The Netherlands

Bol.com, the largest online store in the Netherlands and Belgium, is to acquire Dutch bicycle courier company Cycloon. With the takeover the online store wants to deliver more sustainably. Moreover, Bol.com will deliver its own parcels for the first time.

Dutch grocery delivery startup Pieter Pot has raised 9 million euros in a funding round. The company will use this capital injection to accelerate its expansion. Pieter Pot is already active in the Netherlands and Belgium, but now wants to expand its range across more European markets.

Dutch payment service provider Buckaroo has been acquired by Keensight Capital for more than 150 million euros. The acquisition will be finalized in the second quarter of 2022. This is the third time that Buckaroo is sold.

As of this week, Dutch online retailers have formed an employer's organization called E-commerce Netherlands. The organization is supposed to strengthen the branch, which is growing quickly. It will also bring Dutch ecommerce closer to forming a collective labor agreement.

Dutch online auction company TBAuctions will be acquired by Castik Capital. Due to the acquisition, TBAuctions can accelerate its European expansion. The closing of the acquisition is expected at the end of this year.

Wehkamp, the online department store from the Netherlands, is looking into an initial public offering (IPO). Their largest shareholder Apax wants to leave the company. An attempt to sell the retailer privately fell through.

The Dutch online seller of cushions with infrared heating, has entered the French and Danish market. In addition to these countries, the company is already active in Germany, Belgium and Austria as well. Due to its fast growth, Stoov won the number one spot in the Dutch CrossBorder Top 30.

Bol.com is expected to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2022. Its holding, Ahold Delhaize, wants to use the public offering to raise extra finances and fulfill the platform's growth potential. The holding also announces other plans for the coming years.

Estonian tech company Feeport has launched its software platform x7trade in the Dutch market. Through the platform, imported bulk low-value B2C goods’ declarations can be automatically logged to EU Member States’ Customs IT systems. Feeport is eyeing further integrations with more states within the EU.

Norwegian provider of accounting software Visma is acquiring Myonlinestore. For the time being, Visma indicates that Myonlinestore will continue its business activities as an independent organization. The link between online store software, accounting software and inventory management will increase the organization's profits. Myonlinestore will soon integrate its software with other Visma companies.

Wayflyer announces a new launch today. The Irish ecommerce financier is expanding to Spain and the Netherlands. This is the next step in the company's growth across Europe, Australia and the US.

Though Dutch consumers are still placing more cross-border orders within the EU, in Q2 2021 there was a growth of 17 percent when compared to last year. In total, they spent more than 800 million euros in online stores within the EU. This is a slower growth than in previous quarters.

The six biggest online stores in the Netherlands in 2020 were the same six as the year before. Bol.com remains the biggest player, followed by Coolblue and Albert Heijn. However, Albert Heijn is closing the gap between itself and its predecessor quickly. Garden centers and hardware stores grew the fastest, and meal delivery companies also climbed higher on the list.

Dutch omnichannel retail player Coolblue has decided to postpone its initial public offering and listing of shares on Euronext Amsterdam. According to the company, current market conditions create uncertainty among investors. The public offering will be postponed until further notice.

The biggest online store in the Netherlands and Belgium, Bol.com, saw a growth of 15 million visitors per month on the Dutch website compared to Q3 last year. The Belgian website had 2 million extra visitors. With a steady growth of selling partners on the platform, the product range grew with 42 percent in one year.