Shipping to Belgium: the complete guide

Belgium is a densely populated, highly urban, and affluent market, which makes it a strong opportunity for online retailers looking to grow. This guide brings together everything you need: the key e-commerce figures, how to address your parcels correctly, how fast international parcels reach your customers, and what to keep in mind for packaging and prohibited goods.

Bonjour la Belgique! Hallo België! Hallo Belgien!

Why shipping to Belgium is attractive for online retailers

First of all, Belgium is in the EU, which means shipping there is just as straightforward as shipping to the Netherlands, Austria, or Italy. A few facts about the country:

• Around 11.4 million inhabitants

• Roughly 374 inhabitants per km²

• 98% urbanization, the highest rate in Europe

The Kingdom of Belgium is one of the most densely populated states in Europe, and with Brussels, the seat of the European Union, as its capital, it's an attractive hotspot for online retailers. Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, French-speaking Wallonia in the south, and a small German-speaking community in the east add up to a genuinely multicultural set of sales opportunities.

A few more figures that tend to catch retailers' attention:

• Around 10 million people in Belgium have internet access.

• Roughly 8.9 million are active online shoppers.

• By GDP, Belgium ranks among the world's wealthiest countries.

• Belgian e-commerce revenue runs into the billions of euros, with steady annual growth.

• The average revenue per online shopper is estimated at around €780.

In short: the numbers make a strong case for shipping to Belgium.

The main carriers for shipping to Belgium

Sendcloud works with Europe's leading carriers for shipping to Belgium: DHL, UPS, DPD, and GLS. That means reliable, affordable, secure, and fast delivery for you and your customers. Belgium's national postal carrier, bpost, handles a large share of final delivery, and several international carriers hand parcels over to bpost or deliver through their own networks.

DHL

DHL is one of the most popular and reliable carriers, and DHL Express makes fast delivery to Belgium easy. General parcel limits: minimum 15 x 11 x 1 cm, maximum 120 x 60 x 60 cm, girth (L + 2×W + 2×H) up to 300 cm, and weight up to 30 kg (up to 31.5 kg with DHL Express). Parcels are delivered in Belgium via bpost or DHL's own network.

DPD

If you want to offer customer-friendly shipping, include the carriers your customers prefer, and DPD belongs in the mix. You can use standard delivery (DPD Classic) or express. Parcel sizes range from XS (up to 35 cm) to XL (up to 300 cm girth), each up to 31.5 kg, delivered in Belgium through DPD's own network (DPD België).

GLS

GLS gives you one of the densest shipping networks in Europe, with standard (EuroBusinessParcel) and express (EuroExpressParcel) options, delivered via GLS Belgium. Maximum dimensions are 200 x 80 x 60 cm with a girth up to 300 cm; weight up to 40 kg by standard, or up to 50 kg by express, which is ideal for heavier goods.

UPS

UPS lets you choose between standard and express delivery and handles larger, heavier goods well: length up to 274 cm, girth up to 400 cm, and weight up to 70 kg. Services range from UPS Standard and UPS Express to UPS Express Plus, UPS Express Saver, and UPS Worldwide Express Freight for B2B shipments, all delivered through UPS's own network.

How to address a parcel to Belgium

Addressing a parcel to Belgium is simple: it follows the same principle as most European countries. Name first, then street and house number, then postal code and city. Finally, add the destination country in capitals, in English (BELGIUM) or French (BELGIQUE).

An example of a correct Belgian address:

Liam Peeters
Rue Petit 22
8000 Brugge
BELGIUM

Important: some places in the French-speaking part of Belgium have different names in other languages. Always use the local French or Dutch place name to avoid confusion. It's also a good idea to add the recipient's phone number or email address to the parcel, so the carrier can get in touch if needed.

What customs documents do you need for Belgium?

Belgium is part of the European Union and the eurozone, which makes shipping there very easy: you save yourself the effort of filling out customs documents like a customs declaration or commercial invoice. Customs checks are possible within the EU, but clearance between two member states is usually waived. If you're unsure about current customs rules, check directly with the relevant customs authority. As always, be precise with the recipient's address, and it's worth enclosing a duplicate of the address inside the parcel.

Which goods are excluded from shipping to Belgium?

As a retailer, you're responsible for what you import into Belgium, so it pays to be well informed. Alcohol shipments to Belgium, for instance, are monitored and can be taxed, regardless of the country of origin. For current details on prohibited goods, always check with the relevant customs authority. As a starting point, these items are generally excluded from international shipping:

• Antiques

• Cigarettes

• Asbestos

• Cotton seeds

• Firearms and their parts

• Ivory

• Furs

• Pornography

• Precious metals and gemstones

• Counterfeit and fake products

• Endangered animals and plants

• Perishable foods

Shipping dangerous goods such as explosives is, of course, prohibited. Enclosing messages not intended for the recipient is not permitted either.

How can your customers track parcels to Belgium?

With Sendcloud and its carriers, your customers get a clear overview of every shipment. All you need is Sendcloud's tracking solution. The benefits at a glance:

• Your own tracking page that customers can access

• Customers stay with you instead of being sent to the carrier's site

• You present yourself as a modern, transparent retailer that keeps customers informed

• Personalized tracking pages and automatic tracking emails put you back in touch with customers and strengthen brand recognition

• Emails can be customized to match your corporate design

• Your tracking page is ideal for your own campaigns, for example featuring your Instagram feed

The result: Sendcloud's tracking experience raises customer satisfaction and boosts your repeat-purchase rate.

How much does shipping to Belgium cost?

Your shipping costs to Belgium are determined by:

1. The carrier you choose

2. Any added services, such as premium delivery

3. The delivery time you want

4. The parcel weight

5. The parcel dimensions

With a free Sendcloud account you can see current parcel rates for shipping to Belgium and compare carriers side by side.

How fast is shipping to Belgium?

Delivery time depends on the carrier and service you choose, and on any delays from customs or public holidays. As a rough guide:

Watch out for public holidays

Deliveries can slow down around Belgian public holidays, so plan ahead and let your customers know. Belgian public holidays include New Year's Day (January 1), Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Belgian National Day (July 21), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), and Christmas Day (December 25). The movable holidays around Easter and Pentecost shift each year, so check the calendar before peak periods.

Top packaging tips for shipping to Belgium

You want to pack your goods for Belgium not just safely but as cost-effectively as possible: as little packaging material as possible, as much as necessary. That's good for both the environment and your bottom line.

• Smallest possible size: choose packaging that leaves little room for movement while still allowing protective cushioning.

• Good weight distribution: heavy items at the bottom, light items on top, delicate items in the middle.

• No voids: pack snugly, without gaps, but without squeezing the goods.

• No direct contact: delicate goods shouldn't touch the box wall.

• Good cushioning: soft material (like bubble wrap) for light goods, firmer material (like crumpled kraft paper) for heavy ones.

• Upright transport: some goods, like bottles, are made to travel upright and withstand pressure better that way.

• Leak protection: seal oils, cosmetics, and similar goods so they can't leak.

• Reinforced corners and edges: reinforce the corners of your parcel, for example with crumpled kraft paper.

• Sealing to match the weight: parcels up to 12 kg need at least a simple seal on the bottom and top seams; up to 25 kg, reinforce the seams; above 25 kg, protect the vertical edges with tape too.

• Customs rules: check which goods are excluded from shipping to Belgium, and stick to it.

How Sendcloud helps you ship to Belgium

What matters most is a reliable partner that supports your online business every step of the way. Sendcloud makes shipping to Belgium easier with a wide range of options, from smart shipping rules to a customer-friendly returns portal, and together with leading carriers like DHL, UPS, DPD, and GLS, makes sure your parcels reach Belgium safely. Ready to start shipping to Belgium? Get in touch with our shipping experts.