How do I keep track of my stock in the warehouse?

By default, we have access to your inventory data via our administration and provide reports on request or through a shared dashboard. For larger clients, we set up an integration with your own ERP or WMS system.

Bonded Storage — Customs Warehouse and Temporary Storage at Schiphol

Store non-EU goods without immediately paying import duties and VAT. Aircargo.nl holds a Temporary Storage (up to 90 days) license and a Private Customs Warehouse (unlimited duration) license. Both under our own responsibility, at our location, AEO-F certified.

A bonded warehouse — known in Dutch as a customs warehouse (douane-entrepot) — is a storage facility where goods from outside the European Union can be stored without immediate payment of import duties and VAT. Duties and VAT are only due when the goods leave the warehouse and enter free circulation. For importers with high-value goods, seasonal stock, transit destinations, or uncertainty about the final destination, this is an important financial tool.

We offer two types under one roof. Temporary Storage (TST) is intended for shorter periods up to 90 days — ideal for goods awaiting clearance, transit, or a final destination. Private Customs Warehouse (CWP) is suitable for an indefinite period — you can hold stock under suspension for a long time, distribute across Europe, or re-export outside the EU without ever paying import duties.

TST versus CWP — What Fits Your Situation?

Temporary Storage (TST)	Customs Warehouse (CWP)
Maximum Duration	90 dagen	Onbeperkt
Type of Goods	Niet-Uniegoederen, in afwachting	Niet-Uniegoederen, langere termijn
Import Duties and VAT	Niet verschuldigd zolang opgeslagen	Niet verschuldigd zolang opgeslagen
Permitted Operations	Beperkt — identificatie en behoud	Strippen, palletiseren, stickeren, herverpakken
Type of License	TST — 90 dagen	CWP type C — onbeperkt
Best For	Tussenoplossing in douanetraject	Distributiehub of buffer voor herexport

Benefits of Bonded Storage

Postponement of Duties and Taxes

Goods remain suspended from import duties, VAT, and excise. You only pay when they leave the warehouse heading to the European market.
Avoid Double Import Duties on Transit

Re-export from the warehouse outside the EU is possible without ever paying import duties. Prevents double charging during transit.
Inventory Flexibility Without Cash Flow Impact

Build up stock without affecting cash flow. React flexibly to market demand, seasonal fluctuations, or campaigns.
Operations Allowed Under Customs Supervision

From our CWP, you can repackage, label, sort, or palletize shipments under customs control — without losing the non-EU goods status.
Later Choice of Final Destination

Decide later which EU country or non-EU destination you will choose — without committing beforehand.
Protection Against Anti-Dumping

Anti-dumping duties, quantitative restrictions, and trade policy measures only apply when goods leave the warehouse — not upon entry.

Under Permanent Customs Supervision

The difference with a regular warehouse: a bonded warehouse is under permanent supervision of the Dutch Customs. Inventory must be administratively controlled (every movement traceable), goods are registered through an import declaration for customs warehousing, and permitted operations must be described in the license. We handle all these administrative tasks for you.

The Warehouse Process

How a shipment flows through our customs warehouse

Receipt in the Warehouse

Goods arrive at Schiphol or via your own transport. We file the import declaration for customs warehouse. No import duties or VAT due at this point.

Inventory Management Under Customs Control

Goods are recorded in our warehouse administration. You have visibility of stock through our system. Any operations are coordinated in advance.

Optional Operations

At your request, we strip, palletize, repackage, label, or sort the shipment. All within the conditions of our CWP license.

Release for EU

Upon release for the EU market: we file the declaration for free circulation. At this moment, import duties and VAT are settled.

Or Re-Export Outside the EU

For re-export outside the EU: we file an export declaration (T1 if transit). No import duties are due — preventing double charging.

When is Bonded Storage the Smart Choice?

Four common scenarios where our customers choose bonded storage. For transit distribution: you import from a third country into the Netherlands and want to distribute across EU countries plus some non-EU destinations — bonded avoids paying full VAT in the Netherlands upfront only to reclaim it later in another country. For high-value goods: stock worth six or seven figures with high import duties can quickly tie up hundreds of thousands in advanced payments — bonded postpones this expense. For seasonal stock: receiving summer products in December but selling only in May — bonded keeps your cash flow in check. For uncertainty about the final destination: not yet sure if the shipment will go to France, Poland, or Switzerland — bonded keeps options open.

Operations We Allow in Our Warehouse

Under our CWP license, we may perform counting and weighing, sampling, labeling and tagging, repackaging for distribution, palletizing or depalletizing, sorting, minor repairs that don’t change the nature of the product, and consolidating or splitting shipments. Operations that substantially alter the product’s nature (such as manufacturing or processing with customs benefits) fall under other schemes — "inward processing" — for which we assist with a separate application.

Combination with Our Other Customs Services

Our bonded storage is not a standalone service but part of an integrated customs package. A typical client combines: air freight import via Schiphol, receipt at our TST or CWP, optional operations, and at the right time release with import declaration plus road transport to the final destination. One contract party, one chain, no handovers between suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bonded Storage

What is the difference between TST and CWP?

Temporary Storage (TST) is for up to 90 days for goods awaiting a destination, with limited operational possibilities. A customs warehouse (CWP type C) is for an indefinite period and offers broader operations such as repackaging, labeling, and sorting. We hold both licenses.

Do I pay VAT while my goods are in the warehouse?

Not within the warehouse itself. Duties and VAT are only calculated when you release the goods for free circulation within the EU, based on customs value and HS code. For re-export outside the EU, you pay nothing to Dutch Customs.

How long can goods remain in the customs warehouse?

There are no fixed maximum times for our CWP license. In practice, we have customers with stock stored in the warehouse for months or even years. For perishable goods (such as food), the natural shelf-life limitations of the product apply, of course.

Do I need a bank guarantee?

We hold a CGU license (continuous guarantee) which covers most situations. For particular or high-volume clients, additional guarantees can be arranged. You typically do not need to provide a bank guarantee yourself.

Can I directly re-export from the warehouse?

Yes. A popular scenario is import from Asia, storage in our bonded warehouse, and re-export to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or an Asian neighboring country. We handle the T1 document and the export declaration. You never pay import duties or VAT in the EU.

Interested in Storing Goods in Bonded?

Tell us which goods flow you want to store, and we’ll calculate what you save on advanced VAT and import duties. Including fixed pricing for storage and handling.

Request a Quote