Dutch mn, what would be good to send from UK?

[steppemum]

dh is Dutch, and we last saw his family for new year 2020.
We were planning to go for new year 2022, but have now abandoned this idea.

I thought I'd like to send a small package to the family(ies). One pack for each one. Kids are pre-teen and teen. Plus very elderly father.

It is a kerst paket, but NOT a Christmas present if that makes sense and they don't do christmas presents.
I was thinking about some English biscuits/chocolates. Maybe some soap from Lush or something like that.

Any suggestions?
What would you like to receive from the UK ?

It's a lovely thought op but I would be very careful they don't end up paying import tax on your parcels post Brexit.

I'd make sure they'd be happy to pay customs charges for parcels.

interesting, SIL sent us a parcel which arrived last week, there was no customs, tax or import charges.

I don't think personla parcels of small gifts have customs etc on them. I think it is when you order things from a commercial seller

There's quite a few British shops in the Netherlands and they also have Lush, so I'd start by checking what they can't easily get over there, or else they'd be paying customs on domestically available goods (although the customs free limit for gifts is around €45 iirc).

Ok guys, I love you all and mn is amazing, but I asked for suggestions for items and I have had 3 posts saying they will need to pay customs.

NO THEY WON'T

I have just checked, but gift items under £39 are customs free.

I have lived overseas for many years, outside of the EU and really this sort of small package is sent all the time all over the world without hassle. I am not talking about a massive package, just some bits and bobs to say I'm thinking of you.

( and I know there are some British shops, but they are mostly in large places like Amsterdam, and all his family live outside of these main centres)

Best not to put lush bath bombs in a package with food- I learnt the hard way when my much looked forward white chocolate arrived tasting like the bathbombs

@Protegemo1

Best not to put lush bath bombs in a package with food- I learnt the hard way when my much looked forward white chocolate arrived tasting like the bathbombs

yes, we received many packages when overseas where the chocolate tasted of the smellies! You need to wrap them both in plastic.

Percy Pigs? Some other M&S goodies?

It’s difficult it’s all so international now. There is really not that much you can get in the UK but not in The Netherlands. Chutney is usually well received. Different flavours crisps but these are not great to post.

My DD in Europe had to pay customs charges on a £7 advent calendar sent from the U.K. - just a cardboard one, no sweets or chocolate. Remember, you can’t send anything dairy based or meat based, because of Brexit- so this will rule out most chocolate and biscuits and anything containing gelatine, I suppose.

Have you sent anything to Euope since Brexit?!what a palaver,we have to thank the stupid stupid Brexiteers for this burocracy.no wonder, british companies move to Europe.

Lemon curd was a smash hit with my Dutch in-laws, they’d never heard of it before. Nice chutneys to go with the delicious Dutch cheeses and more unusual marmalades. I don’t know if my in laws are just very unadventurous but didn’t seem to have had them before.

Parcels all get held up by customs now - and quite often come with a handling charge even if there is no duty etc to pay. I would use a local company if possible like candyonline.nl. Or www.britishcornershop.co.uk/shipping does a range of UK items and gifts that are delivered duty paid. I've had a couple of boxes since brexit and it's worked smoothly despite range being reduced. I did get a Percy Pig advent calendar though.

@steppemum

Ok guys, I love you all and mn is amazing, but I asked for suggestions for items and I have had 3 posts saying they will need to pay customs.

NO THEY WON'T

I have just checked, but gift items under £39 are customs free.

I have lived overseas for many years, outside of the EU and really this sort of small package is sent all the time all over the world without hassle. I am not talking about a massive package, just some bits and bobs to say I'm thinking of you.

( and I know there are some British shops, but they are mostly in large places like Amsterdam, and all his family live outside of these main centres)

You dont pay taxes,but if you are happy and have spare time on your hands, you have to weigh each article in the parcel and describe exactly what it is,how much it costs.before Brexit,it was a doddle to send items to Europe.since Brexit, it is a huge palaver.Well done stupid Britain!

My DS abroad always likes Cadbury's chocs.

@magicstars

My DS abroad always likes Cadbury's chocs.

You won’t be able to send those from the U.K., though.

Ok guys, I love you all and mn is amazing, but I asked for suggestions for items and I have had 3 posts saying they will need to pay customs.

NO THEY WON'T

I have just checked, but gift items under £39 are customs free.

Fair enough if you want to risk it op. I was just trying to warn you because we (based in low countries) have received parcels from well meaning family members for my dd's birthday, and they had kept to the monetary limit, marked the packages as "gifts" and paid all relevant charges in UK, but they were still subject to delays and handling charges at this end, and my family don't know this, but we ended up having to pay more to extract the parcels from the post office than the contents were worth.

OP, I am not Dutch and it does sound as though there are some English products available in The Netherlands. There may be small regional/local English bakers selling more unusual items.

Just a thought - how about some Scottish items e.g. Black Bun or Selkirk Bannocks? There is a Taste of Scotland website. Or Welsh perhaps...

British brand tea?

@Lacesaskew
Exactly. Our experiences too. Label the parcel as a gift, itemise the contents, even home-made ones. Nothing exceeding the limit. Recipient gets notice from the post office saying there are charges to be paid and they are unable to deliver. My DD has sometimes paid nearly three times the value of the parcel in charges.

How about farm shops . They sell more local products. Or Bettys tearoom online sell lovely things .

tea bags
shortbread biscuits in naice tins
after eight in naice tins
christmas pudding (again in naice container)
oxo cubes

cheddar cheese & pork sausages (I know, probably not feasible)

(just listing the stuff we miss from the uk)

@purplesequins

tea bags shortbread biscuits in naice tins after eight in naice tins christmas pudding (again in naice container) oxo cubes

cheddar cheese & pork sausages (I know, probably not feasible)

(just listing the stuff we miss from the uk)

You won’t be able to send any of that except the teabags. Unless you send it from an EU-based shop.

@Lacesaskew

Ok guys, I love you all and mn is amazing, but I asked for suggestions for items and I have had 3 posts saying they will need to pay customs.

NO THEY WON'T

I have just checked, but gift items under £39 are customs free.

Fair enough if you want to risk it op. I was just trying to warn you because we (based in low countries) have received parcels from well meaning family members for my dd's birthday, and they had kept to the monetary limit, marked the packages as "gifts" and paid all relevant charges in UK, but they were still subject to delays and handling charges at this end, and my family don't know this, but we ended up having to pay more to extract the parcels from the post office than the contents were worth.

OK, point taken.

I'll look at ordering something in country to send to them
Thank you

There can also be a ‘handling fee’ for things that are sent. £16 in Denmark, this for the privilege of them opening the package to check the contents. It’s not worth sending anything now. You can still send the other way though no problem. Maybe you’ll get a nice Xmas parcel from nl 🙂