EU webshops generate €390 million in the Netherlands

Turnover generated by EU webshops represents online purchases of goods by Dutch consumers from companies located within the European Union but outside the Netherlands. Figures have been calculated on the basis of a method which is still under development and are therefore provisional.

Domestic online sales 17 percent higher

In Q1 2019, webshops registered in the Netherlands saw internet sales go up by nearly 17 percent relative to the same quarter last year. In terms of Dutch internet sales, a distinction can be made between webshops with only online sales and shops which do not have online sales as their core activity (so-called multi-channelers). In Q1 2019, Dutch webshops with only online sales generated over 12 percent more turnover year-on-year. Online turnover growth realised by Dutch multi-channelers was up by nearly 24 percent.

Turnover share of European webshops limited

Purchases made by Dutch people from European webshops account for a relatively small part of consumer spending. In 2018, these accounted for less than 2 percent of total retail turnover generated in the Netherlands. The distinction between domestic and foreign webshops tends to be blurry to Dutch consumers. Content on e-commerce websites is often available in multiple languages and foreign online stores may have a Dutch version.