Start earlier than you think
The biggest mistake people make: starting too late. The moment you know your move date, start. Not the week before — now.
Declutter first, pack second.
Before you pack a single box, go through your things. Sort everything into four piles:
Sell — Things with value you no longer need — Marktplaats, Vinted
Give away — Things that still have use but aren't worth selling
Throw away — The rest
Move — What's actually coming with you
Invite a friend over for the give-away round. Put things out and let people take what they want. Whatever's left: take it to the kringloop or bin it. A move is the best reason to finally get rid of stuff you've been keeping for no reason.
On packing.
Once you've decluttered, packing can be enjoyable. You find things you forgot you had. Start straight away — don't wait until the week before.
- → Label every box and bag as you go. You will not remember what's in what.
- → You don't need to buy moving boxes for everything. Supermarket boxes are free. Trash bags work fine for clothes, bedding, and anything non-breakable.
- → Set aside a survival kit — charger, toiletries, a change of clothes, coffee. Don't pack this away.
Sort the admin — before it sorts you
Admin is easy to forget — until it causes problems. Doing it early saves you a lot of stress in the weeks after the move.
Before you move:
Give notice on your current place
Check your contract — most rentals require one month's notice, some require three. Miss the date and you pay for it.
Book your internet
Providers in the Netherlands can take several weeks to install a new connection. Book it the day you know your move date.
Reserve a parking permit or moving lift
Some municipalities require a street permit (straatvergunning) if you block the road. If your new place needs a moving lift, ask your moving company first — many arrange this for you. If not, book it separately.
Around move day:
Update your address with the gemeente
You're legally required to register your new address within 5 days of moving. Do it online via DigiD or bring your passport and rental agreement to the loket.
Notify your utilities
Gas, electricity, water — inform current suppliers of your end date and set up new contracts. Don't let the old ones keep billing you.
Forward your mail
PostNL's mail forwarding service is free and takes five minutes online.
Also: bank, employer, health insurance, DigiD/BRP, GP and dentist if changing area, car insurance, subscriptions.
Moving day
Moving day doesn't have to be the hardest day. It feels that way because you're already tired from weeks of planning. The best thing you can do: don't do it alone.
Get people involved.
Ask friends to help. Most people will show up if you ask directly. Have snacks, drinks, and music. Moving goes faster with people around — and it can actually be a good day. You've earned it.
- → Defrost and drain your fridge and washing machine the night before. Easy to forget, messy if you do.
- → Disassemble large furniture in advance — see the section below.
- → Do a final walkthrough before you leave — windows closed, nothing left behind, appliances off. Take photos.
- → Arrange childcare or pet care if needed.
Furniture disassembly
Taking furniture apart is easy. Finding the right bolt three days later is not.
Many moving companies include disassembly and reassembly — if yours does, skip this. If you're doing it yourself, one thing matters most: keeping all the hardware together.
Label the pieces.
Use paper tape and a marker to label each part as you take things apart — left side, right side, top, which piece of furniture it belongs to. Thirty seconds per part. Saves a lot of confusion later.
Get a bolt organizer.
Plastic bags taped to furniture fall off in the van. A cheap bolt organizer — a few euros — keeps everything in one place. Label each compartment to match the furniture piece.
The moving company
Who you move with matters more than most people expect. You're handing your belongings to strangers on an already stressful day. A company that communicates clearly makes the whole day feel different.
What to look for:
Direct contact — with the people doing the move, not a dispatcher or call centre
A fixed quote upfront — not an hourly estimate that expands on the day
No deposit required — a company that takes payment after the work is done knows they need to earn it
If you're organized — boxes labelled, furniture disassembled, a clear plan — a good moving company will have your new place set up faster than you'd expect.
Once you're in
The move isn't over when the last box arrives. The new place doesn't need to be perfect straight away. Unpack the survival kit first, get the basics working, then go room by room over the next few days.
- → Check that all utilities are correctly transferred and working.
- → Take a meter reading on day one — gas, electricity, water — and keep a copy.
- → Introduce yourself to neighbours, especially in apartment buildings.
- → Confirm your address update with the gemeente if you haven't already.
That's the plan. Follow it and moving day becomes something you can actually look forward to — or at least something you walk away from feeling good about.
If you need a hand with the move itself, we're based in Eindhoven and cover all of Noord-Brabant. Fixed quotes, no deposit, and you deal directly with the people showing up.