Why E-Commerce Brands Are Choosing Poland Over the Netherlands for EU Fulfillment

Poland, in particular, has built a compelling case as the smarter base for EU fulfillment. Some logistics companies that have operated out of the Netherlands for decades are now considering facilities in Poland. That’s not a coincidence.

This article is for growth-focused brands that are either already fulfilling from the Netherlands – or considering where to plant their EU flag for the first time. We’ll compare post-Brexit fulfillment, with an honest Netherlands vs Poland comparison, highlighting why Poland is now often seen as the smarter option – and how to make the switch.

Jump to:

• Why the Netherlands Became the Default Choice
• The Case for Poland: Addressing the Misconceptions
• Netherlands vs. Poland: A Direct Comparison
• How Brands Benefit from Fulfilling in Poland
• Making the Switch: What to Expect
• Fulfil from the EU with ILG

Why the Netherlands Became the Default Choice

The Netherlands has long been a reliable entry point for EU fulfillment. With Rotterdam as the continent’s busiest port and Schiphol one of its most connected airports, the country sits comfortably within overnight reach of most major European markets. Its English-speaking infrastructure felt safe and familiar – and with several well-known 3PLs already established in and around Amsterdam and Rotterdam, it made it easy to plug in and get going.

But the Netherlands isn’t without its drawbacks. Prime logistics rents in Rotterdam and Amsterdam are among the highest in continental Europe and have been rising steeply for years. Labor is similarly costly, more so since the Dutch government has been progressively scaling back its long-standing benefit that allowed international workers to receive 30% of their salary tax-free (making the Netherlands an attractive base for companies and talent relocating to the EU).

If you’re evaluating where to anchor your European operations for the long term, the arguments that made the Netherlands the obvious choice are weakening. Meanwhile, Poland has been building a compelling case of its own – and not just on cost grounds.

The Case for Poland: Addressing the Misconceptions

“Poland is too far east – delivery times will suffer”

While this is probably the most common objection, it’s based on an outdated mental map of European logistics! Sharing its western border with Germany – just 85km from ILG’s Wroclaw facility – Poland sits at the geographic heart of the continent. This means goods can be consolidated into German carrier networks, one of the most efficient and cost-effective in Europe and from there, the rest of Western Europe is well within standard delivery windows. Central and Eastern European markets, meanwhile, are essentially on the doorstep.

“Delivery costs will be higher”

With Poland home to the EU’s largest road freight fleet and Polish carriers handling most of the cross-border haulage into Germany and France, outbound carrier costs are highly competitive. More trucks, more routes, more competition – and better delivery rates for your brand.

“VAT registration is complicated”

This one has a grain of truth; you will need a Polish VAT number and a registered address in Poland and the process takes around three months. But it’s a one-time administrative step, not an ongoing burden and a good 3PL partner will have trusted VAT compliance specialists they can connect you with to make the process smooth. ILG’s partnership with SimplyVAT means VAT compliance is handled as part of your fulfillment setup, not an afterthought you’re left to figure out alone.

“I’m unsure about the quality and security”

ILG’s Poland facility operates to exactly the same standards as our UK operations: same systems, same processes, same quality of care – the level of service which won ILG the UKWA Excellence in Customer Service Award. And our customer service team is UK-based, English-speaking and supported by bilingual Polish-speaking colleagues – so communication is never an issue.

“What about product regulations and compliance?”

This (legitimate) consideration comes up most often for brands in the beauty, wellbeing and supplements categories, where local product regulations – covering labeling, ingredient compliance and import requirements – can vary significantly across EU markets. This is where a reliable 3PL comes in.

ILG works with trusted compliance partners who can guide brands through market-specific requirements, and our team will flag potential issues during onboarding rather than leaving you to spot them later. Broader regulatory requirements – including customs and import/export rules, product safety standards and data privacy regulations – are all areas where the right 3PL should be actively helping you navigate, not leaving to chance.

Netherlands vs. Poland: A Direct Comparison

The headline here is cost. Reports consistently show operational costs in Poland run 20-40% lower than in the Netherlands when warehouse rent, labor and overheads are factored together. For growing brands where margin matters, that difference compounds significantly over time – and with Dutch costs continuing to rise, the gap is only widening further.

How Brands Benefit from Fulfillment in Poland

Beyond the cost comparison, there are several practical reasons why Poland is an increasingly attractive base for brands serious about their European growth:

Poland’s e-commerce market is booming

With a population of over 37 million, Poland is one of Europe’s fastest-growing digital markets (its e-commerce market size stands at USD 26.71 billion in 2026) with 78% of its internet users shopping online. Consumers have a strong appetite for international brands, so for brands in beauty, fashion, wellbeing, electronics and homeware, Poland isn’t just a convenient fulfillment base – it’s an audience in its own right.

Scalability and growing infrastructure

The Polish logistics sector has attracted enormous investment in recent years. Warehouse capacity dedicated to e-commerce has surged across the country and the quality of that space has risen with it: first class facilities, automation and integrated fulfillment technology are increasingly standard rather than exceptional. In 2021, we opened our first ILG warehouse in Wroclaw, and in 2024, a 450,000 sq. ft facility – a clear signal to ambitious brands that Poland offers a platform built for scale.

Speed that surprises

A common assumption is that operating from Poland means slower delivery into key European markets. In practice, the delivery windows are more competitive than most brands expect. From ILG’s Wroclaw facility, standard transit times are next day to Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia; one to two days to Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark; two to three days to France, Italy and Scandinavia.

For brands whose EU customer base spans multiple Western European markets, Poland performs on a par with (or better than) the Netherlands for many destinations – with the added advantage of near-domestic reach across Central and Eastern Europe.

Holding stock in one EU location

One concern we sometimes hear from brands is about the prospect of splitting their stock across multiple locations with the US, UK and EU, thus adding complexity and cost. The solution here is working with an agile 3PL that can facilitate intelligent stock transfers between facilities, ensuring the right product is available in the right market at the right time, without over-complicating your operations.

One 3PL, one data integration

For brands selling into both the UK and EU, different warehouses can mean different integrations, different reporting and disconnected data. Holding your stock across the UK and Poland with a single 3PL means benefitting from one data integration layer than connects your e-commerce platforms, ERP and reporting tools across both markets.

Returns that stay in the EU

Returns are one of the often-overlooked advantages of EU-based fulfillment – and a particularly important one for beauty, fashion and lifestyle brands where return rates are high and the returns experience is an important brand touchpoint.

When fulfillment is based in Poland, EU customer returns stay within the EU: no cross-border customs process, no re-import fees and significantly faster processing. Stock gets back into sellable inventory more quickly and your customers receive refunds or exchanges without the uncertainty that comes with cross-border returns.

End-to-end under one roof

ILG is part of the global Yusen Logistics, which means freight forwarding and customs clearance sit alongside your fulfillment operation. For brands importing stock into Poland from Asia or elsewhere, that level of integration makes a real difference to both efficiency and cost. And for brands with sustainability commitments – increasingly the norm for quality-led beauty, fashion and wellbeing brands – ILG’s newest Poland facility carries BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ accreditation, incorporating solar power, rainwater harvesting and EV charging.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

If you’re currently fulfilling from the Netherlands – or still fulfilling from the US or UK and absorbing the ‘Brexit friction’ – switching to a Poland-based operation is more straightforward than many brands expect.

Here’s a broad outline of the journey:

1. VAT registration in Poland. Engage a specialist like SimplyVAT early, as the three-month timeline means you’ll want to start this process well before you’re ready to go live. Our guide to VAT registration in Poland covers all the essentials.
2. Onboarding with your 3PL. Your 3PL will work with you to set up systems, agree inbounding processes and connect your e-commerce platforms.
3. Transitioning your stock. Whether you’re moving stock from a US or UK facility, an existing EU warehouse, or inbounding directly from a supplier, a good 3PL will manage the logistics of this transition so there’s no disruption to your customers.
4. Carrier configuration. Your 3PL will set up the carrier routes relevant to your key markets, optimizing for both cost and delivery speed.
5. Budgeting in Euros. ILG quotes for EU fulfillment in Euros, which removes the currency guesswork from your planning. It’s worth factoring this into your financial modelling early,  particularly if you’re currently operating in USD or GBP, so that your cost projections reflect the actual billing structure from day one.

Fulfil from the EU with ILG

We chose Poland as our first European fulfillment operation in 2021, designed specifically for the kinds of brands we work with – beauty, fashion, wellbeing, lifestyle and homeware – where product quality, presentation and customer service are as important as speed and cost. It has grown significantly since then as more brands have recognized the strategic value of being based there.

ILG brings over 30 years of omnichannel fulfillment expertise, a network of 10 specialized fulfillment facilities across the UK and EU and the freight and customs capability of Yusen Logistics. If you’re considering EU fulfillment for the first time – or wondering whether Poland could be a better fit for your brand than your current setup, we’d love to talk it through.

Ready to explore your options? Tell us about your brand and one of our team will be in touch.

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