You're in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Alkmaar and you use PostNL and think your parcels are properly insured? The reality is far more complex. Behind the apparent simplicity lies a system of limited guarantees, strict exclusions and Limits that can jeopardize the profitability of your e-commerce business.
This article is not simply a description of Dutch parcel insurance services. It's a strategic analysis designed for professionals, exposing the truth about PostNL insurance in 2025. We'll break down what's really covered, what isn't, and why a specialized solution is often the only viable choice for a company.
You can also find our comparison of carriers' parcel insurance 2025 and the whole ad valorem encyclopedia with analysis of CMS offers and logistics solutions.
The Truth about "Standard" Insurance: Coverage by Weight (CMR)
By default, all business shipments with PostN from the Netherlands or Belgium are subject to the CMR Convention. This is not insurance on value, but limited liability based on weight.
- How does it work? In the event of proven loss or damage, compensation is around 8.33 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per kilogram, or approximately €10/kg.
- Example: You send an electronic device weighing 2 kg and worth €450. If the package is lost, the maximum compensation you will receive from PostNL is approximately €20 (2 kg x €10/kg). Your dry loss is €430.
This basic cover is therefore totally unsuited to the protection of your parcels and goods contained therein, valued at more than a few dozen euros.
The point of vigilance for a pro: Relying on basic CMR coverage is a major financial risk. A professional insurance solution like Claisy covers the actual declared value of your product, not its weight. Whether your 1 kg parcel is worth €50 or €5,000, it's this value that serves as the basis for compensation.
The €2.50 "Insurance Service" Option: A False Good Idea?
To compensate for the CMR's weakness, PostNL offers a paid-for option called "Service Assurance" for a fixed cost of €2.50 per parcel. It promises higher coverage, but with critical limits.
The Limit : €500 in Europe, €250 outside the EU
The PostNL parcel insurance Limit from the Netherlands seems attractive: up to €500 for shipments within Belgium and Europe, and up to €250 for the rest of the world. But the key word is "up to".
TRAP No. 1: The refund is capped by the purchase invoice
This is the most important condition. Even if you have paid for €500 coverage, PostNL will ask you for the purchase or sales invoice in the event of a claim. Compensation will never exceed the value shown on this document.
- Scenario: You ship a covered product for €500. Its invoice value is €180. In the event of loss, you will only receive €180, not €500.
TRAP #2: Shipping costs are never refunded
The conditions are clear: under no circumstances are shipping costs refunded. This means that in the event of a dispute, you lose not only the margin on your product, but also the cost of shipping.
A pro's point of caution:PostNL 's approach protects its own liability, not your profitability. A commercial guarantee like Claisy is designed to protect your entire cash flow. In the event of a validated claim, you recover the value of the merchandise AND shipping costs (optional on this second point), enabling you to reship an order to your customer without impacting your cash flow.
The PostNL Labyrinth: Two-Speed Insurance
PostNL offers parcel insurance up to €5,000 from Belgium and ad valorem insurance up to €5,500 for shipments from the Netherlands. However, there is one point to note: the option available in Belgium is only valid for domestic shipments, from Belgium to Belgium (€500 for a delivery abroad), whereas the offer available in the Netherlands is valid for all deliveries within the EU for a deposit in
A word to the wise: Your warranty should not depend on the postal code of your warehouse. The risk is the same, so the protection must be too. Claisy applies one and the same coverage ruleLimits highLimits , sales value coverage, postage reimbursement) to all your shipments, whatever the Carrier or country of dispatch. This is the very definition of scalability.
The Offer for Dutch Professionals (My PostNL Business) : The Blind Spot
For Dutch customers with a business contract, PostNL can offer tailor-made Ad Valorem insurance solutions. However, rates and conditions are not public. They are communicated "on quotation".
- Lack of transparency: Impossible to compare or anticipate costs without going through a lengthy commercial process
- Lack of flexibility: Conditions are negotiated with a single Carrier, locking you into a rigid system.
The point for a pro: Over-quoting is the enemy of agility. An e-commerce business needs predictability. Claisy operates on a single single, transparent rate (less than 1%) which applies to all your carriersPostNL, Colissimo, DHL, etc.) and can be integrated into your tools in just a few minutes (generally less than 5 minutes). You control your costs and standardize your processes, whatever your logistics partner.
Strategic Comparison: PostNL vs. a Specialized Solution
For professionals, choosing the right shipping insurance is about more than just the price of PostNL insurance. It's about assessing the acceptable level of risk.
FAQ : Questions professionals in the Netherlands have about PostNL Parcel Insurance
Conclusion: Stop Suffering, Manage Your Transport Risk
Insurance in the Netherlands, offered by PostNL is a basic logistics solution, but it is not a financial protection strategy for a company. Low international Limits , indemnity limited to the purchase invoice and the complexity of professional offers create areas of risk that weigh on your cash flow and customer service.
The only professional approach is to outsource this risk via a commercial warranty that covers your entire transaction, standardizes your procedures and indemnifies you in a matter of days, not months.