Are you located in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Alkmaar and use PostNL thinking that your parcels are properly insured? The reality is much more complex. Behind an apparent simplicity lies a system of limited guarantees, strict exclusions, and Limits can jeopardize the profitability of your e-commerce business.
This article is not a simple description of Dutch parcel insurance services. It is a strategic analysis designed for professionals, exposing the truth about PostNL insurance PostNL 2025. We will break down what is actually covered, what is not, and why a specialized solution is often the only viable choice for a business.
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: Weight Coverage (CMR)
By default, all business shipments with PostN from the Netherlands or Belgium are subject to the CMR Convention. This is not insurance based on value, but limited liability based on weight.
- How does it work? In the event of proven loss or damage, compensation is approximately 8.33 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per kilogram, or approximately €10/kg.
- Concrete example: You ship a 2 kg electronic device worth €450. If the package is lost, the maximum compensation you will receive from PostNL approximately €20 (2 kg x €10/kg). Your net loss is €430.
This basic coverage is therefore completely inadequate for protecting your packages and their contents, which are worth more than a few dozen euros.
Key point for professionals: Relying on basic CMR coverage is a major financial risk. A professional insurance solution such as Claisy covers the declared actual value of your product, not its weight. Whether your 1 kg package is worth €50 or €5,000, it is this value that serves as the basis for compensation.
The "Insurance Service" Option for €2.50: A Bad Idea?
To compensate for the weakness of the CMR, PostNL a paid option called "Service Assurance" for a fixed cost of €2.50 per parcel. It promises higher coverage, but with critical limitations.
The Limit €500 in Europe, €250 outside the EU
The insurance Limit PostNL parcels PostNL the Netherlands seems attractive: up to €500 for shipments to Belgium and Europe, and up to €250 for the rest of the world. But the key word is "up to."
TRAP #1: Reimbursement is capped by the purchase invoice.
This is the most important condition. Even if you have paid for €500 coverage, PostNL will ask PostNL for the purchase or sales invoice in the event of a claim. Compensation will never exceed the value stated on this document.
- Scenario: You ship a product covered for $500. Its value on the invoice is $180. In the event of loss, you will only receive $180, not $500.
TRAP #2: Shipping Costs Are Never Refunded
The terms are clear: shipping costs incurred for the shipment are not refunded under any circumstances. This means that in the event of a dispute, you lose not only the margin on your product, but also the cost of transportation.
The key point for professionals to bear in mind:PostNL approach PostNL its own liability, not your profitability. A commercial guarantee such as Claisy is designed to protect your entire cash flow. In the event of a validated claim, you recover the value of the goods AND the shipping costs (optional on this second point), allowing you to reship an order to your customer without impacting your cash flow.
The PostNL Maze PostNL Two-Tier Insurance
PostNL parcel insurance coverage of up to €5,000 for shipments from Belgium and ad valorem insurance of up to €5,500 for shipments from the Netherlands. However, it should be noted that the option available in Belgium is only valid for domestic shipments from Belgium to Belgium ( €500 for international deliveries) , while the offer available in the Netherlands is valid for all deliveries within the EU, regardless of the drop-off point in the Netherlands.
The key point for professionals: Your guarantee should not depend on your warehouse's zip code. The risk is the same, so the protection should be too. Claisy applies a single coverage rule (Limits , sales value coverage, reimbursement of shipping costs) to all your shipments, regardless of the Carrier country of shipment. This is the very definition of scalability.
The Offer for Dutch Professionals (My PostNL ): The Blind Spot
For Dutch customers with a business contract, PostNL offer customized Ad Valorem insurance solutions. However, rates and conditions are not publicly available. They are provided "upon request."
- Lack of Transparency: Impossible to compare or anticipate costs without going through a lengthy sales process
- Lack of Flexibility: Terms are negotiated with a single Carrier, locking you into a rigid system.
The key point for professionals to bear in mind: "Based on estimates" is the enemy of agility. E-commerce needs predictability. Claisy operates on a single, transparent rate (less than 1%) that applies to all your carriers (PostNL, Colissimo, DHL, etc.) and can be integrated into your tools in just a few minutes (usually less than 5 minutes). You control your costs and standardize your processes, regardless of your logistics partner.
Strategic Comparison: PostNL . a Specialized Solution
For a professional, choosing shipping insurance is not just about the price of PostNL insurance. It is about assessing the acceptable level of risk.
FAQ: Questions that Professionals in the Netherlands Ask About PostNL Parcel Insurance
Conclusion: Stop Suffering, Manage Your Transportation Risk
Insurance in the Netherlands, offered by PostNL is a basic logistics solution, but it is not a financial protection strategy for a business. Limits international Limits , compensation 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 guarantee that covers your entire transaction, standardizes your procedures, and compensates you within days, not months.
Sources :
- https://www.postnl.nl/voorwaarden/
- https://www.postnl.be/fr/conditions/
- https://www.thuiswinkel.org/statistieken
- www.claisy.com/blog/convention-cmr-indemnisation-colis-assurance