Updated 11 September 2026.
A hospitality group in the Netherlands furnishing a restaurant or a hotel has two routes: buy on the local market, or bring the furniture from the Iberian peninsula, where much of Europe upholstery and contract furniture is made. The decision is not made by comparing price lists. It is made by comparing total cost, lead time and who answers when something goes wrong. Here is what actually changes between the two.
The two routes, side by side
| | Local supplier in the Netherlands | Iberian production with one point of contact |
|---|
| Typical lead time | Short if in stock; long if it is imported anyway | Production lead time plus road freight, quoted per project |
| Range | Whatever the distributor carries | Several manufacturers compared against the same brief |
| Customisation | Limited to the importer catalogue | Fabric and finish of your choice on furniture made for the order |
| VAT | 21% Dutch VAT on the invoice | With a valid VAT number, reverse charge: invoice without VAT |
| Shipping | Domestic | Consolidated at origin and, if the project needs it, phased |
| After-sales | Local | One person responsible, in Dutch, English or Spanish |
VAT, which is where most people get it wrong
If the Dutch company has a valid intra-EU VAT number and provides it before invoicing, the sale is an intra-Community supply: the invoice is issued without VAT and the buyer accounts for it in its Dutch return. It is not a discount. It is a change in who pays the tax over, and it does not change the final cost for a company that deducts it. For a private buyer, the destination country rate applies through the European one-stop-shop scheme. Sort this out before the quote: changing it afterwards means reissuing the invoice.
How long it really takes
The lead time depends on whether the piece is in stock or made for the order, not on the country of origin. We counted the stated lead time of the 3,486 active references in our catalogue on 11 September 2026:
| Stated lead time | References | Share |
|---|
| Immediate delivery | 1,358 | 39.0% |
| 1 to 2 weeks | 236 | 6.8% |
| 2 to 4 weeks | 1,352 | 38.8% |
| 1 to 2 months | 240 | 6.9% |
| More than 2 months | 297 | 8.5% |
Almost two in five pieces ship from stock, because 6 of our 14 manufacturers hold real stock. Another two in five take two to four weeks. And 15.4% takes more than a month: that is the band that sets an opening date, because a project does not open on its average lead time. It opens on its slowest piece.
On top of that there is road freight to the Netherlands, quoted per project by volume and number of deliveries. We deliberately do not give a fixed number here: an invented shipping time is exactly what makes an opening slip.
One figure from our July 2026 audit, useful for planning: reviewing the 817 references of a single one of our manufacturers that holds stock, 273 were out of stock and 351 had a restocking schedule with a committed date. One in three references in a stocked catalogue is out of stock at any given moment. Specifying without checking availability is the number one cause of delay.
Certifications for hospitality in the Netherlands
In public areas, what is asked for as a matter of course is fire reaction of the upholstery, with the manufacturer documentation. On textiles and foam it is common for the end client or the owner to require content and emissions certifications such as OEKO-TEX. On wood, a chain-of-custody mark. All of it is asked for at the specification stage: asking once the lorry is loaded achieves nothing, because the piece is already made.
Frequently asked questions
Does it pay to bring furniture from Spain or Portugal to the Netherlands
It depends on the volume and on how many different families the project involves. With one family and little volume, almost never. With a full project consolidated into one shipment and one invoice, usually yes, and you also gain range and fabric customisation.
Can I get the invoice without VAT
If your company has a valid intra-EU VAT number and you provide it before the invoice is issued, yes: it is an intra-Community supply with reverse charge. If you are a private buyer, no: the Dutch rate applies.
Can delivery be phased as the site progresses
Yes, and on hospitality projects that is what we recommend. We always call before shipping to agree the day. A furniture lorry outside a site that is not ready is a cost, not progress.
What happens if a piece arrives damaged
You deal with us, not with the factory. That is the practical difference of having one point of contact: you do not have to claim in another language from a company you have no contract with.
Can I ask for fabric samples first
Yes, free of charge and before any order. On made-to-measure upholstery it is essential.
El Workshop OÜ brings together the catalogues of 14 European manufacturers into a single catalogue of 3,486 active references, with delivery to 32 European countries, a written project quote within 48 working hours and dedicated after-sales support. Request a quote for your project or write to info@el-workshop.com.
Buying hospitality furniture in the Netherlands: import from Spain and Portugal or buy local
Updated 11 September 2026.
A hospitality group in the Netherlands furnishing a restaurant or a hotel has two routes: buy on the local market, or bring the furniture from the Iberian peninsula, where much of Europe upholstery and contract furniture is made. The decision is not made by comparing price lists. It is made by comparing total cost, lead time and who answers when something goes wrong. Here is what actually changes between the two.
The two routes, side by side
VAT, which is where most people get it wrong
If the Dutch company has a valid intra-EU VAT number and provides it before invoicing, the sale is an intra-Community supply: the invoice is issued without VAT and the buyer accounts for it in its Dutch return. It is not a discount. It is a change in who pays the tax over, and it does not change the final cost for a company that deducts it. For a private buyer, the destination country rate applies through the European one-stop-shop scheme. Sort this out before the quote: changing it afterwards means reissuing the invoice.
How long it really takes
The lead time depends on whether the piece is in stock or made for the order, not on the country of origin. We counted the stated lead time of the 3,486 active references in our catalogue on 11 September 2026:
Almost two in five pieces ship from stock, because 6 of our 14 manufacturers hold real stock. Another two in five take two to four weeks. And 15.4% takes more than a month: that is the band that sets an opening date, because a project does not open on its average lead time. It opens on its slowest piece.
On top of that there is road freight to the Netherlands, quoted per project by volume and number of deliveries. We deliberately do not give a fixed number here: an invented shipping time is exactly what makes an opening slip.
One figure from our July 2026 audit, useful for planning: reviewing the 817 references of a single one of our manufacturers that holds stock, 273 were out of stock and 351 had a restocking schedule with a committed date. One in three references in a stocked catalogue is out of stock at any given moment. Specifying without checking availability is the number one cause of delay.
Certifications for hospitality in the Netherlands
In public areas, what is asked for as a matter of course is fire reaction of the upholstery, with the manufacturer documentation. On textiles and foam it is common for the end client or the owner to require content and emissions certifications such as OEKO-TEX. On wood, a chain-of-custody mark. All of it is asked for at the specification stage: asking once the lorry is loaded achieves nothing, because the piece is already made.
Frequently asked questions
Does it pay to bring furniture from Spain or Portugal to the Netherlands
It depends on the volume and on how many different families the project involves. With one family and little volume, almost never. With a full project consolidated into one shipment and one invoice, usually yes, and you also gain range and fabric customisation.
Can I get the invoice without VAT
If your company has a valid intra-EU VAT number and you provide it before the invoice is issued, yes: it is an intra-Community supply with reverse charge. If you are a private buyer, no: the Dutch rate applies.
Can delivery be phased as the site progresses
Yes, and on hospitality projects that is what we recommend. We always call before shipping to agree the day. A furniture lorry outside a site that is not ready is a cost, not progress.
What happens if a piece arrives damaged
You deal with us, not with the factory. That is the practical difference of having one point of contact: you do not have to claim in another language from a company you have no contract with.
Can I ask for fabric samples first
Yes, free of charge and before any order. On made-to-measure upholstery it is essential.
El Workshop OÜ brings together the catalogues of 14 European manufacturers into a single catalogue of 3,486 active references, with delivery to 32 European countries, a written project quote within 48 working hours and dedicated after-sales support. Request a quote for your project or write to info@el-workshop.com.