USA → Netherlands
Export Horses from the USA to the Netherlands
One of the world's leading sport-horse breeding markets, built around KWPN dressage and jumping bloodlines.
- Arrives
- AMS
- Departs
- LAX / DFW
- Flight time
- ~8–9 hours
- Plan ahead
- 45–75 days
Amsterdam Schiphol
Or whichever US gateway suits the animals
The Netherlands is one of the world's leading sport-horse breeding markets — KWPN dressage and jumping bloodlines draw serious international buyers, and American-bred stock moves both ways in that trade. It runs under the same EU process as our other EU destinations.
Schiphol is a major hub in its own right, which generally means good routing options rather than a forced connection through somewhere else in Europe.
Regulatory
What a Netherlands export requires
These are the constraints that shape the timeline. The binding requirements are whatever the Netherlands has in force on your day of export — we confirm the current position as the first step of every quote.
EQUI-X health certificate
Horses travel on the EU's EQUI-X certificate, issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS — the same document and process we use for our other EU destinations.
Origin premises must be registered
The establishment where the horse originates has to be registered with USDA APHIS before the certificate can be issued.
30 days of documented veterinary supervision
The horse needs to have been under the supervision of an official veterinarian at a registered establishment for the 30 days before export — documented oversight where the horse already is, not a stay at a separate isolation facility.
Owner declaration and USDA endorsement
A signed declaration from the owner or operator attaches to the health certificate, and USDA has to ink-sign and emboss it before the horse travels. We handle the VEHCS submission end to end.
Official source
USDA APHIS publishes the International Regulations for Animal Exports (IRegs) — the U.S. government’s understanding of the Netherlands's current import requirements.
By species
What we handle into the Netherlands
Horses
Racing, breeding and competition horses moved door to door — barn in the United States to barn in Asia-Pacific, the Gulf or Europe.
Cattle
Brahman and other tropical and temperate breeds, bulls and group consignments — priced and protocoled by breed and destination.
Sheep & Goats
Boer and Nubian goats, breeding rams and ewes — regulated together under USDA's scrapie program, and often shipped together.
Swine, Poultry & Camelids
Swine, poultry, camelids and mixed livestock genetics — moved as single consignments or as a recurring program.
Exotic & Zoo Animals
Zoo collections, wildlife parks and private exotic consignments — including CITES-listed species — moved with the permitting handled.
FAQ
Exporting to the Netherlands: common questions
Can you export a horse to the Netherlands?
Yes — KWPN and other Dutch Warmblood sport horses, along with Thoroughbred breeding stock, move under the same EU process we use for our other European destinations.
How much does it cost to ship a horse to the Netherlands?
Ask us for a written figure against your specific horse. This is a newer lane for us than our Asia-Pacific destinations, so we don't yet have enough completed shipments to publish a general range.
Is the process different from shipping to Ireland or France?
No — the Netherlands, Ireland and France are all in the EU, so the same EQUI-X certificate and process apply. What differs is the airport and the buyer, not the requirements.
Is there a quarantine facility stay required before export?
No — the EU requirement is 30 days of documented veterinary supervision at the horse's own registered premises, not a stay at a dedicated isolation facility the way our Asia-Pacific destinations require.
Does someone travel with the horse?
Yes. A professional groom flies with every horse on every international shipment we handle, keeping it hydrated and with forage available, and manages the offload on arrival.
Other lanes
More destinations we run
Belgium
Export Horses from the USA to Belgium
France
Export Horses from the USA to France
Ireland
Export Horses from the USA to Ireland
Moving animals to the Netherlands?
Send us the species, the number of animals, the origin and your target date. We confirm whether the protocol is currently open and come back with a written quote at no charge. If we can’t do the shipment, we’ll email you and say why.