What to Pack and What to Leave When Moving to the NL

We agonized over packing. We made lists. We revised lists. We argued about what qualified as "essential."

Then we got to the Netherlands and realized we packed too much, forgot important things, and shipped stuff we never used again.

Here is what we learned, so you can pack smarter than we did.

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The Golden Rule

If you can buy it at IKEA, Albert Heijn, or Bol.com (Dutch Amazon), do not pack it. Seriously.

The Netherlands has everything you need. The things worth packing are items that are hard to find, expensive to replace, or emotionally irreplaceable.

Everything else is dead weight and shipping costs.

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What to Pack: The Yes List

Documents (Carry-On, Always)

• Passport (valid 6+ months)
• Apostilled birth certificate
• Apostilled FBI background check
• Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) application documents
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Copies of all documents (paper and digital -- make 3 copies of apostilled documents, getting new ones from abroad is a pain)
• US driver's license (useful for the first 6 months)
• Health insurance cards and medical records
• Prescription information and letters from your doctor
• Vaccination records
• Tax returns (last 3 years -- you may need these for various applications)

Pro Tip: Scan everything and store it in cloud storage. We had physical copies in our carry-on AND digital copies in Google Drive. When one landlord needed documents at 10pm, we emailed them instantly.

Clothes (Pack for All Seasons)

• Rain jacket (good quality, you will wear it constantly)
• Warm winter coat (Dutch winters are damp and windy, not just cold)
• Layering pieces -- sweaters especially (the weather changes 4 times a day, and you will wear sweaters constantly)
• Comfortable walking/biking shoes (waterproof preferred)
• Rain boots (worth packing if you have a pair you like)
• One set of nicer clothes for KVK appointments and client meetings
• Enough basics for 2 weeks without laundry

Leave behind: Anything you have not worn in 6 months. Heavy winter parkas (Dutch cold is wet, not arctic). Excessive shoes (storage is tiny). Lots of formal clothes (Dutch culture is casual).

Electronics

• Laptop and charger
• Phone and charger (make sure it is unlocked for a Dutch SIM)
• European plug adapters (get 4-6 -- we brought 2 and needed 6)
• External hard drive with important files
• Noise-canceling headphones (apartments have thin walls)
• E-reader (English books are expensive here)

What We Wish We Knew: Most modern electronics (laptops, phone chargers) are dual-voltage and work with just a plug adapter. But older appliances like hair dryers, curling irons, and electric razors may only handle 110V. Check before you pack -- a 110V appliance in a 220V outlet will burn out or start a fire.

Medications and Health

• 3-6 month supply of any prescription medications plus a letter from your doctor
• Glasses (2 pairs -- getting new ones takes time)
• Contact lenses (3-6 month supply)
• Some US medications are available here under different names. Some are not.

Sentimental Items

• Photo albums or framed photos
• Small keepsakes that cannot be replaced
• A favorite book or two (not twenty)
• Family items with emotional value

This is the one category where we say: if it matters to you, bring it. No amount of money saved is worth leaving behind something irreplaceable.

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What to Leave Behind: The No List

Furniture

Just do not. Dutch apartments are smaller, doorways are narrower, and staircases are steeper. We shipped a bookcase. It did not fit through the door. We sold it on Marktplaats at a loss.

Buy at IKEA when you arrive. Everyone does.

Kitchen Appliances

Your blender, KitchenAid, coffee maker -- they all run on 110V. You would need a voltage converter, and converters for high-wattage appliances are expensive and unreliable. Buy new in the Netherlands.

Exception: Instant Pot with dual voltage. Check the label.

Books (Most of Them)

We shipped two boxes of books. We read five of fifty. Ship your absolute favorites, get a Kindle for the rest. Bol.com and the English-language bookshop The American Book Center are great for physical books.

Large Electronics

TV, desktop computer, gaming console -- all cheaper to buy here than to ship. Plus, voltage issues.

Excess Bedding and Towels

Dutch bed sizes are different (most beds are 140cm or 160cm wide, not standard US queen). Your US sheets probably will not fit. Towels are cheap at IKEA or HEMA.

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The Maybe List (Case by Case)

Specialty food items: Certain American products are hard to find or expensive. Ranch dressing, specific hot sauces, peanut butter brands. Pack a few favorites if they are important to you.

Professional equipment: Camera gear, musical instruments, art supplies. If you need it for your DAFT business, bring it.

Workout gear: Resistance bands, yoga mat, running shoes. Gym memberships run 20-50 EUR/month, but home workout gear is light and worth packing.

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What to Buy When You Arrive

You do not need to bring everything. Here is what to pick up in the Netherlands:

Week 1:

• Bike (100-200 EUR used)
• Bike lock (40-80 EUR -- get a good one)
• Extra adapters if you need more

Once you have an apartment:

• Bed and mattress (IKEA: 200-500 EUR)
• Wardrobe -- most Dutch apartments do not have built-in closets (IKEA: 100-300 EUR)
• Pots, pans, dishes (IKEA: 100 EUR)
• Bedding in Dutch sizes (IKEA: 50-100 EUR)

Total setup cost: 1,000-2,000 EUR buying new. Save 50-70% by buying used on Marktplaats.

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Climate Reality

Pack accordingly:

• Winter (Nov-Mar): 0-10 C (32-50 F), rainy, gray
• Summer (Jun-Aug): 18-25 C (64-77 F), mild

It rains 200+ days per year. Pack waterproof everything.

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Packing Strategy

Checked Luggage Strategy

Most airlines allow 2 checked bags on international flights. Some allow more for a fee. Max this out before paying for shipping.

Two-bag system that works:

• Bag 1: Clothes and shoes
• Bag 2: Electronics, documents, sentimental items, specialty items

Ship Only What Does Not Fit in Luggage

If you have items worth shipping, keep it minimal. For detailed guidance, read our shipping belongings to the Netherlands guide.

Sell or Donate the Rest

We had a huge yard sale, donated to Goodwill, and gave things to friends. It was emotionally harder than we expected, but it freed us. For our personal story on this decision, see selling everything vs. shipping.

Reality Check: You will buy new stuff in the Netherlands. You will develop new preferences. The Dutch minimalist lifestyle is real, and after a few months, you will wonder why you ever owned so much.

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The 30-Day Countdown

Start packing 30 days before your move:

• Day 30: Final decision on what to ship vs. pack vs. leave
• Day 21: Ship anything going by sea freight
• Day 14: Sell or donate remaining items
• Day 7: Pack your checked luggage
• Day 3: Pack your carry-on with documents and essentials
• Day 1: Triple-check documents, medications, and electronics

For the complete pre-move timeline, see our 30-day pre-departure checklist.

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What We Wish We Had Packed

Looking back, these are the things we wish we had brought:

• More of our favorite spices (Dutch supermarkets have limited selection for American cooking)
• Our comfortable office chair (we spent 400 EUR replacing it)
• A good rain jacket from day one (we bought a cheap one that leaked within a week)
• Our cast iron skillet (surprisingly hard to find a good one here)
• More adapters (brought 2, needed 6)
• Extra glasses

And what we wish we had left behind:

• 45 of our 50 books
• The bookcase
• A "nice" throw blanket (IKEA has identical ones for 15 EUR)
• Three pairs of shoes we have never worn here

Pack light. Pack smart. You will be fine.

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