Record turnover for EU webshops

Turnover generated by EU webshops represents online purchases by Dutch consumers from companies located within the European Union but outside the Netherlands. Figures are exclusive of VAT and have been calculated on the basis of an experimental method. As this method is still under development, they are provisional.

Domestic web sales 18 percent up

In Q2 2019, webshops registered in the Netherlands saw internet sales go up by more than 18 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 companies with online sales aside from their brick-and-mortar shop(s) (so-called multi-channelers). In Q2 2019, webshops with only online sales saw their turnover go up by nearly 15 percent relative to one year previously. Online turnover growth realised by Dutch multi-channelers was up by more than 23 percent. Total retail turnover in the Netherlands in Q2 was 2.7 percent higher year-on-year.

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.