To sell on bol.com from outside the Netherlands, your business must be a registered EU company that delivers from within the EU, offers Dutch-language customer service and connects through a bol-certified API partner. Companies outside the Netherlands and Belgium apply through bol’s international partner route, which also asks for strong marketplace experience and at least EUR 500,000 in sales potential in the first 12 months. There is no subscription: you pay commission on items sold, plus optional logistics and advertising costs.
At a glance
- Market: the Netherlands and Belgium. bol says it has 13 million customers.
- Who can apply: registered EU companies. UK and other non-EU brands need an EU entity.
- Threshold: at least EUR 500,000 sales potential in the first 12 months for international partners.
- Cost: no subscription, commission per item sold (fees as published in November 2026).
- Logistics: ship yourself, use Shipping via bol, or use Logistics via bol (LVB).
Who can sell on bol.com
bol sells to customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Dutch and Belgian companies can self-register, while companies from other EU countries apply through bol’s international partner page.
Criteria for international partners
bol lists five criteria for EU partners based outside the Netherlands and Belgium. Check each one honestly before applying.
- A registered EU company, which bol marks as mandatory.
- Strong international marketplace experience.
- Customer service in Dutch.
- Integration through a bol-certified API partner.
- At least EUR 500,000 sales potential in the first 12 months.
If bol does not reply within five working days, the application is not progressing, and you can reapply the following year. That makes a well-prepared first application important.
bol’s registration page for EU partners also describes joining through a one-time invitation from bol or from selected integrators. Required documents include a commercial register entry, a VAT number from your country of establishment, a SEPA payment account, beneficial-owner information and ID.
What about UK and non-EU sellers?
bol’s conditions of use have required an EU-established company and delivery from within the EU since 15 June 2021. According to the integrator e-tailize, the UK, China and Türkiye appear in the application form’s country list, but the same criteria apply and being listed does not guarantee admission. In practice, a UK brand needs an EU entity to sell on bol.
If you are weighing up the Netherlands from the UK, Amazon.nl may be another route. Our guide to selling on Amazon Germany from the UK explains how cross-border Amazon selling works.
Onboarding and approval time
For Dutch and Belgian companies, bol’s registration process asks for a business registration number (KvK or KBO), VAT number, passport or ID card and a bank account in a SEPA country. Two-step verification is mandatory, and bol checks applicants under the Digital Services Act and sanctions law. An external provider, Duna, verifies company details.
Assessment takes three to five business days, followed by a final check of one business day. bol’s GrowStart programme then supports new partners through their first 100 orders. For international partners, bol advertises that you can “start on bol in less than 3 weeks”.
bol.com fees and commission
bol charges no subscription. Its international partner page puts it simply: “You only pay commission fees for your sold items”. The details below are fees as published in November 2026.
Commission is a fixed amount per item and/or a variable percentage of the price including VAT, depending on product type and sometimes price. bol shows the exact rate for each item in your seller account.
| Fee item | What bol publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | None | bol (official) |
| Kitchen merchandise commission | 5% to 12.5% plus EUR 0.05 to 0.95 per item | bol (official example) |
| Typical range across categories | Usually 5% to 17%, plus EUR 0.20 to 2.48 fixed | e-tailize (trade) |
| Fee changes | Up to twice a year, with 7 days’ notice | bol terms (official) |
Fees as published in November 2026. See bol’s commission rates page for current figures.
bol lowered variable and/or fixed commission in various categories on 7 May 2025. Because bol can adjust fees twice a year, check your category’s rate before you set prices, and review it after each change.
Language requirements
Customer service must be in Dutch. bol’s own partner support is available in Dutch and English.
Since 27 February 2026, partners must answer customer emails in the customer’s language, and translation tools are allowed. According to e-tailize, French also matters for Belgian customers. bol does not publish a written rule that listings must be in Dutch, but Dutch content is how Dutch shoppers search, so plan for it.
Logistics: three options
Logistics via bol (LVB)
With Logistics via bol, bol handles inbound logistics, picking, packing, shipping, returns and customer service for those orders. Pricing is all-in by weight and size, including VAT, commission and surcharges, plus daily storage with a peak rate in November and December. Stock held for more than 180 days carries extra surcharges.
Customers can order until 23:59, and bol says orders often arrive the next day. LVB items also qualify for bol Select. Eligibility rules for international partners, including VAT registration, are reported differently by different sources, so confirm current terms with bol.
Shipping via bol
Shipping via bol is a carrier service for orders you fulfil yourself. bol added extra pick-up slots from February 2026.
Your own fulfilment
You can also ship from your own or a 3PL warehouse inside the EU. Delivery speed matters: under terms from 4 June 2026, bol may suspend payouts for undelivered items and may treat an order as undelivered if it is more than two delivery days late.
Returns and refunds
Since 27 February 2026, partners must refund customer payments, including return shipping costs, within 14 days of the withdrawal notice. Refunds are processed through bol.
Compliance points to check
bol’s terms from 4 June 2026 add EPR compliance obligations for the Netherlands and Belgium. According to e-tailize, from 5 March 2026 new ranges without manufacturer details no longer go online. Product-safety rules are the same EU rules covered in our GPSR guide for marketplace sellers.
Integration and advertising
International partners must integrate through a bol-certified API partner. Connectors with documented bol integrations include ChannelEngine, Channable, Lengow and e-tailize. Ask your provider to confirm it is currently bol-certified before you sign.
bol’s Sponsored Products run on cost per click with keyword targeting. The advertised item must hold the buy box, and you can set budgets per campaign, per day and per month. Ads must follow the Dutch Advertising Code, and bol also offers Branded Shelves and a Brand Page Creator.
Is bol.com right for your brand?
bol suits established brands with an EU entity, Dutch-language service and enough volume to meet the EUR 500,000 threshold. If you are not there yet, Kaufland’s Netherlands storefront may be an easier start: see our guide to selling on Kaufland and our comparison of the best European marketplaces to sell on.
Our bol.com marketplace management team prepares applications, builds Dutch listings and runs customer service, and our PPC management service covers bol advertising. For brands selling in several countries, see our EU marketplace management service.
Frequently asked questions
Can a UK company sell on bol.com?
bol requires a registered EU company and delivery from within the EU. The UK appears in the application form’s country list, according to e-tailize, but the same criteria apply, so in practice a UK brand needs an EU entity.
Does bol.com charge a monthly fee?
No. bol charges commission on items sold, made up of a fixed amount and/or a percentage of the price including VAT. These are fees as published in November 2026, and bol can change fees up to twice a year.
How long does bol.com onboarding take?
For Dutch and Belgian companies, assessment takes three to five business days plus a one-day final check. For international partners, bol advertises a start in less than three weeks.
Do I need Dutch customer service to sell on bol.com?
Yes. Dutch-language customer service is one of bol’s criteria for international partners, and since 27 February 2026 partners must answer customer emails in the customer’s language.
Planning your European marketplace launch? Our team onboards, lists and runs accounts on OTTO, Kaufland, bol.com, Allegro and 30+ more marketplaces.
