Consumer returns and warranty in Netherlands (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In the Netherlands consumers can cancel online and other distance purchases within 14 days. There is no legal right to return a shop purchase. A defect that appears within one year is presumed to have existed at delivery.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Right to cancel online purchasesReturning a purchase | Consumers can cancel a distance or off-premises contract without giving a reason until 14 days have passed. For goods the period runs from the day after the consumer (or a person named by the consumer, other than the carrier) receives the goods. If the trader did not give the required information, the period is extended by up to 12 months. [1] |
| Returns from shopsReturning a purchase | There is no legal right to return or exchange a shop purchase. The seller decides whether to take goods back, unless the product is defective. [2] |
| Legal guarantee for defectsReturning a purchase | The seller must supply goods that conform to the contract. The buyer must tell the seller within a reasonable time after finding a defect; notice within two months is always in time. Claims become time-barred two years after that notice. The Civil Code sets no fixed overall term: the ACM says the legal guarantee lasts as long as the buyer could reasonably expect the product to work. [3] |
| Burden of proofReturning a purchase | In a consumer sale a defect that appears within one year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery, unless the seller shows otherwise or the nature of the goods or the defect is against it. After one year the buyer must show the product was defective. [3] |
| Goods excluded from cancellingReturning a purchase | No right to cancel for: goods made to the consumer's specification or clearly personal; goods that spoil quickly; sealed goods unsuitable for return for health or hygiene reasons once unsealed; goods inseparably mixed with other items; sealed audio, video or software once unsealed; single newspapers and magazines; alcohol priced now but delivered after 30 days with a market-dependent value; goods priced on financial markets; contracts at public auctions; and accommodation, transport, car rental, catering or leisure services for a fixed date. Digital content is also excluded once supply has begun with the consumer's express consent and acknowledgement. [1] |
Notes
- Online traders must also offer a clearly visible cancellation function in their online interface (art. 6:230oa BW).
- The Dutch rules give no fixed guarantee period; how long the seller is liable depends on how long the product can be expected to last.
Sources
- Overheid.nl (Wettenbank): Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 6 (BWBR0005289), geldend van 16-07-2026 t/m heden (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM ConsuWijzer): Spijt van aankoop | ACM ConsuWijzer (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Overheid.nl (Wettenbank): Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 7 (BWBR0005290), geldend van 08-10-2026 t/m heden (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.