Arnhem: Registration Housing and Daily Life on the Rhine

As in many Dutch cities, the housing market in Arnhem is tight; we do not quote specific rents, because we have no reliable current source. In demand are the older neighbourhoods north of the city centre such as the Spijkerkwartier, with houses from the 19th century, and Klarendal with the Modekwartier. In the east lies Presikhaaf, where the HAN university also has its campus.

South of the Rhine lies Arnhem-Zuid with Malburgen, Elderveld, De Laar and the new-build district of Schuytgraaf, which is served by Arnhem Zuid station. Important for newcomers: an early appointment with the Gemeente and contact with estate agents and housing portals make the search considerably easier.

According to Wikipedia, well-known companies and institutions in Arnhem include the grid operator Alliander, Essent, Arcadis, CITO, DEKRA and TÜV Rheinland; one of the largest employers is the Rijnstate hospital with around 5,000 employees. As the capital, Arnhem is home to the provincial government of Gelderland and the Rechtbank Gelderland (district court). Students will find the HAN University of Applied Sciences and the ArtEZ art school.

Quality of life shows in the location on the southern edge of the Veluwe, around 30 parks and culture from the Openluchtmuseum to Burgers' Zoo. In local transport, Arnhem is the only city in the Benelux to run trolleybuses, plus four railway stations: Centraal, Velperpoort, Presikhaaf and Zuid. The proximity to Germany makes visits back home straightforward.

For a tailored fixed-price quote, arrange a free survey.

The price of your move depends largely on the volume of your household goods, the distance (from €3.95/km), the floor and whether there is a lift. A required parking restriction zone can also affect the total cost. Extra services such as furniture assembly or a shared load are charged separately.

Services we offer

These services can be combined with your move to Arnhem.

• House clearance (house clearance) – clearing out before moving out
• Shared load (shared load) – flexible and affordable
• Company relocation (company relocation) – for businesses of any size
• Furniture transport (furniture transport) – safely packed and transported
• Home removal (home removal) – personal and individual
• Move with assembly (move with assembly) – dismantling and reassembly included

We set off from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and drive to the Netherlands – to Arnhem it is around 619 km. The route and process are described in the guide to moving to Arnhem; more under locations and long-distance moves.

If you move to Arnhem from abroad and stay in the Netherlands for at least four months, you must register within five days of arrival, according to the Gemeente Arnhem. You book the appointment online via the municipality's appointment page (service ‘Eerste inschrijving’).

For the appointment you need:

• a valid ID or residence permit and a valid travel document or other proof of nationality
• proof of your new address, for example the tenancy agreement
• original foreign certificates (birth or marriage certificate) with the necessary legalisations and translations
• details of your partner and children if they are moving with you

According to the Gemeente, registration is completed within four weeks. You then receive written confirmation with your citizen service number (BSN) and can check the data on mijnoverheid.nl. Citizens from outside the EU first need approval from the IND immigration service. If you stay less than four months, you still need a BSN. In that case you register in one of the 19 municipalities with a registration desk for non-residents (RNI). As of: October 2026.

If you are already registered in the Netherlands, you report a move to Arnhem no earlier than four weeks before and no later than five days after the moving date. The municipality processes the report within five working days. Late reports can affect, for example, rent allowance, student finance or a parking permit. An appointment is required at the counter; the contact number is 0800-1809.

Practical information on the route and process is gathered in the guide to the long-distance move to Arnhem.

Much of daily life in Arnhem revolves around the Afvalpas (waste pass). Every household has one; it is linked to the address and, according to the Gemeente Arnhem, opens the containers for kitchen and garden waste (GFE) at high-rise blocks. You also need it at the waste drop-off point (Afvalbrengstation). Leave it in the flat when you move out. If you move in and find no card, according to the Gemeente you receive a new one free of charge once. Otherwise a replacement costs €10.50.

For bulky waste (grofvuil), the municipality names two options:

• Collection: two free collections a year with up to 1 m³ per collection, booked via PreZero (website or app). The waste is placed on the public street before 7:30 am on the agreed day. Loose items are bundled (no more than 1.5 m long, 15 kg), and large furniture is dismantled where possible. Accepted items include floor coverings, laminate, old or broken furniture, blinds and large plastic items.
• Bring it yourself: six free drop-offs a year of up to 6 m³ in total, with Afvalpas and ID. Beyond that, the rates per type of waste apply.

Leaving bulky waste next to a container without an appointment is not allowed. The municipality answers questions on 0800-1809. If you are comparing the region, the Living in Apeldoorn guide is the counterpart for the neighbouring city.