Stephen Gregory

I am an artist and, next February, I intend to take one of my own paintings as a gift to a charitable organisation in The Netherlands. I will be travelling by ferry as a foot passenger. I have received written confirmation from the Dutch customs authorities that, because the painting will be a gift to a registered charity, I will not be liable to pay any import duty or VAT. They have given me the relevant codes. However, they strongly advised that I should engage a customs broker to arrange the electronic filing on my behalf. UK customs brokers told me that I would need to find a Dutch broker. I wrote to several of them who either did not reply or said it was not business that they could handle. I was recommended on to another, smaller, business but they also turned me down. One company did say they could help but only once the painting has arrived in The Netherlands. I am trying to make it clear to them that I am personally carrying the item as a foot passenger and, once I have cleared formalities at the ferry terminal in Ijmuiden, will want to be straightaway completing my onward journey by public transport. In the wider picture, this is an insignificant problem, but I would appreciate any guidance/clarification that anyone can give me to get this sorted. Also, whether there are any formalities I need to adhere to regarding taking my picture out of this country. If I were selling the painting, it would be priced at £950.