12 Christmas package ideas for 2025

Introduction

In the Netherlands, we have the fine tradition of giving employees, clients and associates a Christmas gift at the end of the year. For entrepreneurs and employers it can be a challenge to come up with an original Christmas gift every year. Therefore, we have listed some great Christmas gift ideas to give you inspiration.

What is a nice Christmas package?

A Christmas package usually consists of a box filled with various treats and gifts. As a business owner, you usually give the same Christmas package to every employee. Therefore, we recommend putting together a diverse package so that everyone can find things they like in the Christmas gratuity.

You give a Christmas package to show your appreciation to employees, colleagues or customers. People therefore often appreciate an original Christmas package that has been well thought out. Are you wondering what a Christmas package costs on average? The average amount for a Christmas package is between €40 and €50.

When do you give a Christmas gift? Christmas gratuities are normally given between the week after St. Nicholas to the week before the Christmas vacations.

Christmas gratuity and tax

Giving a Christmas package to staff is tax-free under certain conditions. The tax authorities allow you to deduct VAT for expenses on gifts, corporate gifts and other employee benefits up to a threshold amount of €227 per year per recipient. A Christmas package falls under employee benefits. If the total employee benefits including Christmas package is less than € 227 per year per recipient, then you may deduct the VAT.

The same applies to a business Christmas gift to customers or other relations. There is a threshold amount of €227 per relation for the deduction of VAT. Note that if you give multiple gifts to relations of one company, you must add up the costs. This is because the company counts as one relation.

For more information on the VAT deduction for employee benefits, visit the Tax Office website.

In addition to VAT, the Working Costs Regulation (WKR) also applies. This regulation determines how much you, as an employer, may spend untaxed on gifts to employees. This includes Christmas hampers, sport season tickets and gift vouchers. The amount that you can spend untaxed is called the free allowance. The free margin in 2024 is 1.92% of the taxable wage up to and including € 400,000. For salary amounts greater than €400,000, the free margin is 1.18%. Spending that falls within the free margin is untaxed. For expenditures exceeding the free margin, 80% tax must be paid. More information can also be found on the website of the Belastingdienst.

A great Christmas gift for your staff with the following 12 Christmas gift ideas

If you are reading this, then you are probably looking for a nice Christmas package idea. It's also not easy to give an original Christmas package every year. We have therefore listed 12 fun items below that you can put in a Christmas package. You will find ideas for Christmas gifts for men and women.

1. Bottle of wine

With the holidays, many people pull out a nice bottle of wine during (or after) Christmas dinner. After all, a bottle of wine is always appreciated. Extra fun is to personalize wine bottles. For example, the company Tregenerazioni offers wine with an augmented reality message that you can put together yourself.

2. Beer Package

A beer package is also often appreciated by many people. Choose special beers from your region. This way you also support local entrepreneurs.

3. Tea Package

Not everyone drinks alcohol, of course. Whether you drink alcohol or not, many people can appreciate a tea package. True tea lovers like loose tea instead of tea bags.

3. Drink board

With a glass of wine or beer, delicacies are often enjoyed on a drink board. A nice, luxurious cocktail board is therefore always used during the holidays. Together with the borrelplank you can put together a package with luxury dry sausage, cheese tips, nuts and other appetizers. This way you create a delicious get-together for the holidays.

4. Chocolate

Who doesn't love chocolate? With chocolate in the Christmas package, you will make everyone happy. During the Christmas period, many chocolate manufacturers release special Christmas chocolates to get totally into the Christmas spirit.

5. Healthy Christmas package

So far we have mostly discussed Christmas gifts that are not very healthy. However, the new year is the time of good intentions. Many people resolve to lose weight or live healthier. Support these people with a healthy Christmas package full of healthy products. Consider unsalted nut mixes, dried or fresh fruit, smoothies and juices.

6. Fitness Package

We continue with good intentions as many people want to exercise more in the new year. Encourage them by giving a fitness package as a gift. This is also in your best interest because a healthy and fit employee is more productive.

7. Wellness package

Your staff also needs relaxation, of course. Therefore, many employees find a wellness package or voucher a nice Christmas gift. You can choose spa & wellness packages and beauty & wellness packages, among others.

9. A nice fragrance

A nice cologne or aftershave is also always appreciated by your staff. This is also a gift used by everyone.

10. Gift Certificate

It is difficult, especially in a large company, to put together a Christmas package that will make everyone happy. You can solve this by giving a gift certificate to your staff. This can be a general gift voucher, such as a VVV voucher, or a credit that allows employees to choose products at a certain online shop. That way, you still make everyone happy!

11. Sustainable Christmas package

As an entrepreneur, do you think sustainability is important? Then show this with your Christmas gift and choose a package that supports sustainability. For example, the World Shop offers sustainable Christmas hampers.

12. Personalized Christmas gift

You can show your appreciation for your staff through a personalized Christmas package. Think of an engraved mug or thermos bottle. You can also personalize beer packages, bottles of wine and chocolate. Also, don't forget a personal message, preferably handwritten, to thank your employee for his or her efforts.

Hopefully we have given you inspiration for a fun and original Christmas gift! Of course, you can also thank your staff with a gift at other times. Read our blog post with the best gifts for your staff.