EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements 
of Corporate Express, Inc. on Form S-8 (File No. 33-86574), Form S-8 (File No.
333-16457), Form S-8 (File No. 333-02880), Form S-8 (File No. 333-02882), 
Form S-8 (File No. 33-94464), Form S-8 (File No. 333-31755), Form S-8 (File No.
333-35233), Form S-8 (File No. 333-43193), Form S-8 (File No. 333-44811), Form 
S-4 (File No. 333-07909) and Form S-3 (File No. 333-12451) of our report dated
April 6, 1998, except for Note 18, for which the date is April 22, 1998, on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule
of Corporate Express, Inc. as of January 31, 1998, March 1, 1997 and March 2,
1996, and for the eleven-month period ended January 31, 1998 and the three years
in the period ended March 1, 1997, which report is included in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.


/s/ Coopers & Lybrand LLP

Denver, Colorado
April 30, 1998