Ship Crate From the USA to XXX
Introduction: Shipping a Crate from the USA to Belgium
Shipping a Crate from the USA to Belgium: Business Equipment and Inherited Property
A shipping crate is the right choice when a standard box or pallet is not enough. The reasons are usually the same regardless of destination: the item is too fragile, too heavy, too valuable, or too important to risk in open freight. For shipments from the USA to Belgium specifically, crates are used for two main purposes.
The first is commercial: US businesses exporting industrial machinery, medical devices, precision instruments, technology hardware, or specialty equipment to Belgian companies, research institutions, or EU-bound distribution centres. Belgium’s position at the centre of the EU’s logistics network — with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges handling approximately 289 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, second only to Rotterdam in Europe — makes it one of the most efficient entry points for US business equipment entering Europe.
The second is personal and heritage-related: Americans with Belgian family connections, or Belgian residents receiving property from the estates of US-based relatives, ship inherited furniture, antiques, artworks, and family heirlooms from the USA to Belgium in crates. Belgium has a specific customs concession for inherited goods — referred to in Dutch as nalatenschap (inheritance) goods and in French as biens successoraux — that may allow duty-free and BTW-free import, provided the correct documentation is submitted to the FPS Finance (Federale Overheidsdienst Financiën — Federal Public Service Finance), the authority that administers Belgian customs.
Belgium also has one tool for business importers that is unique in the EU context: the ET 14000 licence, which allows Belgian-registered businesses to defer BTW payment on imported goods rather than paying it at the border. For large commercial crate shipments — where 21% Belgian BTW on a high-value piece of equipment represents a significant upfront cost — the ET 14000 licence is a meaningful cash-flow advantage.
Other ExpediShip Shipping Services from the USA to Belgium
Ship Boxes from the USA to Belgium
For smaller gift boxes, product samples, or care packages that don’t require crate protection, our box shipping service covers all Belgian cities with full BTW customs support. We also explain Belgium’s three-language address system in detail. Learn more
Ship Luggage and Personal Effects from the USA to Belgium
Relocating to Belgium for EU institutions, NATO, or a Belgian employer? Our luggage shipping service handles personal effects with full support for the aankomstattest (Belgian provisional residence registration) and the relocation goods customs documentation. Learn more
Ship a Pallet from the USA to Belgium
For larger commercial freight, donation goods, or tradeshow materials for Brussels Expo or Flanders Expo, our pallet shipping service includes ATA Carnet support and full ADDA customs handling. Learn more
Who Ships Crates from the USA to Belgium?
Who Ships Crates from the USA to Belgium?
US Companies Exporting to the Belgian Market and EU Distribution Networks
Belgium’s strategic position — bordered by France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with direct port access to the North Sea — makes it one of the most important entry points for US goods entering Europe. Many US companies ship commercial equipment, machinery, and technology hardware to Belgian importers, distributors, and EU warehouse facilities, using crate shipping for maximum protection in transit. The pharmaceutical and chemical industry sector is particularly active: Belgium is the world’s largest exporter of pharmaceutical products by value per capita, and US-Belgian pharmaceutical supply relationships regularly involve high-value equipment shipments in crates.
NATO and EU Institution Professionals
Brussels hosts NATO headquarters, the European Commission, the European Parliament (jointly with Strasbourg), the Council of the EU, and hundreds of international organisations and NGOs. American staff and contractors at these institutions regularly relocate to Belgium with personal equipment, professional instruments, and specialty items that require crate protection.
Belgian-Americans Shipping Inherited Property from the USA
Belgium has a significant diaspora connection with the USA — Belgian immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries created communities in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. When US-based members of Belgian-origin families pass away, heirs in Belgium sometimes receive personal property, antiques, artwork, silverware, furniture, and household items that need to be shipped from the USA. Crate shipping provides the protection these often irreplaceable items require.
Art Market Participants and Galleries
Belgium has a sophisticated art market centred in Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp. BRAFA (Brussels Art Fair, held annually at Tour & Taxis) is one of Europe’s most prestigious art fairs, attracting international galleries and collectors. US galleries and private collectors ship artworks, sculptures, antiques, and collectibles to Belgian buyers and auction houses — the Antwerp Old Masters auction circuit and BRAFA both draw US-origin art — in crates with custom internal bracing.
Collectors of Antiques and High-Value Items
Belgium — particularly Antwerp and Brussels — has a rich tradition of antique dealing and collecting. Americans shipping antiques, silverware, diamond jewellery, vintage instruments, or specialist collectibles to Belgian recipients use crate shipping for the enclosed protection that individual high-value items require.
Shipping Cost & Transit Time for Shipping crate from the USA to Belgium
Our prices are highly competitive — that’s why so many customers choose Expediship for shipping crate from the USA to Belgium. We offer affordable rates with reliable, professional service, guiding you step by step through the entire shipping process for crate shipment
Delivery to Belgium typically takes around 5 business days, not including customs clearance time, which may vary depending on Belgium government processing.
Below are estimated starting prices for shipping Crate from the USA to Belgium. Final cost depends on box size, pickup address, and delivery city.
| Weight Range | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 150–200 lbs | From $4/lbs |
| 201–300 lbs | From $3.8/lbs |
| 301–400 lbs | From $3.5/lbs |
| 401–500 lbs | From $3.0/lbs |
| 501–600 lbs | From $2.8/lbs |
| 601–700 lbs | From $2.5/lbs |
| 701–800 lbs | From $1.5/lbs |
| 801+ lbs | From $1.2 — for larger shipments, please contact customer service for an exact quote. |
Note: Prices are estimated starting rates for air freight shipments. Expediship offers door-to-door service with full tracking and customs guidance.
Belgian Customs Rules for Business Equipment in a Crate: BTW, Duties, and the ET 14000 Licence
Belgian Customs Rules for Business Equipment in a Crate: BTW, Duties, and the ET 14000 Licence
Belgium applies EU customs law to all goods imported from the USA. Business equipment shipped in crates is subject to EU customs duty (at the applicable 10-digit TARIC code rate — typically 0% to 6.5% for most manufactured goods, and 0% for most IT hardware under the WTO Information Technology Agreement) and Belgian BTW (belasting over de toegevoegde waarde / taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) of 21% on the CIF value (cost plus insurance plus freight to the Belgian entry point).
The Belgian customs authority is the ADDA (Algemene Directie Douane en Accijnzen / Administration générale des Douanes et Accises — the General Customs and Excise Administration), which operates under the FPS Finance. The official customs information portal is fin.belgium.be/en/customs_excises.
The ET 14000 Licence: Belgium’s BTW Deferment Tool for Business Importers
This is Belgium’s most significant advantage for US companies importing high-value business equipment. The ET 14000 licence — named after a specific provision in Belgian VAT law — allows Belgian-registered businesses and their import agents to defer BTW payment on imported goods, instead of paying 21% BTW upfront at customs clearance and then recovering it later through a VAT return.
How the ET 14000 licence works: without it, a Belgian business importing a piece of equipment worth $200,000 from the USA must pay approximately $42,000 in BTW at the border before the crate is released, then wait 2 to 4 months for a BTW return to reclaim that amount. With the ET 14000 licence, the BTW is simply declared in the company’s periodic BTW return and simultaneously deducted as input tax — meaning no cash needs to change hands at the border, and the goods are released immediately.
The ET 14000 licence is available to all businesses with a Belgian VAT (BTW) number, including non-Belgian businesses that have registered for Belgian VAT. Non-EU businesses must appoint a Belgian fiscal representative (fiscaal vertegenwoordiger / représentant fiscal) to apply for the licence and manage the Belgian VAT filings. For US companies without a Belgian entity that regularly import equipment through Belgium, appointing a Belgian fiscal representative and obtaining an ET 14000 licence is a meaningful operational and cash-flow improvement. Detailed conditions and the application process are administered by the FPS Finance at fin.belgium.be.
Standard commercial import (permanent import)
For Belgian companies already registered for BTW who are receiving crate shipments permanently, the ET 14000 system functions as described above. For US companies shipping crates to Belgium on a one-off basis (a single equipment delivery, for example), the standard process applies: the Belgian recipient pays BTW at customs clearance and recovers it through their BTW return. ExpediShip’s Belgian clearance partners manage the import declaration and BTW payment coordination on your behalf.
Belgium's New IDMS Customs Declaration System and ICS2 Pre-Arrival Requirements
Belgium’s New IDMS Customs Declaration System and ICS2 Pre-Arrival Requirements
Two important procedural changes have taken effect in Belgium that affect all crate shipments arriving from the USA. Both became mandatory in 2025 and represent significant updates to how Belgian customs processes commercial imports.
IDMS: Belgium’s new import declaration platform (mandatory from 30 September 2025)
Belgium replaced its legacy customs declaration system (PLDA — Paperless Douane and Accijnzen) with IDMS (Import Declaration Management System — Informatiesysteem voor douane-aangiften) on 30 September 2025. All import customs declarations in Belgium must now be submitted electronically through IDMS. The importer or their customs broker files the declaration through IDMS on a 10-digit TARIC code basis; ADDA processes it and assigns a control channel.
After declaration acceptance, ADDA assigns one of three control channels: green (automatic release without physical inspection), orange (documentary review before release), or red (mandatory physical inspection before release). For crate shipments with accurate 10-digit TARIC codes, correct CIF values, and complete documentation, the green channel is the normal outcome. Missing EORI numbers, incorrect commodity codes, or incomplete invoices are the most common causes of orange or red channel assignment for crate shipments.
ICS2: mandatory pre-arrival declaration for all cargo from the USA (from 1 April 2025)
The EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) became mandatory for all transport modes — including air freight — from 1 April 2025. ICS2 requires all carriers and logistics operators to submit an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS — aangifte summiere aangifte bij binnenkomst) before the aircraft carrying your crate lands in the EU. The ENS contains security and safety data about the shipment and is submitted by the carrier, not by the shipper. Missing or incomplete ENS submissions cause pre-arrival holds — the crate cannot be released until the ENS issue is resolved, regardless of how good the import declaration documentation is.
ExpediShip’s carrier partners file ENS submissions automatically for all air freight shipments to Belgium as part of the standard service. The Belgium customs and customs competence centre information is available through the ADDA portal at fin.belgium.be.
KBO registration and Belgian EORI
The Belgian importing company must have both a valid EU EORI number and a KBO number (Kruispuntbank van Ondernemingen — Crossroads Bank for Enterprises). The EORI for Belgian businesses is based on the KBO/CBE (Centrale Bank voor Ondernemingen) business registration number, preceded by “BE.” Without a valid EORI on the import declaration, IDMS will automatically reject the filing and the crate will be held.
Importing Inherited Property to Belgium: The Nalatenschap Customs Concession
Importing Inherited Property to Belgium: The Nalatenschap Customs Concession
Belgium’s customs rules provide a duty-free and BTW-free concession for goods imported by succession — personal property inherited from a deceased person and shipped from the USA to Belgium. In Dutch, this is referred to as nalatenschap goods (erfgoederen); in French as biens successoraux; in German (for residents in the German-speaking community in eastern Belgium) as Nachlassgüter. All three terms refer to the same EU customs concession.
The conditions for the nalatenschap duty-free concession
The goods must have been owned by the deceased and must be passing to the heir through genuine hereditary succession — not through a commercial sale or a gift made during the deceased’s lifetime.
The importer must provide official documentation from a competent authority in the USA confirming the inheritance. In practice, this means a certified document from a US probate court, estate attorney, or notary — confirming the death of the relative, identifying the importer as the legal heir or beneficiary, and describing the items being inherited. This document typically needs to be apostilled under the Hague Apostille Convention for use in Belgian customs proceedings.
The application for the nalatenschap customs concession is made to the ADDA customs office at the Belgian point of entry — either Brussels Airport (Zaventem), the Port of Antwerp, or the Port of Zeebrugge, depending on how the crate is arriving. The importer or their Belgian customs agent submits the inheritance documentation alongside the standard import declaration through IDMS.
Belgium’s three-region inheritance tax complexity
A practical note for estate-related crate shipments: Belgium has a notoriously complex inheritance tax system, with rates varying significantly between its three regions — Flanders (Vlaams Gewest), Wallonia (Région wallonne), and Brussels-Capital (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale / Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest). Inheritance tax rates in Belgium can range from 3% to 30% or higher for non-direct heirs. However, the customs duty and BTW concession for imported inherited goods is a separate matter from the Belgian inheritance tax itself — the customs concession (at EU level) simply means that the imported physical goods do not attract additional customs duty or BTW at the border. The Belgian regional inheritance taxes are assessed separately on the estate’s assets.
For comprehensive information on Belgian inheritance tax by region, the FPS Finance website at fin.belgium.be/en is the authoritative source. For the customs concession on imported goods, the ADDA is the relevant authority.
EU Regulation 2019/880: cultural property import requirements for antiques and heritage items
From 28 June 2025, EU Regulation 2019/880 on the import of cultural goods entered into full application across all EU member states, including Belgium. For inherited property that includes antiques (over 200 years old valued above €18,000), archaeological objects, or other historically significant items, additional documentation is now required before the goods can be imported into Belgium.
Specifically: items over 250 years old in specific at-risk categories require an import licence from the Belgian competent authority before they can enter Belgium. Items over 200 years old valued above €18,000 require an importer declaration confirming that the goods were legally exported from their country of origin. The ADDA administers these requirements at fin.belgium.be/en/customs_excises. If you are importing inherited antiques or heritage items from the USA to Belgium, contact ExpediShip before shipping — our Belgian clearance partners will advise on the specific documentation required under EU Regulation 2019/880.
How to Prepare a Crate Shipment from the USA to Belgium : Step-by-Step Guide
Crating is one of the most secure and reliable methods for both domestic and international shipping, especially when transporting fragile, high-value, or oversized items. Unlike standard boxes, wooden crates provide a rigid structure that protects cargo from impact, compression, and handling damage during transit. This is particularly important for international shipments, where goods may go through multiple transfers, long transit times, and customs inspections.
When preparing a crate shipment, selecting the correct crate is the first and most important step. A strong and properly sized crate protects your goods and ensures safe transport.
Use solid wood crates or plywood crates for heavy or fragile items
For international shipping, use ISPM-15 certified (heat-treated) wood
Choose the right size to minimize empty space inside
Recommended crate sizes (based on shipment type):
Small crate: up to 48 × 40 × 36 inches (121 × 102 × 91 cm)
Medium crate: up to 60 × 48 × 48 inches (152 × 122 × 122 cm)
Large crate: up to 72 × 48 × 60 inches (183 × 122 × 152 cm)
Custom crates: for oversized items (furniture, sculptures, machinery)
Keep at least 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) space on each side for padding
Ensure the crate has a pallet-style base (forklift accessible)
Avoid weak or damaged wood
Before placing items into the crate, proper internal protection is critical.
Wrap items with foam, bubble wrap, or blankets
Protect fragile areas like corners, edges, and surfaces
Use anti-scratch and moisture protection if needed
Disassemble items (like table legs, frames) when possible
For high-value items, consider custom foam inserts
Items must not move during transit — this is one of the most important steps.
Use blocking and bracing (wood supports) inside the crate
Fill empty spaces with foam, padding, or air cushions
Use straps or tie-downs for heavy items
Ensure zero movement when shaking the crate
For machinery, consider bolting to the base
The crate structure must be strong enough to handle long-distance transport.
Use screws or nails (not just staples) to secure panels
Reinforce edges with metal brackets if needed
Seal all sides tightly
For international shipping, ensure the crate is fully enclosed
Optional: use water-resistant lining or wrap
Clear labeling ensures smooth handling and customs clearance.
Attach shipping labels on at least 2 sides
Add handling labels:
“Fragile”
“This Side Up”
“Do Not Stack” (if needed)
For international shipments:
Attach commercial invoice + packing list
Include HS code and item description
Place documents in a waterproof pouch
Before shipment, do a final check to avoid delays or damage.
Verify weight and dimensions (important for billing)
Check crate stability (no loose panels or movement)
Ensure forklift access on all sides if required
Take photos for records and insurance
Confirm pickup details and carrier requirements
Insurance Options for Shipping Boxes, Pallets, Crates, or Luggage from the USA to Belgium
Every shipment automatically includes $100 of cargo insurance free of charge — if anything is lost or damaged, you are covered up to $100 at no extra cost. Need more protection? Add full coverage for just 3% of the declared value when requesting your quote. For eligibility rules, non-insurable items, and how claims work, see our Shipping Insurance Guide.
International Shipping Prohibitions and Restrictions
Ship from USA to Belgium — Know What You Cannot Ship
Certain items cannot be received, stored, shipped, imported, or exported due to government regulations, safety concerns, or international trade laws. Transactions involving these commodities are strictly prohibited, regardless of the shipment’s origin or destination.
Note: These items are completely forbidden to be exported or imported between countries.
Shipping Process
Ship Pallet from USA to Belgium
Frequently Asked Questions When Shipping Crate from USA to Belgium
A pallet is an open platform for stacking and transporting multiple boxes. A crate is a fully enclosed container providing structural protection on all six sides. Crates are used for items that are fragile, high-value, oversized, or require individual enclosure with custom internal bracing. If your goods can be safely stacked in boxes on a pallet, a pallet is sufficient. If they need enclosed protection and specific internal support, a crate is the correct solution. For our pallet shipping service from the USA to Belgium, see our pallet page.
The ET 14000 is a Belgian BTW deferment licence that allows businesses with a Belgian VAT number to defer BTW payment on imports until their periodic VAT return, rather than paying 21% BTW upfront at customs. For a US company shipping high-value business equipment in a crate to a Belgian business partner, confirming whether the recipient holds an ET 14000 licence before the crate ships can significantly reduce the clearance time and eliminate upfront BTW financing costs at the Belgian border. Information on the ET 14000 is at fin.belgium.be/en/customs_excises.
Yes. The Belgian importing entity must have a valid EU EORI number. Belgian business EORI numbers are based on the company’s KBO/CBE registration number preceded by “BE.” Without a valid EORI on the IDMS import declaration, ADDA will reject the filing and the crate will be held at the entry point. For US companies without a Belgian entity that need to act as importer of record in Belgium, a Belgian fiscal representative (fiscaal vertegenwoordiger / représentant fiscal) can be appointed to hold the EORI and manage all customs filings through IDMS.
Yes. Belgium, as an EU member state, requires all wooden packaging material from non-EU countries to comply with ISPM-15 phytosanitary standards — heat-treated or fumigated timber with the official IPPC stamp. ADDA enforces this at Brussels Airport and the Port of Antwerp. Non-compliant wooden crates will be fumigated at the importer’s cost or refused entry. ExpediShip uses ISPM-15-compliant timber for all custom crates built on your behalf.
Via air freight through Brussels Airport (Zaventem), crate shipments from the USA typically arrive in approximately 5 business days. ADDA customs clearance through the IDMS system for well-documented commercial crate shipments is generally 1 to 3 business days. For inherited goods requiring nalatenschap concession documentation review, allow additional time. For crate shipments involving cultural property under EU Regulation 2019/880, contact ExpediShip to discuss expected clearance timelines.