Shipping Your Belongings to the Netherlands from the US

We shipped 8 boxes from the US to the Netherlands. It cost $1,800 and took 9 weeks.

In hindsight, we should have shipped 3 boxes and saved $1,200.

Half of what we shipped, we ended up selling or donating.

Here is everything we learned about international shipping -- the options, the costs, and the mistakes to avoid.

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Should You Ship at All?

Before you research shipping companies, ask yourself honestly: is the cost of shipping this item less than the cost of replacing it in the Netherlands?

For most things, the answer is no.

The Netherlands has IKEA, Bol.com (Dutch Amazon), Action (cheap household goods), HEMA (basics), and plenty of secondhand options on Marktplaats. You can furnish an apartment for 1,500-2,500 EUR buying everything new.

Ship if:

• The item is irreplaceable (sentimental value)
• It costs significantly more to replace than to ship
• It is professional equipment you need for your Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) business
• It is medication or specialty items unavailable in the Netherlands
• Favorite spices and hot sauce (surprisingly hard to find the same brands)
• A quality winter coat (you will need it)

Do not ship:

• Furniture (will not fit Dutch apartments -- narrow staircases, smaller rooms)
• Kitchen appliances (110V vs 220V)
• Bedding (Dutch bed sizes are different)
• Most books (buy a Kindle)
• Anything you can get at IKEA for less than the shipping cost

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Shipping Methods Compared

Sea Freight: Shared Container (Best Value)

How it works: Your boxes share container space with other shipments.

Timeline: 6-10 weeks door-to-door

Cost: $150-250 per cubic meter. A typical personal shipment of 5-10 boxes runs $800-2,000.

Best for: Larger shipments where time is not critical.

This is what we used. Our 8 boxes (roughly 3 cubic meters) cost $1,800 including insurance.

Sea Freight: Full Container

How it works: You rent an entire shipping container (20ft or 40ft).

Timeline: 4-8 weeks

Cost: $3,000-6,000 for a 20ft container, $5,000-9,000 for a 40ft.

Best for: Household moves with furniture. Not typical for DAFT movers.

Reality Check: If you are shipping enough to fill a container, you are probably shipping too much. Most DAFT movers do not need more than a shared container or even just extra luggage.

Air Freight (Fastest)

How it works: Your boxes fly cargo on commercial or dedicated freight flights.

Timeline: 5-10 business days

Cost: $8-15 per kg. A 30kg box runs $240-450.

Best for: Urgent items, valuable items, small shipments.

We air-shipped one box of documents and essential work equipment. It cost $320 for 25kg and arrived in 7 days.

Luggage Shipping Services

How it works: Companies like Send My Bag or LugLess ship your packed suitcases or boxes.

Timeline: 5-14 business days

Cost: $100-300 per bag/box

Best for: A few extra bags beyond your airline allowance.

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Step-by-Step: How to Ship

1. Decide What to Ship

Make a list. Be ruthless. For guidance on what is worth bringing, see what to pack moving to the Netherlands.

2. Get Multiple Quotes

Contact at least 3 shipping companies. We recommend:

• International Van Lines
• UPakWeShip
• Seven Seas Worldwide
• Send My Bag (for smaller shipments)

Request quotes for the same volume and weight so you can compare fairly.

3. Understand What the Quote Includes

This is where surprises happen. Ask specifically about:

• Door-to-door vs port-to-port: Door-to-door means they pick up at your US address and deliver to your Dutch address. Port-to-port means you handle both ends yourself.
• Insurance: Usually not included in the base quote. Add it. We paid $150 for $5,000 coverage.
• Customs clearance: Some companies handle Dutch customs. Others leave it to you.
• Delivery to your apartment: If you live on the 3rd floor with no elevator (common in the Netherlands), there may be a surcharge.

What We Wish We Knew: Our initial quote of $900 did not include insurance, customs clearance, or delivery above the ground floor. The final bill was $1,800. Always ask for the all-in price.

4. Pack Properly

Use sturdy boxes. International shipping is rough on packages. Double-box fragile items.

Create a detailed inventory list. You need this for customs. List every item in every box with estimated values.

Number your boxes. Write contents on the outside. Take photos of everything packed.

Weight limits: Most shipping companies have a maximum weight per box (usually 30-50 lbs). Overweight fees are steep.

5. Customs and Import Rules

When your shipment arrives in the Netherlands, it goes through Dutch customs.

Personal effects exemption: If you are moving to the Netherlands (not just visiting), your personal belongings are generally exempt from import duties and VAT. This is called a "household goods exemption."

Requirements for the exemption:

• Items must be for personal use, not commercial
• You must have owned them for at least 6 months
• You must be establishing residency in the Netherlands
• You need proof of residency (rental contract, BSN number)

Items that are NOT exempt:

• New items purchased for the move
• Alcohol and tobacco above small limits
• Commercial goods or business inventory
• Motor vehicles (separate process)

Pro Tip: Keep receipts for everything you ship. If customs questions a value, having proof makes the process much faster.

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What We Shipped and What It Cost

Here is our actual shipping breakdown:

Item	Boxes	Weight	Shipping Cost	Worth It?
Clothes	2	25kg	$400	Yes
Books	2	30kg	$450	No
Sentimental items	1	8kg	$200	Yes
Kitchen items	1	12kg	$225	Maybe
Work equipment	1	10kg	$275	Yes
Misc household	1	15kg	$250	No
Total	8	100kg	$1,800

If we could do it again, we would ship the clothes, sentimental items, and work equipment. That is 3 boxes for about $875.

The books sit unread on a shelf. The kitchen items were replaceable. The misc household box was pure sentimentality that we could have photographed and let go.

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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Add at least 20% to any shipping quote for costs that aren't in the base price:

Cost	Amount
Shipping quote	$1,500
Packing materials	$60
Insurance	$90
Delivery to 3rd floor	$150
Total	$1,800

These add up fast. Always ask for the all-in price before committing.

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Timeline: When to Start

8-10 weeks before your flight: Get quotes and book sea freight. This gives your shipment time to arrive around when you do.

4-6 weeks before: Ship boxes. Sea freight takes 6-10 weeks, so if you ship 6 weeks before flying, your stuff arrives 0-4 weeks after you.

2 weeks before: Ship any air freight items.

Day of travel: Bring essentials in your luggage. You need to survive 1-4 weeks without your shipped belongings.

For an alternative approach to shipping, read about selling everything vs. shipping.

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Common Mistakes

Shipping furniture: It will not fit. Dutch apartments have narrow staircases and smaller rooms. We shipped a bookcase that physically could not get through the apartment door. We ended up selling it at a loss.

Under-insuring: Our shipment was worth about $4,000 in replacement value. We almost skipped the $150 insurance. Get it.

Overweight boxes: We had two boxes over the weight limit. Overweight fees: $400. Repack before pickup.

Not labeling clearly: Dutch customs opened two of our boxes for inspection. The ones with clear inventory lists went through fast. The vaguely labeled one took an extra week.

Shipping too early: Your stuff arrives before you have an apartment. Now you are paying for storage. Time your shipment so it arrives after you have a Dutch address.

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The Bottom Line

Ship less than you think you need. Get multiple quotes. Ask for all-in pricing. Insure everything. And accept that you will buy new things in the Netherlands -- that is part of starting fresh.

For most people: Bring 4-6 suitcases, ship nothing. Buy at IKEA and Marktplaats.

If you must ship: 2-4 boxes of truly important items, shipped by shared sea container, insured, with door-to-door service. Total cost: $600-1,200.

What we'd do differently: 4 suitcases and 2 boxes. $300 instead of $1,800.

Everything else? Sell it, donate it, or say goodbye. For total moving costs, check out how much money you need for DAFT.

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We're not immigration lawyers -- just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.