How tax-free shopping at Schiphol works
Want to shop tax free at Schiphol? Read about how it works here and enjoy the advantages of duty-free shopping. The airport offers a wide range of top brands, unique products and great duty-free deals. Keep in mind that to shop after security, you need your boarding card.
What is tax-free shopping?
Tax free or duty free means that you can buy goods without having to pay VAT. That’s good news, as it means you pay less! The government amended regulations in 1999, abolishing tax-free shopping for travellers within the EU. Tax-free shopping is still possible when travelling outside the EU. To avoid making prices destination-dependent, retailers at Schiphol agreed to charge the same prices for EU and non-EU destinations.
How does tax-free shopping work within the EU?
For the VAT paid on your purchases when you travel to a destination in the EU, retailers provide a compensation in the retail price. In other words, shops meet customers halfway in the VAT amount included in their purchase when travelling within the EU. All passengers departing from Schiphol can therefore enjoy the same attractive shopping opportunities.
Your tax-free advantage
Because retailers meet EU passengers halfway in the VAT amount, you’ll always enjoy the same competitive prices at Schiphol, regardless of your destination. In addition, the shops at Schiphol have special offers on their entire range of products. These offers are selected specially from the assortment at the shopping centre every two months. At Schiphol you can find top brands, but also speciality stores with unique alcoholic beverages and delicacies all under one roof.
Exceptions
Not all products at Schiphol can be purchased free of tax. Two different price levels apply to tobacco products: for destinations within the EU (same as the local price) and destinations outside the EU (tax free, so cheaper). The reason for this is that the EU does not allow discounts on tobacco products. Furthermore, all travellers pay VAT on books, magazines, flowers and bulbs. This also applies to travellers with a destination outside the EU.