Senior Douane Declarant

Herman Kuijper BV; Amstelveen; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Travel allowance

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Herman Kuijper BV in Amstelveen is seeking a Senior Customs Declarant to manage import declarations, primarily sea freight and container imports, and to ensure compliance with customs and food-safety rules.

You will coordinate with shipping lines, Dutch Customs and the NVWA, act as the internal customs expert, and drive process improvements across logistics, purchasing and sales.

This full-time, office-based role offers ownership and a clear career path within an international trading environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant work experience in customs, logistics or international trade.
• Solid knowledge of customs procedures, import duties, commodity codes and origin.
• Experience with sea freight and container imports.
• Experience with NVWA regulations or food-safety processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, check and submit import/export declarations.
• Coordinate customs processes for inbound sea containers from Asia.
• Check freight documents, invoices, packing lists and origin certificates.
• Apply correct commodity codes, origin, customs value and duties.
• Support NVWA inspections and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Act as internal customs expert for colleagues in logistics, purchasing and sales.

Skills

Analytical

Strong communicator

Dutch language

Ownership mindset

Education

MBO 4 / HBO level

Customs-related diploma (e.g., Douaneopleiding, evofenedex)

AEO knowledge (nice to have)

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Customs Declarant

Herman Kuijper BV | Amstelveen | Full-time (40 hours), office-based

About Herman Kuijper BV

Herman Kuijper BV is a family-owned company that has been importing and distributing authentic Asian food products since 1988. Over the past decades we have built a strong reputation in the retail market, with a broad assortment of food products imported directly from Asia.

As a family business, we place great value on trust, commitment and long-term relationships with our suppliers and customers. Alongside classic Asian staples, we follow the latest trends in Asian cuisine, from innovative snacks to modern flavours that are popular with a younger audience.

To support our continued growth and to keep our international logistics running smoothly, efficiently and in full compliance, we are looking for an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Customs Declarant.

The role

As Senior Customs Declarant, you play a key role in our international supply chain. You are responsible for the correct and timely handling of customs formalities for the import of food products from Asia, with a focus on sea freight shipments and container imports through European ports.

On a daily basis you process and check import documentation, arrange customs clearance and monitor compliance with customs, excise and food safety legislation. You work closely with shipping lines, freight forwarders, carriers, Dutch Customs and the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) to ensure our containers are handled efficiently and in compliance with all regulations.

In this senior role you are not only responsible for day-to-day execution, but you also act as the internal point of contact and expert on customs matters. You actively contribute to process improvements, flag risks early and support colleagues in logistics, purchasing and sales with customs and compliance questions.

This is a full-time, office-based position in an international and dynamic trading environment.

Your responsibilities

• Preparing, checking and submitting import and export declarations
• Coordinating and managing customs processes for inbound sea containers from Asia
• Checking freight documents, commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates of origin
• Assessing and applying the correct commodity codes, origin, customs value and import duties
• Handling customs formalities for excise goods and monitoring bonded warehouse activities
• Acting as the internal point of contact for customs procedures, classifications, permits and compliance
• Maintaining contact with authorities such as Dutch Customs and the NVWA, including supplying requested documentation
• Supporting NVWA inspections, document checks and any physical inspections of food products
• Coordinating with freight forwarders, shipping lines, terminals and carriers on container handling and releases
• Monitoring compliance with customs, excise and food safety legislation
• Supporting cost price calculations, import duties, levies and customs classifications
• Identifying risks, deviations and improvement opportunities within the import and export processes
• Proactively resolving customs-related issues and guiding colleagues through complex cases
• Identifying and resolving delays, holds or irregularities in container flows
• Contributing to the optimisation and standardisation of customs processes within the organisation

Education and qualifications

• Preferably in possession of the Customs Consultant diploma (Douaneopleidingen Nederland), or an equivalent recognised customs declarant qualification such as the evofenedex Vakopleiding Declarant
• Mbo 4 or hbo working and thinking level
• Experience with the Dutch customs declaration system (DMS) is a plus
• A follow-up qualification such as Customs Consultant Manager, Coordinator Customs and Trade Compliance or MCTA is a plus
• Knowledge of AEO requirements is a plus

What you bring

• Demonstrable experience as a customs declarant, customs specialist or in a comparable role
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in customs, logistics or international trade
• Experience with sea freight, container imports and customs handling of international trade flows
• Experience in the food sector, FMCG, retail, import or international trade is a strong plus
• Solid knowledge of customs procedures, import duties, commodity codes, origin and customs value
• Knowledge of NVWA regulations and food safety processes
• Experience with excise goods and bonded warehouse processes is a plus
• Experience with customs software and Microsoft Office, in particular Excel
• You work accurately and in a structured way, and check your work carefully
• You take ownership, think ahead and come up with solutions yourself
• You are analytical, a strong communicator and able to apply complex regulations in practice
• You speak and write Dutch well and are comfortable working in English

What we offer

• A full-time position in a growing family business with short lines of communication
• A senior role with real responsibility in an international trading environment
• A central position in our import chain for Asian food products
• Plenty of room to contribute to process improvement and further professionalisation
• Collaboration with a committed and supportive team
• Opportunities to develop further in customs, logistics and international trade
• A competitive salary in line with your knowledge, experience and responsibilities
• Good secondary benefits, including holiday allowance and travel allowance