How much money can I take with me while travelling?
This is of course up to you.
However, if you are taking money or other 'liquid assets' with a value of € 10,000 or more while travelling outside the Netherlands, you usually have to file a declaration with Customs in the Netherlands.
What are liquid assets?
Liquid assets are:
- banknotes or coins that you can use as means of payment
- securities, such as shares and bonds
- coins with a gold content of at least 90%
- bullion (such as nuggets or bars) with a gold content of at least 99.5%
When we refer to ‘money’ below, this also includes ‘liquid assets’.
Will you be bringing gold objects with you that are not liquid assets, such as jewellery? Read more on what to do at Als u van sommige producten veel meeneemt, betaalt u belasting (If you bring a large amount of certain products, you pay tax, only available in Dutch).
Value € 10,000 or more when converted?
With money, it does not matter whether it is euro or other currencies. What matters is whether the value converted into euro is € 10,000 or more.
Want to know the exchange rate of foreign money? You can find out by using hulpmiddel Wisselkoers zoeken (Find Exchange Rate tool, only available in Dutch). We use the same rates to determine the value in euros of an amount of foreign money.
Select your situation
- I am taking less than € 10,000 with me
You do not need to declare liquid assets up to and including a value of € 9,999.99.
- I am travelling within the EU and I am taking € 10,000 or more with me
Are you travelling from the Netherlands directly to another country within the European Union (EU)? Or are you travelling from an EU Member State directly to the Netherlands? If so, you do not have to declare this to Customs in the Netherlands.
However, in the event of an inspection, Customs in the Netherlands may require you to make a 'notification declaration' (kennisgevingsaangifte) of money and valuable goods with a value of € 10,000 or more. Customs will inform you if this is the case. You do not have to pay tax on the money to Customs.
Different rules sometimes apply in other EU Member States and you may have to declare to their Customs when entering or leaving that country. Check with the Customs in the country of your departure or destination.
- I am travelling in or out of the EU and I am taking more than € 10,000 with me
Are you travelling from the Netherlands directly to a country outside the European Union (EU)? Or are you travelling from a country outside the EU directly to the Netherlands? If so, you must always declare the money you take with you to Customs in the Netherlands.
You do not have to pay any tax on the money, however Customs needs to know that you are carrying the money.
It does not matter whether the money belongs to you or to someone else. The person carrying the money must declare it. Even if you are taking the money for someone else.
Example 1
You are flying from Tokyo to Amsterdam with € 9,000 and US$ 8,000 in your hand luggage. The total value of the money is more than € 10,000 and so you must declare it.
Example 2
You are flying with your partner from Amsterdam to New York. You have € 12,000 with you. Your partner has € 5,000. You declare it because you are carrying more than € 10,000. Your partner does not have to declare because the amount is less than € 10,000.
Example 3
You fly with your partner from Amsterdam to Istanbul. Your partner has given you € 7,000 to take for them and you are taking € 8,000 with you. So all together you have € 15,000. You must declare this because you are taking more than € 10,000 in total.
Are you taking € 10,000 or more on both outward and return journeys? Every time you travel in and out of the EU, you must declare this. So both on the outward and return journey.
How do you declare cash and other liquid assets?
You fill in the ‘Cash declaration form’ and hand it in to Customs in the country you depart and/or enter. You can also ask Customs for this form when entering or leaving the EU.
Customs in the Netherlands accepts declaration forms completed in Dutch, French, German and English.
Where do you declare cash and other liquid assets?
You declare to Customs in the country where you enter or leave the EU.
Example
You are flying from Tokyo to Amsterdam.
- Are you travelling directly to Amsterdam? Then you should declare in Amsterdam.
- Are you transferring in Frankfurt? Then you declare in Frankfurt.
It makes a difference how you travel: by plane, boat or car.
Read more at Entering or leaving the EU with € 10,000 or more, where do you declare?
What happens after you declare?
After you declare, you will receive documentation that confirms that you have declared the liquid assets you are travelling with.
What happens with the details of your declaration?
Customs in the Netherlands passes on the details of your declaration to the Financial Intelligence Unit Netherlands (FIU Netherlands).
We do this because the European Commission wants to tackle money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities in the EU.
You can find more information on the FIU Netherlands website and the European Commission website.
What happens if you do not declare?
If you do not declare, make an incomplete declaration or make an incorrect declaration, you may be fined a minimum of € 1,000. You may even be imprisoned.
If you didn’t declare when you should have and you miss your connecting flight or passage due to our inspection, Customs is not responsible.