Moving to Netherlands

International moving to Netherlands

If you are moving to the Netherlands from within the EU, your move does not involve customs procedures. If you are relocating from the UK, the US, or another country outside the EU, we will talk you through what documentation is typically required.

A significant share of moves into the Netherlands are corporate or institutional — international organisations, corporate headquarters and a large expatriate community in and around Amsterdam and The Hague all contribute a steady stream of employer-coordinated relocations alongside household moves for families and individuals.

How the moving process works

Every international move we plan follows the same core stages, adapted to your route and volume. See our full explanation of how it works for detail on each stage — assessment, planning, packing, collection, international transport, and delivery.

Moving options

The Netherlands sees groupage traffic from across Europe on a regular cycle, given its position as a logistics hub. Dedicated transport is a common choice for corporate relocations with fixed start dates. Its central logistics position also means groupage schedules are generally more frequent and predictable here than on less-travelled European routes.

Read more about the difference between groupage / shared load and dedicated transport.

Packing services

Dutch housing — from Amsterdam canal houses with steep, narrow staircases to modern apartments with lift access — varies enough that we plan packing and disassembly around your specific property. Furniture that will not fit up a canal-house staircase is identified during planning, not on moving day, so a hoisting solution can be arranged in advance rather than improvised on the spot.

See our full packing service for what is included.

Storage

If your Dutch address is not ready when your goods arrive, or you are moving out ahead of your next home being confirmed, we can arrange storage for the interim period. This is common in Amsterdam and The Hague specifically, where housing searches for international arrivals can take longer than the moving timeline itself.

Read more about our storage service.

Transit considerations

Narrow canal-house staircases and doorways in cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht are a common practical consideration; a hoisting service for large furniture through upper-floor windows is sometimes needed and can be arranged. Modern apartment developments in Rotterdam and elsewhere are generally far more straightforward, with lift access and loading bays built in from the start.

Customs & documentation

If your move originates outside the EU, household goods generally qualify for duty relief under a change-of-residence procedure, provided you have owned and used the items for a minimum period and file the correct declaration. We help prepare the documentation your move requires. Non-EU arrivals moving for work also typically need to register with the local municipality (gemeente) shortly after arrival, which is separate from the customs process but often sits on a similar timeline. See our international moving costs page for how customs affects overall planning.

Cost factors

Origin country, volume, transport type, and whether customs clearance applies all factor into a move to the Netherlands. Older canal-house properties requiring hoisting or a smaller shuttle vehicle can add a modest cost compared with a standard modern-apartment delivery, which we confirm once we know your specific address. Full detail is on our costs page.

See our full guide to international moving costs.