sofamigo

Moving to Amsterdam as an expat is exciting — but the Dutch parcel delivery system can be confusing at first. Why does your package end up at a random shop? What is a pakketpunt? And how do you pick it up without speaking Dutch? This guide explains everything — in Dutch and English.

Hoe werkt pakketbezorging in Nederland? / How does parcel delivery work in the Netherlands?

In Nederland bezorgen koeriersdiensten pakketten bij een afhaalpunt (pickup point) als je niet thuis bent. Dit is een winkel in de buurt — vaak een supermarkt, tabakswinkel of drogist — waar je pakket veilig bewaard wordt totdat je het ophaalt.

In the Netherlands, if you’re not home when a delivery is attempted, your parcel is taken to a nearby pickup point (pakketpunt) — usually a local shop or supermarket. You receive a notification with the address and a pickup code.

De grote pakketdiensten in Amsterdam / Major carriers in Amsterdam

• PostNL — biggest carrier, used by most Dutch webshops
• DHL — common for international orders
• UPS — often used by Amazon and international brands
• Budbee — used by H&M, Zara and other fashion brands
• GLS — common for European webshops
• DeBuren — used by Bol.com and Zalando

Wat heb je nodig bij het ophalen? / What do you need to pick up your parcel?

• Je ophaalcode / your pickup code (received by SMS or email)
• Een geldig ID / a valid ID (passport or residence permit)
• Soms je telefoon met de bevestiging / sometimes your phone with the confirmation

Sofamigo — the easiest solution for expats

Don’t want to deal with finding a pickup point, speaking Dutch or figuring out opening times? Sofamigo picks up your parcel and delivers it to your door — the same day, within 2–3 hours.

• ✅ Works with PostNL, DHL, UPS, Budbee, GLS, DeBuren
• ✅ Book via WhatsApp — we speak English too
• ✅ Pay via Tikkie (iDEAL) — simple Dutch payment
• ✅ First pickup is free
• ✅ Delivery throughout Amsterdam

Just send us a WhatsApp message with your pickup code and address. We handle the rest.