Arriving in Cologne: Customer Centre Veedel, KVB
Cologne for newcomers
New on the Rhine: How to Settle In Well in Cologne
The first few weeks
Anyone moving to Cologne arrives in a city of a million people with 9 boroughs and 86 districts, which locals prefer to divide into “Veedel” (neighbourhoods). On the left bank of the Rhine lie Innenstadt, Ehrenfeld, Lindenthal, Nippes, Rodenkirchen and Chorweiler; on the right bank Deutz with the Koelnmesse exhibition centre and the boroughs of Kalk, Mülheim and Porz. With around 100,000 students, Cologne is one of Germany's largest university cities. This guide sorts out the first weeks: registration, flat-hunting, public transport, nursery and car. We handle the transport as a home removal with packing and furniture assembly.
We are not a Cologne company: we come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and carry out moves to Cologne and back. Your belongings are covered under the HGB (§ 451e: €620 per m³), and additional insurance is available on request. Route and driving time are on the page Moving Berlin – Cologne. The parking restriction zone in front of your new Cologne address must be applied for with the city; we plan the date for it together with you.
Request a Quote for Your Move to Your New Cologne Veedel
Fixed price after a survey, liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB)
Call us on 01625978461 or write to us: after a survey or a video survey you receive a fixed price for your move to Cologne. Whether an old building in the Südstadt or a new build in Deutz – floor, carrying distance and parking restriction are included in the calculation, so there are no surcharges afterwards.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
What We Clarify Before Moving Day in Cologne
Parking restriction, stairwell, date
We come from Berlin and bring your household goods to Cologne. Before moving day we clarify with you whether a parking restriction zone is needed in front of the new address and when it must be applied for with the city, how wide the stairwell and front door are in an old building and whether a furniture lift makes sense. Around Carnival, streets in the city centre are closed; we avoid these days when choosing a date. We set the price after the survey (fixed price), and your belongings are covered under the HGB. Registering at the customer centre remains your appointment – we schedule the move-in so that the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung) is ready in time.
Packing Service
Office Move
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
Six First Steps in Cologne
These tasks come up in the first weeks after moving to Cologne – from the customer centre to nursery pre-registration. Details on deadlines and fees come from the City of Cologne; check the current status before your appointment.
Register within 14 days
Choose a Veedel
Use public transport
Apply for a residents' parking permit
Pre-register for a nursery place
Re-register your car
Shared Load to Cologne
If you are moving to Cologne for your studies or first job with little furniture, you do not have to pay for a whole lorry. With a shared load you use free loading space on a trip towards the Rhineland; we agree the delivery day in advance, and your belongings are covered under the HGB here too.
Cologne
for newcomers
New in Cologne, many questions come up at once: where do I register if the customer centre in my own borough is fully booked? Which Veedel suits my commute? How do I get a residents' parking permit, and how does nursery pre-registration work? We have summarised the City of Cologne's answers below. For the move itself we advise you on schedule, parking restriction and packing so that everything fits on moving-in day in your new Cologne home.
Paperwork in the first few days
Moving into a period building or a new build
Companies, practices and special cases
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Cologne
86 Districts, 9 Boroughs: Finding a Veedel
Cologne is divided into 9 boroughs with 86 districts; in everyday life locals talk about their “Veedel”. On the left bank of the Rhine lies the Innenstadt borough with the Altstadt and Neustadt – the Südstadt around Chlodwigplatz and the Volksgarten belongs to Neustadt-Süd – plus Ehrenfeld, Nippes and Lindenthal with Sülz and Klettenberg near the university. Rodenkirchen adjoins to the south, Chorweiler to the north.
On the right bank lie Deutz with the Koelnmesse and the boroughs of Kalk, Mülheim and Porz. Which Veedel suits you depends above all on your commute: check the light rail and S-Bahn connections before you sign a tenancy agreement.
Flat-Hunting, Studying and Working in Cologne
The Cologne housing market is in demand; we deliberately do not quote reliable rent figures here. Compare offers on several portals, have proof of income and a certificate of no rent arrears (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung) ready and expect many competitors for central locations. Those who stay flexible on district and borough often have a little more choice.
Work and study shape the influx: Ford has plants and a development centre in Cologne, Lufthansa and the chemicals group Lanxess are also headquartered here, plus broadcasters such as WDR and RTL. Alongside the University of Cologne there are TH Köln, the German Sport University and the Academy of Media Arts. We schedule the moving date to match the flat handover.
Moving prices by flat size
Save with our affordable prices: 1-room flat from just €359, 2-room flat from €579, 3-room flat from €909 and 4-room flat from €1,329. For houses and villas there are tailored, individual quotes. We charge long-distance moves at low rates from €3.90/km. Book your free survey now and save real money.
What Determines the Price of a Move to Cologne
- Moving volume: number of boxes and furniture
- Distance: from €3.90/km
- Floor and lift
- Parking restriction zone on site
Further services such as furniture assembly and shared load can add to the price.
Services for Your Move to Cologne
Here you will find all the details of our services.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| House clearance | House clearance including disposal and final cleaning. |
| Shared load | A shared load for smaller transport volumes. |
| Move with assembly | A move with assembly with an on-site assembly service. |
| Furniture transport | Furniture transport with suitable vehicle sizes. |
| Home removal | A home removal tailored to you. |
| Company relocation | A company relocation with minimal disruption to day-to-day business. |
From Berlin-Moabit to Cologne – and Back
We come from Berlin-Moabit and carry out moves to Cologne as well as in the opposite direction. Further destinations with their own page are in the locations overview, long routes under long-distance moves.
Registering in Cologne: Customer Centres, Online Portal and Appointment Rules
According to the City of Cologne, anyone moving to Cologne must register within 14 days of moving in. Registration is free of charge. You can do it online via the Gemeinsam-Online portal without visiting in person; the city sends the address sticker for your ID card by post. Alternatively, go to a customer centre of your choice, regardless of where you live. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays an appointment is required; on Mondays and Wednesdays you can come without one but should expect a wait. Book appointments online or via the citizens' hotline on 115.
- The earliest registration date is the moving-in date on the landlord confirmation; it must not lie in the future.
- Bring: ID card, a passport if applicable, for foreign nationals a national passport and residence documents, plus the landlord confirmation within two weeks of moving in. A tenancy agreement is not enough.
- Families need the IDs of everyone moving; for minors moving with only one parent, the consent of the other person with parental responsibility is required.
- Moving from abroad: original certificates with a certified translation; you must appear in person. Within Germany an authorised person may register you.
You re-register your car separately at the vehicle registration office. Further information on neighbourhoods and costs is in our Cologne guide.
Everyday Life in Cologne: Residents' Parking Permit and Nursery Pre-Registration
If you live in a Cologne residents' parking area and have no private parking space, you can apply for a residents' parking permit. According to the City of Cologne, you need a main or secondary residence in the area, a valid driving licence and a vehicle of class M1, M1G or L. Bring the registration certificate part I and your ID card or passport. For 12 months the city quotes fees of between €100 and €120, depending on vehicle length. You can apply online (the permit arrives as a PDF by email) or at a customer centre, for example in Ehrenfeld, Lindenthal or Rodenkirchen, where it is issued immediately.
For children aged 1 to 6, a municipal nursery place is pre-registered, according to the City of Cologne, online via the KiTa-Portal Köln (portal-koeln.little-bird.de) or in writing at the chosen facility. Pre-registration is possible before the move; however, a place is only offered if at least one parent is registered with their main residence in Cologne. Since 1 August 2013, children have had a legal right to a childcare place from their first birthday.
Handy: for registration you may choose any customer centre; it does not have to be in your new borough. How we support your move within the city is described on the page Moving Cologne.
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