The Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) occupies a unique position in Europe. Belgium, for example, will see €16.3 billion in annual transactions in 2023 according to Fevad, and is the undisputed world capital of diamonds, with Antwerp accounting for 80% of the global trade in rough diamonds. According to Mordor Intelligence, e-commerce in the Netherlands will be worth $37.23 billion in 2025, with projections reaching $56.73 billion by 2030. This exceptional growth of 8.78% CAGR places the Netherlands among the European leaders in digital commerce, but reveals a paradox: a cutting-edge technological ecosystem confronted with obsolete parcel insurance solutions.
The Netherlands, with its startup ecosystem ranked 13th worldwide according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024 and its 12 technological unicorns including Booking.com and Adyen, deserves logistics solutions that match its excellence in digital innovation.
However, this economic wealth is hampered by a frustrating logistical reality: BPost PostNL, the leading carriers, offer parcel insurance that is unsuitable for the high value-added sectors for which the Benelux is renowned.
An Antwerp diamond dealer shipping a €25,000 stone to Paris? BPost excludes him from its coverage. A Brussels jeweler delivering a custom-made €8,000 necklace to Switzerland? PostNL caps it at €500. An e-tailer from Ghent developing his European export? Compensation delays of 30+ days are crippling his cash flow.
Faced with these structural limitations, Belgian professionals are discovering that specialist insurance is no longer an option, but a strategic necessity if they are to remain competitive.
The Benelux Market: Between Heritage and Digital Innovation
Antwerp, World Diamond Epicenter
Antwerp is home to 4 of the world's 29 diamond bourses, and to a hundred or so De Beers preferred buyers. This exceptional concentration generates high-value logistics flows on a daily basis:
- 1,500 diamond dealers active in the historic district
- 84% of the world's rough diamonds transit through Antwerp
- Average transactions: €15,000 to €500,000 per shipment
- Priority destinations: New York, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong
The Belgian Jewelry Ecosystem
Beyond Antwerp, Belgium cultivates a centuries-old tradition in the luxury trades:
- Brussels: 280+ jewelry workshops, specializing in made-to-measure creations
- Gand: Export to Nordic markets (watches, contemporary jewelry)
- Liège: "Art & Luxury" cluster with 150 certified craftsmen
Logistics challenges: These professionals ship 65% of their production to the EU (find our shipping tips here), generating a critical need fortransport insurance adapted to precious goods.
The Dutch E-commerce Market: Technological Excellence
The Dutch e-commerce market is exceptionally mature. With $37.23 billion in 2025 and a trajectory towards $56.73 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 8.78%, the Netherlands benefits from near-universal internet access, the dominance of the iDEAL payment system, and a government-backed 5G rollout.
This performance is underpinned by solid technological fundamentals: internet penetration among the highest in Europe, early adoption of e-commerce, and an exceptional logistics infrastructure positioning the Netherlands as a natural gateway to continental Europe.
This early adoption of online shopping has led to rapid growth in e-commerce revenues in the Netherlands, measured at nearly US$35 billion by 2023. The Dutch online retail industry is largely dominated by national companies, creating a mature ecosystem with strong local players.
Comprehensive Comparison: Benelux Transport Insurance Solutions vs. Specialized Solutions
Insurance Solutions Master Chart
Analysis by Value Band
Parcels €1,000-5,000 (common jewelry) :
- BPost : €42-210 insurance, jewelry exclusions
- PostNL : capped at €500 = illusory protection
- Claisy: €7.5-37.50, full coverage
Packages €5,000-20,000 (luxury watches, medium diamonds) :
- BPost : capped at €7,500 = insufficient
- DHL/UPS: €180-440, long lead times and luxury goods generally excluded
- Claisy : <200€, indemnisation express
Packages €20,000-100,000 (large diamonds, exceptional pieces) :
- Belgian carriers: No solution
- DHL: €900+, complex process
- Claisy : <1 000€, simplicité maximale
BPost : National supply under pressure
The Basic "Guarantee": Mirage at €10/kg
BPost applies the CMR Agreement Convention (limited liability), which provides compensation of around €10 per kilogram in the event of a claim.
Case in point:
- Omega Seamaster watch (value: €3,500, weight: 200g)
- CMR compensation: €2 maximum
- Actual loss: €3,498 for the shipper
This basic coverage turns every valuable shipment into a ruinous financial gamble.
Tailor-made insurance: costly and restrictive
To make up for this shortcoming, BPost offers "tailor-made" ad valorem insurance with prohibitive conditions:
BPost insurance rate structure :
- Cost: 4.2% of declared value (among the highest in Europe)
- Limit : €7,500 maximum per package
- Compensation lead times: 30 days "at best" (often 45-60 actual days)
Calculation for a €5,000 parcel:
- BPost insurance: €210 (4.2%)
- Alternative Claisy : <50€ (<1%)
- Savings: >€160 per shipment
Exclusions that kill
The list of goods excluded from BPost insurance strikes at the heart of Belgian specialization:
❌ Totally excluded :
- Jewelry and precious objects
- Diamonds and precious stones
- Works of art and collectibles
- Luxury watches (>€1,000)
- Precious metals in any form
Result: the sectors that make Belgium rich are systematically excluded from BPost protection.
The "Insurance" Service: Illusory Protection
The €2.50 PostNL pay option hides some major contractual pitfalls:
- PITFALL #1: Purchase Limit - Compensation cannot exceed the value indicated on the purchase invoice, even if you have declared a higher value.
- PITFALL #2: Lost shipping costs - In the event of a claim, PostNL reimburses shipping costs, amplifying your financial loss.
- TRAP NO. 3: Sector exclusions - Same logic as BPost jewelry, diamonds, and works of art are systematically excluded.
Country Focus: Specific Characteristics and Risks
Each Benelux country has its own logistics profile. A good insurance strategy must take this into account.
🇧🇪 Insure your parcels to Belgium
Belgium is a crossroads.
- The Risk: Heavy road traffic and congestion at logistics hubs (Liège, Brussels) increase the risk of temporary loss and damage.
- The Solution: Insurance that covers not only total loss, but also partial damage (casualty) without excessive deductibles.
- For e-retailers: Be careful with deliveries to pick-up points (very popular), where responsibility for the transfer is sometimes unclear. Claisy insurance covers up to the actual delivery to the customer.
🇳🇱 Insure your parcels to the Netherlands
The Netherlands is Europe's maritime gateway.
- The Risk: For import/export flows passing through Rotterdam, the risk is multimodal. Goods can be damaged when unloading a container before even being loaded onto a truck.
- The Solution: Comprehensive cargo insurance covering pre-shipment and post-shipment, with no break in coverage.
- The Last Mile: Cargo bikes reign supreme in Dutch cities. They're environmentally friendly, but they expose packages to the elements (rain). Make sure your insurance covers "wet weather."
🇱🇺 Insure your parcels to Luxembourg
A small market, but with very high added value.
- The Risk: The average unit value of parcels sent to Luxembourg is often higher than the European average (banking sector, luxury goods, high-tech).
- The Solution: Ad Valorem insurance is essential here. Limits carrier Limits (e.g., $1,000) are often exceeded by the contents of a single package. Claisy provides coverage of up to $100,000 per shipment.
Parcel insurance, freight insurance, ad valorem insurance: Which one should you choose?
Parcel insurance (E-commerce & Single shipments)
This is the solution for B2C flows.
- Coverage: Loss, Theft, Damage
- Limitations: Often offered as an "option" by the Carrier expensive and limited)
- The Claisy alternative: Automatic coverage, less expensive, integrated into your CMS (Shopify, Magento), which reimburses you within 72 hours.
Cargo/Freight Insurance
For B2B flows, pallets, and containers.
- Coverage: "All Risks" from store to store.
- Importance: It covers major events (truck accidents, warehouse fires) that could jeopardize your business.
Ad Valorem Insurance: Absolute Security
This is the only way to guarantee your margin.
- Principle: You insure the actual value (sales invoice).
- Advantage: In the event of a claim, you won't lose a penny. You will be reimbursed for the value of the goods, freight, and sometimes even a portion of the expected profit.
How to choose your insurance solution for the Benelux?
Strategic selection criteria
- Geographical Coverage: Your contract must cover Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg without distinction, with the same guarantees.
- Limits Verify that the Limit package is sufficient for your most expensive products (Claisy goes up to €100k).
- Claims Management: Avoid insurers who require registered mail. Choose 100% digital management.
Best practices to avoid rejections
- Packaging: Use new, double-walled cardboard boxes. "Packaging defects" are the number one reason for exclusion.
- Reservations: Inform your B2B recipients that they must make specific reservations ("Damaged box," "Sound of breakage") on the delivery note in case of doubt.
- Value Statement: Be specific. Ensure the sales value, not just the production cost, to protect your margin.
Expertise Value Sectors
Specialized teams :
- Diamond : Process knowledge GIA, HRD, valuation
- Jewelry : Precious metals expertise, unique pieces
- Watchmaking: Mastery certifications, vintage watches
- Art/Antiques : Expertise and authentication procedures
In concrete terms: Your files are handled by experts who speak your language, not by generalists.
Transparent and Competitive Pricing
Claisy tariff (preferential rates for Benelux countries):
- 0-10,000€: 0.75% of declared value
- 10,000-50,000€: 0.65% declining balance
- 50,000-100,000€: 0.55% + dedicated support
Comparison for €20,000 in monthly shipments:
- BPost : €840/month (4.2%)
- DHL: from €200/month (1% - for shipments over €1,200)
- Claisy: €150/month (0.75%)
- Annual savings: €2,760 to €8,520
Conclusion: Secure your growth in the Benelux
The Benelux region is a natural extension of your domestic market. Don't let the vagaries of transport (breakage, theft, loss) undermine your profitability or reputation in this key area.
By choosing flexible, digital ad valorem insurance such as Claisy, you can turn a logistical risk into a promise of reliability for your Belgian, Dutch, and Luxembourgish customers.
Benlux deserves better than the structural limitations of BPost and PostNL. With 80% of the global diamond trade, 280 jewelry workshops, and €12.8 billion in e-commerce, our economy and customers demand insurance solutions that match this excellence.
BPost capped at €7,500 with jewelry exclusions, PostNL discriminates against Belgian shippers at €500, DHL and UPS with lead times of 60+ days: these outdated solutions hamper the competitiveness of our companies.
Claisy revolutionizes this equation:
- 100,000€ coverage for 95% of business needs
- Compensation 48-72h vs 30-77 days competition
- Coût <0,75% vs 1-4% transporteurs traditionnels
- Total flexibility: your Carrier, our protection
3 actions to transform your logistics :
- Calculate your exposure: current risks not covered
- Try Claisy without obligation on shipments >€1,000
- Measure the impact: savings + claims responsiveness
Belgian excellence deserves an assurance of excellence. It's time to act.
Appendix
Connect your CMS for free in 5 minutes. Never manage a dispute manually again!
The real power of automation lies in native integration. Claisy presents itself as a real alternative to carrier insurance, and plugs directly into the tools that drive your business: Shopify, Prestashop, WooCommerce, etc. The result? Zero effort, zero forgetting, perfect coverage on 100% of your shipments and a successful migration of your online store (CMS) to Claisy without changing your shipping habits.
Use Case: Belgian High Value Sectors
Case studies: Impact on Dutch tech startups
Example 1: Fintech Amsterdam (Type Mollie)
Profile: Payment solutions, POS terminals, 500 shipments/month, average value €400
Before (traditional DHL):
- Monthly cost: 500 × €12 (minimum) = €6,000
- Massive inefficiency: only €200,000 of real value covered
- Payback period: 60-90 days - a cash flow issue
After (Automated solution):
- Monthly cost: 500 × €400 × 0.6% = €1,500
- Exact coverage: €200,000 protected monthly
- Delivery time: 48 hours compatible with tech standards
Annual savings: (6,000 - 1,500) × 12 = €54,000 + cash flow optimization
Example 2: SaaS B2B Eindhoven
Profile: Industrial software, complementary hardware, 200 packages/month in Europe, average value €800
UPS problem:
- Minimum €12.05 per package = €2,410/month
- 40,000€ Limit insufficient for certain equipment
- 77-day lead time incompatible with B2B customer satisfaction
Modern solution:
- Actual cost: 200 × 800€ × 0.6% = 1,200€/month
- Comprehensive coverage: up to €100,000 per parcel
- Annual savings: (2,410 - 1,200) × 12 = €14,520
Example 3: Sustainable Tech Rotterdam
Profile: eco-tech products, export Europe, 300 shipments/month, average value €600
Traditional challenge:
- Sectoral restrictions on innovative products
- Complex documentation for new materials
- Lengthy procedures incompatible with time-to-market
Automation benefits:
- Universal coverage: all sustainable tech products
- Cost: 300 × €600 × 0.6% = €1,350/month
- Simplicity: no restrictions, immediate activation