Netherlands imports and exports the most Christmas decorations in the EU

© Hollandse Hoogte / Mariette Carstens
Dutch exports of Christmas decorations accounted for 40 percent of the EU total in 2024. These were almost all re-exports - goods passing through the Netherlands en route to another country. 81 percent of these Christmas decorations came from China originally. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of the latest figures.

With an export value of 268 million euros, the Netherlands is the largest exporter of Christmas-themed decorations (such as baubles) in the EU. Hardly any of these are actually manufactured in the Netherlands, however: 99 percent of that export value consists of re-exports and goods in transit.

The Netherlands imported Christmas decorations with a value of 240 million euros in 2024, which means that it is also the EU’s largest importer in this category of goods.

Christmas decorations imported into the EU, 2024Christmas decorations imported into the EU, 2024Christmas decorations imported into the EU, 2024ChinaRest of the worldthe Netherlands€ 196.3 mGermany€ 90.1 mItaly€ 110.5 mFrance€ 71.3 mBelgium€ 28.1 mSpain€ 45,9 mPoland€ 35.0 mOther€ 171.3 m€ 44.0 m€ 83.3 m€ 43.7 m€ 66.8 m€ 40.0 m€ 18.6 m€ 25.3 m€ 181.1 m
Christmas decorations imported into the EU, 2024
Country China (million) Rest of the world (million)
the Netherlands 196.3 44.0
Germany 90.1 83.3
Italy 110.5 43.7
France 71.3 66.8
Belgium 28.1 40.0
Spain 45.9 18.6
Poland 35.0 25.3
Other 171.3 181.1

More exports in the second half of the year

The export value of Christmas decorations in the second half of 2024 was higher than it was in 2023. At 268 million euros, it was at the highest level since 2019, when exports of Christmas decorations were worth 284 million euros. Exports were higher than in previous years in the second half of the year, in particular, and were the highest ever recorded.

Export value of Christmas decorations 1)
jaarhalfjaarExport value ( million euros)
2015First half33.2
2015Second half204.6
2016First half37.9
2016Second half213.8
2017First half40.7
2017Second half234.4
2018First half49.5
2018Second half240.6
2019First half51.2
2019Second half232.7
2020First half40.5
2020Second half219.8
2021First half8.1
2021Second half197.8
2022First half26.8
2022Second half232.7
2023First half25.6
2023Second half199.5
2024*First half21.6
2024*Second half246.0
* provisional figures 1) Data from 2021 and earlier appear differently to StatLine due to a statistical correction

Half of increase in exports was in exports to Germany

The increase in export value was mainly due to a rise in exports of Christmas decorations to Germany. In the second half of the year, the export value of Christmas decorations to Germany was 23.2 million euros greater than the previous year.

The value of Christmas decorations exported to France, Belgium and Italy was also higher than in 2023. The value of exports to Poland, meanwhile, has increased each successive year since 2015, with the exception of 2023.

Export value of Christmas decorations to top 5 markets in the EU1)
JaarJaarhelftBelgium ( million euros)Germany ( million euros)France ( million euros)Italy ( million euros)Poland ( million euros)
2015First half4.88.35.73.30.4
2015Second half24.158.139.714.73.8
2016First half4.38.27.03.00.7
2016Second half27.661.244.713.64.0
2017First half3.810.48.23.41.1
2017Second half26.469.646.713.95.8
2018First half4.810.812.14.71.4
2018Second half28.072.643.315.36.1
2019First half5.414.510.63.71.1
2019Second half25.269.046.113.06.7
2020First half4.59.78.03.00.9
2020Second half21.464.141.714.37.4
2021First half0.82.60.90.80.3
2021Second half24.051.034.811.38.7
2022First half3.59.83.52.30.7
2022Second half30.462.347.618.611.3
2023First half4.07.05.12.01.0
2023Second half25.148.843.714.810.1
2024*First half2.66.15.71.21.3
2024*Second half29.772.044.418.215.4
* provisional figures 1) Data from 2021 and earlier appear differently to StatLine due to a statistical correction