Dutch consumers made 170 million online purchases in the first half of 2025 — up 3% year-on-year — but spent no more in total, holding steady at around €17 billion, as shoppers increasingly opted for cheaper goods. The trend reflects growing competition from foreign, particularly Chinese, online retailers, which have gained a strong foothold in the Netherlands, especially for garden and DIY products such as electric tools and outdoor furniture. New EU import duties of €3 per parcel introduced on 1 July may slow the flow, with Dutch customs data for July and August already showing a decline in small packages arriving from outside the bloc, according to industry group Thuiswinkel.org.