houthandel

Houthandel is the trade in wood and wood-based products in Dutch-speaking markets. It involves purchasing, stock management and selling by wholesalers, timber merchants and specialized retailers, serving as an intermediary between forest owners and mills and end users such as construction companies, carpenters and do-it-yourself retailers.

The product range includes rough-sawn timber and boards, sheet materials (plywood, OSB, MDF), engineered wood (glulam, LVL), decking and fencing, timber treatment products, and related accessories such as fasteners, coatings and adhesives. In addition to raw and processed timber, houthandel often supplies panel goods, flooring and other wood products used in construction and renovation projects.

Operations in houthandel cover sourcing from forests and sawmills, warehousing and inventory management, and logistics by road, rail or ships to building sites or stores. Sales channels include depots and distribution centers, with online ordering increasingly common, enabling both traditional B2B relationships and direct-to-consumer options in some markets.

Markets and customers are predominantly business-to-business, including professional builders, contractors and DIY chains, but there is also direct-to-consumer activity via showrooms or online platforms for private customers. These customers typically seek bulk purchasing, reliable delivery, technical advice and after-sales support.

Sustainability and regulation play a growing role: many suppliers participate in forest-certification schemes such as FSC or PEFC and comply with due diligence requirements under the EU Timber Regulation to ensure legal and sustainable timber. The industry emphasizes traceability and responsible sourcing.

Regional context: in the Netherlands and Belgium, houthandel has a long-standing role in the construction sector, with a mix of family-owned independents and larger wholesalers. International timber flows connect Nordic countries, Western Europe and other regions to domestic markets.