Travelers often want to know which products from the Netherlands can be brought back to their home country and which ones will not go through the door. Food, alcohol, and flowers may be some of the most popular souvenirs tourists want to import into the United States, but there are strict restrictions on these items.
Food products
Good news: Most of the Dutch foods and ingredients that visitors know and love on their trip can be imported into the United States. This includes baked items like stroopwafels (syrup wafers); sweets, like the classic Dutch drop (liquorice) and chocolate; peanut butter or pindakaas ; coffee, from the rare and exotic kopi luwak to your favorite Dutch supermarket brands; and even cheese. Cheese must be vacuum packed, a service that most cheese shops offer to international visitors.
Raw or unpasteurized milk cheese is prohibited, but popular varieties of cheese in the Netherlands, such as Gouda and Edam, are fine.
Other prohibited items include meat (and meat-containing products; however, fish is allowed), fresh produce, absinthe, and alcohol-filled sweets. So make sure you have that last kebab and finish your farmer’s market finds before you go.
Alcohol
Travelers age 21 and older can import up to one liter of alcohol into the United States, duty and duty free. This does not take into account the alcohol content of the drinks; For United States Customs purposes, wine, beer, spirits, spirits, and typical Dutch beverages such as gin , kruidenbitters, and Advocaat count equally toward the one-liter limit. Anyone who wants to import more than a liter can do so; however, duties and taxes will be imposed on these items. Some states impose stricter limits than the federal one-liter limitation, so be sure to check your state’s laws in case of uncertainty.
Tobacco and marijuana
If you want to import tobacco, only 200 cigarettes (one carton) or 100 cigars can be brought into the United States duty and duty free. However, Cuban cigars are still under embargo and therefore prohibited. Similarly, marijuana may be popular (and legal) in Amsterdam, but it is definitely not allowed in the United States.
flowers
Pre-approved flowers are allowed in the US but under strict conditions. The flowers must include a sticker that says “To the Plant Protection Service of the United States and Canada”, as well as the botanical name of the flower and the date of issue. Without a valid sticker, the flowers will not clear US Customs and Border Protection.
