efficient than LCL.
LCL (Less than container load): Sharing a container with other clients who have cargo at the same time, to the same destination. Naturally, due to extra work (consolidation, de-consolidation, warehousing, paperwork, etc.), the final cost on each unit is higher than FCL, and shipping takes longer. LCL is a good choice for small business to start with. 
Besides regular FCL and LCL shipping, we also handle OOG cargo from China to the Netherlands, as well as project shipment by bulk cargo ships or RO-RO ships. 
Of the world’s 10 busiest seaports, China owns 6 and the Netherlands owns the largest port in Europe, port of Rotterdam. Sea shipping from China to the Netherlands is quite convenient. 
As one of the top China freight forwarders serving the Netherlands, we have full coverage of major ports of both China and the Netherlands. Top ports in China: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc. 

Ports of the Netherlands

Port of Rotterdam (NLRTM)
Not only Netherlands’ largest sea port, also the largest outside of Asia
Home to some of the world’s leading industrial clusters
Container throughput: The port of Rotterdam processed 15.3 million TEU in 2021, highest record by far.

Port of Amsterdam (NLAMS)
The port of Amsterdam is the 2nd largest port in the Netherlands and ranks 5th in Europe.
Easy access to sea, rail and road transports
Annual cargo tonnage: over 100 million

Interested in shipping containers from China to the Netherlands by sea, whether to Rotterdam or Amsterdam? Get a shipping solution and cost from us.

Air freight from China to the Netherlands

Air freight is preferred if you have a pressing deadline when shipping from China to the Netherlands. Air shipping is not so often used due to its high price, but it’s the very best choice for coordinating time-sensitive shipments like perishable goods, medical supplies, or to accelerate a delayed project by using faster way of delivery. 
Sometimes people choose air freight for shipping high-value equipment or luxurious items for higher security level, and they just don’t want to wait one month to receive the shipment. Also shorter transit time also means faster cash flow and less chance of loss or damage. 
If you wish for a delivery within 3-5 days from China to the Netherlands, and your supply chain has a robust enough shipping budget, air freight is the right way to go.
However, due some limitations and restrictions, not everything can be air shipped. Contact us for more knowledge and information. Get a shipping solution and freight quote from us.

Airports of the Netherlands

Amsterdam airport (IATA CODE: AMS)
Largest and most important airport in the Netherlands, 3rd in Europe
Significant air traffic hub, in 2021, the Amsterdam airport recorded a total of 266,967 air transport movements.

Rail freight from China to the Netherlands

Rail freight is a third option, making cargo shipping from China to the Netherlands more affordable and faster than ever. Transporting goods by freight train became popular only recently. It is a good substitute for air and sea freight – It’s faster than sea freight, consequentially at higher price, but of course much cheaper than air shipping.  
Freight train stations served: Tilburg, Rotterdam

The Chengdu – Tilburg – Rotterdam Railway route

This is the first railway freight train from China to Netherlands, launched in 2016, also the fastest and only direct railway connection between China and the Netherlands, with transit time being only 15 days. 

In June, 2020, the first freight train left Hefei (capital of Anhui Province), heading for Tilburg. 
This is only the beginning of railway connections between China and the Netherlands, there’s more for us to explore on China-Europe Railway Express. 
Several Chinese cities including Chongqing, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Xi’an and Shenyang have rail freight services to Europe as well.

If you want a delivery from China to the Netherlands, faster than sea shipping, but cheaper than air shipping, we highly suggest you opt for railway transport. 
Submit your shipments details and get a shipping solution and quote from us.

How long does it take to ship from China to the Netherlands?

Generally, cargo shipping from China to the Netherlands takes 30-40 days by sea, 3-5 days and 15-18 days by train.
The time needed to ship cargo from China to Netherlands depends on many factors, such as shipping method, departure port/airport, destination port/airport, route, weather, port condition, etc. 

China-Netherlands sea freight transit time

Container shipping transit time by sea from China to Rotterdam, Netherlands

POL (port of loading)	POD (port of discharge	Transit time
Shanghai	Rotterdam	34 days
Shenzhen	Rotterdam	28 days
Qingdao	Rotterdam	38 days

FYI: Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China, data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to the Netherlands.
The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days

China-Netherlands air shipping transit time

Generally an air shipment from China takes 3-5 days to arrive in the Netherlands. 
Several Chinese cities have direct flight service to Amsterdam, making one-day shipping possible. 
Shanghai – Amsterdam
Beijing – Amsterdam
Flight routes are subject to change without prior notice, contact us, a leading China freight forwarder for the latest info and shipping cost from China to the Netherlands

China-Netherlands freight train transit time

Shipping containers by train from China to the Netherlands takes 15-18 days. 
Compared to sea freight, railway transport reduces the transit time from China to Netherlands substantially, from 1 month time to only half.

Best way to ship from China to the Netherlands

There’s no one simple answer to the “best way” to ship from China to the Netherlands. Every client is different and has his specific requirements about the shipment. Whatever the situation is, the best way certainly meets this standard: fast and safe delivery of shipment at the minimum shipping cost possible. The best way is to rely on an experienced China freight forwarder. The below factors will be take into consideration to work out the best solution. 
1.    The type of goods and its value
2.    How quickly you need your goods
3.    The load of your goods (size, weight, quantity) or simply share the packing list
4.    Supplier address (origin seaport/airport), delivery address(destination seaport/airport)
5.    Your budget
6.    Goods ready time
Submit the details, we’ll offer a tailored China-Netherlands shipping solution as per your requirements. Request a quote from us, and you are on the way to a hassle-free China-Netherlands cargo shipping experience. 

How much does it cost to ship from China to the Netherlands?

Shipping a 40ft container from China to the Netherlands used to cost $1000-2000, and the highest record is over $15000 after the pandemic. Similar case with air freight and railway transport.
Knowing the shipping cost from China to the Netherlands is essential to business. Shipping cost is an indispensable, and sometimes constitutes a large percentage of the final landed cost of imported goods.
However, the shipping market is not always set in stone, it’s fast changing. Sea, air and railway freight rates fluctuate with time, affected by supply and demand relationship, as well as by carrier’s strategic adjustment. Besides, each shipment is different, it’s impossible to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to the Netherlands. 
Contact a freight forwarder for a tailored China-Netherlands shipping solution and get the latest freight quote.

Freight forwarder for China-Netherlands door to door shipping

The shipping market is fast changing. Shipping from China to the Netherlands is a time & energy consuming job. With the help of an experienced freight forwarder, your shipment will be well planned and carried out smoothly. 
As one of the top China based freight forwarders serving the Netherlands, we are equipped with knowledge, expertise and experience to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. Moreover, through our freight forwarding service, door to door service is made possible. 
UCS provides the easiest one-stop shipping solution, i.e. to have their goods shipped from China to the Netherlands door to door. We take care of all the related logistics work from A to Z, all the required paperwork, supervision, consolidation, loading, offloading, customs clearance and final delivery, without adding any stress on clients. Whatever your shipment is, whether you are shipping a private address, or commercial address or FBA address, regardless of which shipping method you prefer, sea, air, or rail freight, we got you covered. You are released from all the complexity and perplexity related to international shipping. China-Netherlands door to door shipping is made easy.

How to ship from China to the Netherlands

Step 1: Contact a freight forwarder; a China based one is preferred. (More on “Why you should work with a local China freight forwarder”)
Step 2: Submit shipment details and get a shipping quote from China
Step 3: Connect the freight forwarder with supplier, forwarder does his job
Step 4: Get cargo insurance (optional)
Step 5: Arrange customs clearance
You can also rely on us for one-stop shipping solution from China to the Netherlands as well.

Why us when importing and shipping from China to the Netherlands?

We are China based freight forwarder, specialized and experienced in international logistics for import and export business. With years of hard effort on China-Netherlands trade lane, building networks of sea, air, railway and local connections, we are able to provide a hassle-free one-stop shipping solution from China to the Netherlands. For importers from the Netherlands, we have the below reasons for you to choose us as freight forwarder for your freight shipping from China.
1. Quick Response, high efficiency
2. Communication
3. Professionalism, agility, accuracy
4. Our logistics expertise, local and global connections
5. Cost-saving
6. Dedicated, focused
7. Higher attention & tailored shipping solution
More on Why us when importing and shipping from China to the Netherlands

As one leading freight forwarder serving the Netherlands, we have been connecting business in Netherlands with China, chasing the best-in-class China-Netherlands cargo shipping experience. 

If you are considering shipping from China to Netherlands (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Tilburg, etc), whether by sea, air or railway, contact us, and get a shipping solution and quote for your China-Netherlands shipment.