The Dutch bottle deposit system — why everyone carries empty bottles to the supermarket
Part of: Expat Essentials
The Netherlands runs a mandatory deposit (statiegeld) on plastic bottles and cans. You pay a small surcharge when you buy the drink; you get it back when you return the container to a machine at the supermarket.
Not every plastic bottle qualifies. Look for the statiegeld logo on the label before assuming you can return it.
Most supermarkets (Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, Plus) have a statiegeldautomaat — a reverse vending machine, usually near the entrance. Feed in the bottles and cans one by one, collect a voucher, redeem at the checkout.
Glass bottles are largely outside the system (some local shops and breweries run their own deposits, but there's no national scheme). Cartons, pouches, and non-qualifying plastics go in the regular recycling.
Return rates are high — the machines are everywhere and the habit is ingrained. Littering a bottle with a 15ct deposit is genuinely costly to Dutch sensibilities.
These guides are written to help you understand the Netherlands — not to replace professional advice. We do our best to be accurate but we make mistakes and information goes out of date. For anything that affects your legal status, taxes, finances, or health, verify with an official source or a qualified advisor.