Parcel · Netherlands, Belgium
GLS Netherlands claim deadlines, liability and evidence
GLS liability for Dutch domestic parcels follows AVC 2002 at EUR 3.40 per kilogram. Where the sender has not taken transport insurance, GLS compensates value above the statutory limit up to EUR 500 per parcel, subject to a EUR 50 deductible.
Tightest deadline
7 days
Standard cap
EUR 500 per parcel, EUR 50 deductible
Liability regime
AVC 2002
GLS is unusual in publishing a top-up above the statutory floor: the AVC cap still applies as the base, but GLS will cover value above it up to EUR 500 per parcel, less a deductible. That makes the effective recovery on a mid-value parcel meaningfully better than a pure AVC settlement, and worth knowing before you write off a claim.
Claim windows
GLS states that its liability to the sender for domestic shipments is governed by AVC, with GLS's own parcel conditions layered on top.
Damage or loss notification
Verify against your GLS agreement
GLS Netherlands does not publish a single headline claim window on its public shipper FAQ. Because domestic liability runs on AVC, the AVC and CMR protest deadlines are the safe working assumption: note visible damage at delivery and lodge hidden damage in writing within 7 days.
Hidden damage under AVC/CMR fallback
7 days
Counted from delivery.
This is the underlying regime deadline rather than a GLS-published figure. Treat it as the outside limit, not a guarantee.
Insured versus uninsured
No additional cover
AVC 2002 applies as the base: EUR 3.40 per kilogram. Where the sender has not taken out transport insurance, GLS compensates the value of the goods above the statutory liability limit up to a maximum of EUR 500 per parcel, with a EUR 50 deductible.
With cover bought
Taking GLS transport insurance moves the claim off the AVC base and the deductible arrangement. Cover has to be selected on the day the shipment is created.
Delay and late delivery
Not compensated. GLS excludes consequential loss including lost profit.
Evidence required
- Parcel number
- Invoice evidencing the value of the goods
- Photographs of the damage and the packaging
Exclusions
- Consequential loss, including lost profit
- Goods on the GLS excluded list
- Insufficient packaging
Filing the claim
- Who files
- The sender.
- How to file
- Through the GLS Netherlands helpdesk on 088 550 3053 or the shipper support route.
- Processing time
- Not published as a fixed service level.
What quietly kills GLS claims
Transport insurance has to be selected on the day the shipment is created. It is not something that can be added when a parcel goes missing.
The EUR 50 deductible applies to the uninsured top-up, so low-value claims can be entirely absorbed by it.
GLS does not publish a headline claim window on its public shipper pages, so the contractual deadline in your own agreement is the one that governs. Ask for it in writing.
The AVC per-kilo base still sets the floor, so weight rather than value drives the first tranche of any uninsured settlement.
FAQ
How much does GLS pay for a lost parcel?
The AVC 2002 base of EUR 3.40 per kilogram applies first. Where the sender took no transport insurance, GLS compensates value above that statutory limit up to EUR 500 per parcel, less a EUR 50 deductible.
What is the GLS claim deadline?
GLS Netherlands does not publish a single headline window on its public shipper FAQ. Because domestic liability runs on AVC, treat the underlying regime deadlines as the outside limit: note visible damage at delivery and lodge hidden damage in writing within 7 days. Confirm the contractual deadline in your own GLS agreement.
Does GLS cover consequential loss?
No. GLS is liable for loss of or damage to parcels in its care, but explicitly excludes consequential damage such as lost profit.
Sources
- GLS Netherlands, veelgestelde vragen verzenders
- GLS Belgium, Algemene Voorwaarden
- AVC 2002 liability (SVA)
Verified 28 July 2026. This page summarises publicly published conditions for reference. A negotiated carrier contract, a rate-card annex or a service-specific annex can override any of it. Always check the deadline in your own agreement before relying on a figure here. Spotted a figure that has changed? Tell us and we will correct it.
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