Tracking opens in a new tab on the carrier's official website. We don't store your tracking number.
Carriers operating from Netherlands
How to track a parcel from the Netherlands
Paste the tracking number from your shipping email or receipt into the box above. The page compares it with the number formats used by PostNL and DHL first, and only if none of those fit does it try every carrier it knows. Press Track (or Enter) and the carrier's own tracking page opens in a new tab with your number already filled in — the scans you see there come straight from the carrier, not from us.
If the number is not recognised, choose the carrier yourself from the list, or use “Track as international parcel”, which searches an aggregator that covers most postal services and couriers.
Tracking numbers in the Netherlands
PostNL parcels sent within the Netherlands carry a barcode that starts with 3S (for example 3SABCD1234567), while items PostNL sends abroad use the 13-character international format ending in NL. For domestic parcels PostNL's own tracking page may ask for the recipient's postcode before it shows full details, so keep the postcode to hand. Parcels shipped with DHL in the Netherlands use DHL's own numbering and are tracked on DHL's site.
What each carrier's number looks like
These are format examples, not real parcels. Spaces are ignored, and upper or lower case does not matter.
| Carrier | Example format |
|---|---|
| PostNL | 3SABCD1234567 |
| DHL | 1234567890 |
Reading an international postal number
Registered mail, EMS and tracked small packets sent through national postal services use one shared 13-character format: two letters, nine digits, then the two-letter code of the country where the item was posted. An item posted in the Netherlands ends in NL, as in RR123456785NL.
The first letter usually tells you the service — E for EMS, R for registered mail, C for parcels, and L for tracked letter-post packets. The last of the nine digits is a check digit, so one mistyped digit usually makes the whole number invalid. The same number normally keeps working after the parcel crosses the border, on the destination country's postal website.
When the tracking stops updating
The delivery times shown above (1-2 business days within the Netherlands, 3-7 business days internationally) are typical ranges, not promises. International parcels often show no new scans for several days between leaving the origin country and arriving at customs in the destination; that gap is normal. If nothing changes for well beyond the upper end of the range, contact the sender first — they hold the shipping contract and can open an investigation with the carrier.
FAQs about shipping from Netherlands
My PostNL parcel was "delivered to neighbour" — is that normal?▾
Yes. In the Netherlands, PostNL couriers will leave parcels with a neighbour up to two doors away if you're not home, and the tracking will show the house number where it was left. The neighbour also gets a slip. If you don't want this, opt out via the PostNL app before delivery.
What time does PostNL deliver?▾
PostNL standard parcel delivery runs Monday through Saturday between roughly 09:00 and 21:30, with a tighter 2-hour window pushed via the app or email about an hour before arrival. Letterbox mail comes earlier in the day. There is no Sunday delivery for standard services.
Why is my parcel held at "Schiphol – Customs"?▾
For inbound shipments above €150, Dutch customs assesses VAT (21%) and possible duty before release. PostNL or DHL will message you with a payment link; settle it online and the parcel typically clears within 1-2 business days. Without action, parcels return to sender after 30 days.