In this guide
💡 Already in the Netherlands and looking for a home? Read Finding housing in the Netherlands as an expat — covers rentals, deposits, and discrimination protections.
How International Moving to the Netherlands Actually Works
Before comparing companies, you need to understand what you are buying. International moving has three layers:
Origin services. Packing, loading, export customs documentation, and transport to the port or border.
Freight. The actual movement of your goods — by truck for European moves, by container ship for intercontinental ones, occasionally by air.
Destination services. Customs clearance in the Netherlands, inland transport to your address, unloading, and (if booked) unpacking.
Many international movers offer all three as a “door-to-door” package. A “port-to-port” quote leaves Dutch customs clearance and final delivery to you, so compare what each quote includes before comparing prices.
What to Look for in an International Mover
The movers below are described from public information, mainly the FIDI directory and the companies’ own websites, rather than from moves we booked ourselves. This is not a ranking. Check them on these criteria:
- FIDI-FAIM accreditation. FAIM is the quality standard of FIDI, the international moving federation. According to FIDI, the FIDI-FAIM compliance procedure follows a three-year cycle “with an extensive third-party audit every third year”, and the financial statements of all FIDI affiliates are assessed by an independent third party every year (fidi.org, checked 4 October 2026).
- English-language customer service. Ask whether your move coordinator, survey and paperwork are available in English.
- Customs experience. A move from outside the EU needs an import declaration and an application for tax-free import of your removal goods. Ask who files it and what they need from you.
- Insurance options. Full-value replacement coverage, not just the mover’s standard liability.
- Track record on damages and timelines. Check reviews for the specific local office.
- Transparent pricing. A binding written quote based on a survey of your inventory.
International Moving Companies for the Netherlands in 2026
1. Crown
Crown is an international relocation group whose Crown Relocations division handles household moves. On 4 October 2026, the locations page on Crown World Mobility’s own website did not list an office in the Netherlands, and Crown was not among the Dutch affiliates in the FIDI directory. If your employer has appointed Crown, ask which company will handle Dutch customs clearance and delivery.
Best for: Moves where your employer has appointed Crown as its supplier.
2. AGS
The FIDI directory lists AGS Global Solutions – Netherlands, based in Alphen aan den Rijn, as a Dutch FIDI affiliate (checked 4 October 2026). As with any mover, ask for a binding quote on a surveyed inventory and for its claims procedure in writing.
Best for: People who want a FIDI-listed company with a Dutch office.
3. Pickfords
Pickfords is a UK removals company. On its own website it says it “moves customers to every country across the world” (pickfords.co.uk, checked 4 October 2026). Pickfords UK is not a Dutch FIDI affiliate, so for a move from the UK, ask which company will handle the Dutch end.
Best for: Moves from the UK.
4. Sirelo
Sirelo is not a moving company but a Dutch comparison platform. According to sirelo.nl, you are matched with a maximum of five movers, and the request is free and non-binding (checked 4 October 2026). Always check the FIDI directory and reviews for any company before booking.
Best for: Collecting several quotes at once.
5. Asian Tigers
The FIDI directory lists several Asian Tigers companies in Asia, including in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Vietnam; none of them is among the Dutch FIDI affiliates (checked 4 October 2026). Check the accreditation for your origin city in the directory and confirm in advance who will handle Dutch customs and final delivery.
Best for: Moves from Asia, after you have checked the origin office.
6. De Haan
De Haan is a Dutch moving company. The FIDI directory lists De Haan Relocation in Rotterdam as a Dutch FIDI affiliate, and De Haan’s own website says it has been operating “since 1777”, has its own trucks, and holds certifications including FIDI FAIM 3.4, ISO 14001 and AEO (dehaan.nl, checked 4 October 2026). For an intercontinental move, ask which partner will handle the origin services.
Best for: Moves where you want a Dutch destination operator.
7. Other Dutch FIDI affiliates
On 4 October 2026 the FIDI directory listed twelve affiliates in the Netherlands: AGS Global Solutions – Netherlands, Atlas International Movers, De Gruijter & Co Royal Dutch Moving Company, De Haan Relocation, Derksen Verhuizingen, Gosselin, Santa Fe Relocation – Amsterdam, Schmidt Global Relocations, SIRVA B.V., Van der Ent Group, Voerman International Den Haag and Windmill Forwarding. Check the current list, the exact legal entity and the city in the directory itself.
Best for: Building a shortlist of accredited movers with a Dutch office.
Which Moving Companies Should You Avoid?
Reputations shift, so rather than naming companies, these are the warning signs to avoid:
- A FIDI logo that does not appear in the FIDI directory. FIDI publishes a list of companies that fraudulently claim FIDI affiliation.
- A quote far below the others for the same inventory. Ask what is excluded and how the volume was estimated.
- No physical presence in the Netherlands and no named Dutch partner. Ask who handles the Dutch end.
- Pressure to sign within 24 hours. You should have time to compare and ask questions.
- Demands for full payment upfront in cash or by transfer to a non-corporate account.
What Drives the Cost
We do not publish cost estimates, because there is no independent price data for international moves to the Netherlands. The price depends on:
- the volume and weight of your goods;
- the route and distance, and whether goods travel by road, sea or air;
- the service level: door-to-door or port-to-port, with or without packing and unpacking;
- the declared value and the insurance you choose;
- your dates, and any storage needed if your new home is not ready.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Storage at origin or destination. If your Dutch home isn’t ready when your shipment arrives, you’ll need storage. Ask for the storage rate in the quote.
Port and customs delays. If a container is held at the port, extra charges can apply. Ask what the quote includes.
Alcohol and tobacco. For a move from outside the EU, the customs exemption for household effects does not apply to alcoholic products or to tobacco and tobacco products (Douane handbook, kennisbank.douane.nl). According to Dutch Customs you pay import duties on alcohol in household effects, and tobacco products may only be included if they bear valid Dutch excise seals; unsealed tobacco is seized and taxed. From another EU country you pay no excise on alcohol or tobacco up to certain quantities for personal use (douane.nl, checked 5 October 2026).
Restricted items. Dutch Customs lists special rules for, among others, animal products, endangered species, weapons and cultural goods. Check the list on douane.nl and ask your mover before packing.
Cleaning the old and new home. Often forgotten in moving budgets.
Temporary accommodation gap. Shipments often arrive after you move in. See Short-stay furnished housing for options.
How to Get Comparable Quotes
The easiest way to compare prices is to request quotes from three movers using identical scope:
- Same itemisation. Use the same room-by-room inventory for each quote. If you tell one mover “approximately 30 boxes” and another “120 specific items,” you’ll get incomparable numbers.
- Same service level. Door-to-door full-service from all, or door-to-door with self-packing from all.
- Same insurance basis. All quotes including full-value replacement at the same declared value.
- Same dates. Quote the same target dates from each mover.
Many movers offer video surveys as an alternative to an in-person survey; ask whether the quote based on a video survey is binding.
Paying Your Mover Without Losing Money to Currency Conversion
For ongoing expat finance, see our full best banking for expats comparison.
What to Do in the 30 Days Before Your Move
4 weeks out: Confirm collection date, finalise inventory, and declutter: every item you don’t ship reduces the volume you pay for.
3 weeks out: Book temporary accommodation if the shipment is expected after arrival. Compare cancellation, registration, deposit and verification terms rather than relying on a single platform.
2 weeks out: Notify utilities, banks, doctors. Start your BSN application preparation.
1 week out: Pack carry-luggage essentials separately (clothing, important documents, prescriptions, chargers). Confirm Dutch arrival logistics, including BSN registration and setting up a Dutch bank account.
Move day: Walk the inventory with the lead packer. Photograph everything that goes into boxes. Don’t sign the inventory until you’ve reviewed it.
After Your Things Arrive
Inspect immediately. Check the claims deadline in your contract and insurance terms. Document any damage with photos before signing the delivery receipt.
Unpack one room at a time so you can keep track of what’s there and what isn’t.
Keep the packing list and the delivery receipt until any claim is settled.
Register your address change with the gemeente. According to Government.nl, you report a change of address “anywhere between 4 weeks prior to moving and 5 days after moving”.
Which International Moving Company Should You Choose?
The right international mover for a move to the Netherlands depends on who pays and where you move from. If your employer pays, use its preferred supplier; if you pay yourself, compare binding quotes from two or three FIDI-accredited movers on an identical inventory. Check the accreditation in the FIDI directory rather than on the mover’s website.
If you’re paying yourself, get three binding quotes on the same inventory, for example from FIDI-listed movers in the Netherlands or in your origin country. Some well-known names, such as Crown and UTS Hollander Mertz, did not appear among the Dutch FIDI affiliates on 4 October 2026, so ask any mover about its accreditation and claims handling before you sign.
A quote-comparison platform such as Sirelo can collect several quotes at once; compare them on the same inventory and insurance terms.
Do not cut the insurance to save money: compare the premium with what you would have to replace if something is lost or damaged.
For the rest of your move planning, see our complete guide to moving to the Netherlands and the first year in the Netherlands pillar which covers everything from BSN to setting up utilities once your shipment arrives.
Special Cases Worth Calling Out
Pets
Pets usually travel separately from household goods. Specialist pet relocation companies, for example members of IPATA, handle veterinary documentation, the EU pet passport or health certificate, crating and transport. Ask your household mover whether it offers pet relocation itself or works with a specialist.
For full pet-specific planning, see our pet relocation to the Netherlands guide.
Vehicles
Importing a car to the Netherlands is its own process: BPM (vehicle registration tax), RDW registration and inspection, and for non-EU origins customs formalities. Ask your mover whether it ships cars or works with a vehicle shipper. Compare the total import cost with selling at origin and buying in the Netherlands; see importing your car into the Netherlands.
Art and Antiques
For valuable art, specialist fine-art movers offer climate-controlled transport, condition reports and specialist insurance. For one or two valuable pieces, ask a mainstream mover about proper crating and full-value insurance.
Wine
According to Dutch Customs, you pay import duties on products containing alcohol, such as wine, in your household effects. Ask your mover in advance whether it transports wine and how the declaration is handled.
Avoiding Moving Scams and Disputes
Protect yourself:
Demand a written binding estimate. Not “estimated” — binding, based on a documented inventory.
Avoid paying everything upfront. Agree a payment schedule linked to collection and delivery.
Use a credit card for the deposit where possible, and check with your card issuer what protection applies.
Document everything. Photos of every item before packing, time-stamped. Inventory lists signed and counter-signed.
Keep copies of customs paperwork. Don’t hand the only copy of your documents to the mover.
Verify FIDI membership directly in the FIDI directory, not just on the mover’s site.
Three last points:
- Get more than one quote for identical scope. Prices for the same inventory and dates can differ widely between movers.
- Ask whether a video survey gives a binding quote.
- Pack jewellery, important documents and irreplaceables in your hand luggage, not in the shipment.
External sources: FIDI — find a FIDI affiliate (fidi.org/find-fidi-affiliate) · FIDI — FIDI-FAIM certification (fidi.org/quality/fidi-faim-certification) · Dutch Customs — moving personal things to and from the Netherlands (douane.nl) · Government.nl — informing the municipality of a change of address
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recommend the top 2-3 relocation companies in the Netherlands?
We do not rank movers on our own experience. A verifiable starting point is FIDI accreditation: on 4 October 2026 the Dutch affiliates in the FIDI directory included AGS Global Solutions Netherlands, De Haan Relocation, Gosselin, Santa Fe Relocation Amsterdam, SIRVA B.V. and Voerman International Den Haag. Ask two or three of them for binding quotes on an identical inventory and pick on scope, insurance terms and claims handling rather than on price alone.
How do I check whether a moving company is FIDI accredited?
Search the company name in the 'find a FIDI affiliate' directory on fidi.org rather than relying on a logo on the mover's own website. FIDI also publishes a list of companies that fraudulently claim FIDI membership, linked from the same directory page (checked 4 October 2026). Check the exact legal entity and city: a global brand can be accredited in one country and not in another.
How much does it cost to ship household goods to the Netherlands?
There is no independent published price list for international moves. The price depends on the volume of your goods, the distance and route, the transport mode (road, sea or air), the service level (door-to-door or port-to-port) and the insurance you choose. The only reliable figure is a binding quote based on a survey of your inventory, so ask two or three movers to quote on the same inventory, dates and insurance.
Should I use an international moving company or sell everything and rebuild in the Netherlands?
It depends on how long you plan to stay, whether you are renting furnished, and what your belongings would cost to replace. Compare a binding moving quote with the realistic replacement cost of the items you would actually use in the Netherlands, and ship items that are hard to replace or have personal value.
Do I pay Dutch import duties on my household goods when moving?
If you move from outside the EU, an import declaration is required, and according to Dutch Customs (douane.nl, checked 4 October 2026) your removal company files it and applies for the exemption on your behalf. The exemption applies if, among other conditions, you have lived outside the EU for at least twelve consecutive months and have owned and used the goods for at least six months. It does not cover products containing alcohol, on which you pay import duties, and tobacco products may only be included if they bear valid Dutch excise seals. Check the full conditions on douane.nl.
What insurance do I need when shipping household goods to the Netherlands?
Ask each mover what its standard liability covers, because it can be far below the value of your goods, and whether it offers full-value (replacement) insurance. Check the exclusions in writing, in particular for boxes you packed yourself, and insure all quotes on the same declared value so you can compare them.
How long does international shipping to the Netherlands take?
It depends on the origin, the transport mode and customs clearance. Road moves within Europe are generally quicker than sea freight from other continents. Ask each mover for an estimated door-to-door transit time in writing, including customs clearance and delivery to your address.
When should I book my international move?
As early as you can once you know your dates, especially for intercontinental moves, which involve export and import paperwork on both sides. Ask each mover for its current lead time and whether prices differ by season.