Do I need customs formalities for a move to the Netherlands?

No. Because both countries are in the EU, household goods are neither declared to customs nor subject to duties. An inventory list is voluntary. For a car, what matters is registration with the RDW and the possible BPM exemption, not customs. Separate rules apply to commercial goods or weapons; clarify such special cases in advance with the relevant authorities.

How long does a long-distance move to Amsterdam take?

From Berlin-Moabit it is around 658 km via the A2, A30 and A1. By lorry we allow about 9.5 hours including the statutory break; driving time is just under 9 hours. With loading and unloading we therefore plan two days, or more for large households or with a furniture lift. There are no customs.

Do I need to register in Amsterdam?

Yes, if you stay longer than four months: you register in person with the Gemeente Amsterdam within five days of arrival. An appointment is usually needed; book it before you leave if possible. You then receive the BSN, which you need for health insurance, banking and work.

What is a shared load, and is it worthwhile for Amsterdam?

With a shared load , your belongings travel with other consignments towards the Netherlands. This is cheaper than your own lorry, but the delivery day is less fixed. It is often worthwhile for individual pieces of furniture or a room in Amsterdam, but usually not for an entire flat with a fixed moving-in day.

Which documents do I need for the move?

For the municipality you need a valid ID and proof of residence such as a rental contract or deed of purchase, often also a birth or marriage certificate. For a car, the registration certificate and proof of insurance are added. In Berlin you deregister at the registration office (Bürgeramt) before the move, no earlier than one week before moving out.

Are my household goods insured during the move?

We are liable for damage to your belongings under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre of load, including on the Dutch part of the route. For valuable items you can arrange additional insurance . Mention such items during the survey. We will then plan the packing accordingly.

How does registering my car in the Netherlands work?

Anyone living permanently in the Netherlands registers their car with the RDW and receives a Dutch number plate. The BPM registration tax may not apply if you owned and used the car for at least six months before the move. Your German EU driving licence remains valid.

Do you also move in the opposite direction, Amsterdam – Berlin?

Yes. We survey your flat in Amsterdam by video or in person, give you a fixed price and drive the roughly 658 km to Berlin. In Amsterdam you report your departure to the municipality, and in Berlin you register at the registration office (Bürgeramt) within two weeks. We apply to the district office (Bezirksamt) for the parking restriction at the Berlin address.

How far in advance should I book the move?

Allow at least a few weeks' lead time. For reserved parking spaces (TVM), the Gemeente Amsterdam requires an application at least six working days in advance, and appointments at the municipality are often scarce. As soon as the rental contract and handover date are fixed, arrange the survey and loading day with us.

Is there anything special about the housing market in Amsterdam?

The housing market in Amsterdam is in very high demand. You need a fixed address to register, so your home should be secured before the moving date. We do not give figures for rents because they change quickly. If the flat becomes available later, we store your household goods in Berlin in the meantime.

Do you also organise parking restriction zones in Amsterdam?

We clarify with you whether parking spaces should be reserved outside your address via a TVM ; the Gemeente Amsterdam requires an application at least six working days in advance. If a car is still parked in the spaces, the municipality can have it towed. On the Berlin side we apply to the district office (Bezirksamt) for the parking restriction zone .

Since when has the zero-emission zone for lorries and vans applied in Amsterdam?

According to opwegnaarzes.nl, there has been a zero-emission zone in Amsterdam since 1 January 2025. Since that date, municipalities in the Netherlands have been allowed to designate urban areas in which polluting vans and lorries may no longer drive.

Which transitional periods apply to older vans?

According to opwegnaarzes.nl, Euro 5 vans may enter until 1 January 2027, and Euro 6 vans until 1 January 2028. An extension for Euro 6 until 2029 has been decided, but only takes effect once the traffic regulations (RVV) have been amended.

Who grants an exemption permit for the zero-emission zone?

You apply for exemption permits exclusively from the RDW. According to milieuzones.nl, there are websites that charge fees for applications without being official; the only official body is the RDW.

When will I receive my BSN in Amsterdam, and what do I need it for?

According to nederlandwereldwijd.nl, you receive the BSN after registering in the Personal Records Database (BRP) if you do not already have one; it usually arrives within a few weeks. It is a prerequisite for health insurance, a bank account and school enrolment and remains valid for life.

By when must I take out health insurance in the Netherlands?

If you are subject to compulsory insurance in the Netherlands, according to nederlandwereldwijd.nl you must take out basic health insurance within four months of arrival, even with a foreign policy. If you are late, you face a fine and having to pay treatment costs yourself.

STRESS-FREE MOVING

Long-Distance Move Berlin – Amsterdam: Route Registration, Duration

Your long-distance move to Amsterdam: around 658 km from Berlin-Moabit, no customs, but low-emission zones for lorries and short registration deadlines.

Request a Quote

Our Services

Customer Service01625978461

Google · 119 reviews

(5,0/5)

Monday – Friday09:00 – 17:00 Uhr

Red van with a box body on a paved square in front of trees

FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Berlin – Amsterdam

Long-distance move to Amsterdam: 658 km to the canals

Route, zones, deadlines

Unsere Firma drives from Berlin-Moabit via the A2, A30 and the Dutch A1 to the A10 ring road and plans the last few metres around the zones.

A move to Amsterdam first takes you from Berlin almost 300 km along the A2 to Bad Oeynhausen, then via the A30 past Osnabrück to the border at Bad Bentheim. In the Netherlands the lorry stays on the A1 for around 160 km via Deventer and Amersfoort to the A10 ring road. Altogether that is around 658 km, about 9.5 hours by lorry including a break. The real planning begins inside the city: for lorries and vans there is a low-emission zone (milieuzone) and, inside the S100 ring road, a zero-emission zone (zero-emissiezone).

We come from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and take care of packing, transport and reassembly. Before the date we check whether our vehicle may enter the zone at your address and clarify parking and a furniture lift with you. After a survey we give you a fixed price; for your belongings we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre. What moves abroad involve is described on the page International removal.

Sofa wrapped in stretch film, cushions and stacked moving boxes in an empty flat

€50DISCOUNT

LIMITED OFFER

PERSONAL CONSULTATION

Request a fixed price for your move to Amsterdam

Survey in Berlin, planning right to the canal

Arrange the survey for your long-distance move to Amsterdam on 01625978461. We take into account volume, floor, stairwell and the zone of the destination address and then give you a fixed price including the journey and tolls. Whether a furniture lift or a parking reservation via a TVM (temporary traffic measure) is needed will then also be stated in the quote. We set the loading day to match the start of your tenancy.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

Two movers in red T-shirts lifting a film-wrapped piece of furniture into a lorry

FROM BERLIN

What we take on for your move to Amsterdam

Lorry from Berlin, appointment at the municipality by you

We have no branch in the Netherlands; the lorry sets off from Berlin-Moabit. We pack, carry, transport and reassemble, using a furniture lift for narrow stairs. Registration with the municipality (gemeente), the BSN, health insurance and your car you handle yourself – we tell you the deadlines. We clarify with you in good time whether a parking space needs to be reserved via a TVM. Liability under § 451e HGB applies to your belongings; additional insurance is possible for valuables.

Packing Service

We pack crockery, books and electronics for 658 km of motorway and label every box for the rooms in Amsterdam.

Zones checked

Before the journey we check whether our vehicle may enter the low-emission or zero-emission zone at your address in Amsterdam. We choose the vehicle accordingly.

Furniture lift instead of stairs

We get around steep stairs in canal houses with a furniture lift or through the window, if your address in Amsterdam allows it.

Furniture Transport

Single items such as a piano or display cabinet travel padded and secured right into your new home in Amsterdam. We give mirrors and glass extra padding.

FIXED PRICE AFTER A SURVEY

How we plan the route to Amsterdam

The cost of a long-distance move to Amsterdam depends on the volume, floor, stairwell, parking and the roughly 658 km. After the survey we give you a fixed price that includes the journey, tolls and a furniture lift if one is needed.

Arrival day fixed

Loading and delivery days are confirmed in writing so that you can reserve the key handover and parking in Amsterdam to match.

Papers on your side

ID, rental contract and certificates for the municipality belong in your hand luggage, not in the lorry to Amsterdam.

TVM in good time

For reserved parking spaces the municipality requires several working days' notice; we remind you in good time before your move to Amsterdam.

Planned backwards

Working back from moving-in day, we plan the notice period in Berlin, the packing date and the journey so that you arrive in Amsterdam on time.

Storage if there is a gap

If there is a gap between moving out and moving in to Amsterdam, we store in Berlin and deliver later. Even for longer periods.

Ready to move in

Furniture is in place, boxes are in the right rooms – and you have time for your appointment with the Gemeente Amsterdam. Lamps on request.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Move affordably with a part load

Share the cargo space, cut the costs

A shared load to Amsterdam shares the lorry with other consignments to the Netherlands and therefore costs less than your own transport. You need flexibility on the delivery day – suitable if you live in furnished accommodation at first or only individual pieces of furniture are to follow.

Open cargo area of a red lorry with packed furniture, panels and boxes

BERLIN – AMSTERDAM

From
the A1 to the BSN

What a move to the capital involves

A move to Amsterdam involves more than the journey: registration with the municipality, the citizen service number (BSN), Dutch health insurance and, if you have a car, the RDW. Add to this the low-emission zones for lorries and the parking space outside the door. How to choose your district and reserve parking spaces via a TVM is explained in the article Moving to Amsterdam: districts and costs.

Planning safe and relaxed

Plan the first days after arrival for the municipality – with every home removal, senior move or student move to Amsterdam, because registration is due within five days.

Furniture, boxes, transport routes

With our packing service, padded furniture transport and a furniture lift where needed, furniture also gets into canal houses with steep stairs in Amsterdam. We plan the lift in advance.

Costs, timing and special cases

The roughly 658 km have the biggest influence on the cost; tolls, parking and a furniture lift are added. For small quantities a shared load reduces the effort, for businesses a planned company relocation to Amsterdam.

Mover in red workwear pushing a sack truck with a box towards a stack of boxes

MoabitLocation: Stromstraße 21

Google 5.0 (119 reviews)

Two movers in dungarees carrying moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about a long-distance move to Amsterdam

Costs, customs, driving time, registration, parking and the return journey – answered briefly.

The cost depends on the volume, floor, stairwell, parking and the roughly 658 km; a furniture lift is added for narrow canal houses. We do not quote a flat rate for a flat size. The basic prices are in the price list, and after a survey we give you a fixed price. The survey is also possible by video.

No customs, but registration: what Amsterdam involves

The Netherlands is a member of the European Union, so there is no customs declaration and no import duty for your household goods. An inventory list is not mandatory; it helps with unpacking and with liability. If you take a car, you register it with the RDW; the BPM registration tax may not apply if you owned and used the car for at least six months beforehand.

Anyone staying longer than four months registers in person with the Gemeente Amsterdam within five days of arrival and receives the BSN. You need it for your employer, bank and health insurance. What to bring is listed in the section on registration further down; beforehand you deregister in Berlin at the registration office (Bürgeramt).

Route and schedule: Berlin – Amsterdam

From Stromstraße 21 the lorry drives via the A100, A115 and A10 onto the A2, then via the A30 to the border at Bad Bentheim and on the Dutch A1 to Amsterdam. That is around 658 km; at just under 9 hours, pure driving time is right at the daily limit, and with a break it is about 9.5 hours. We therefore usually load the day before and unload on the second day.

The cost depends on the volume, floor, stairwell, parking and distance; we do not quote a flat rate for a flat size. The basic prices are in the list below, and we give you the fixed price after the survey. We include a furniture lift and parking reservation in the quote if they are needed.

Transparent prices for every type of move

Whether small or large – our moving prices are fairly calculated. A 1-room flat moves from €354, a 2-room flat from €599. For 3 rooms costs start from €905, for 4 rooms from €1,344. For a house or villa you always receive an individual quote after a survey. We charge long-distance moves from €3.90/km. Feel free to use our free survey to clarify all the details.

These 5 factors determine your moving price

Volume
Distance (from €3.90/km)
Floor
Lift available or not
Parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone) needed or not

Extra services: furniture assembly, shared load.

Our services for a stress-free move

So your moving day proceeds relaxed, we offer you the following services.

Furniture transport: safe and punctual – furniture transport
Clearance: we tidy up for you – clearance
Company move: for offices and commerce – company move
Part load: the affordable solution – part load
Home move: individual and personal – home move
Move with assembly: handed over fully set up – move with assembly

More routes from Berlin

We plan long-distance moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21), including to the Netherlands. Places with their own pages are shown in the locations overview, and routes on the Long-distance moves page.

Amsterdam: zero-emission zone for vans and lorries

Before the removal van drives into the city, the emission zone should be clarified. According to the government programme "Op weg naar ZES" (opwegnaarzes.nl), Amsterdam has been allowed to operate a zero-emission zone for vans and lorries since 1 January 2025; the site lists Amsterdam with this start date.

The access rules depend on the vehicle. New vans and lorries first registered after 1 January 2025 may only enter if they are emission-free. Transitional periods apply to older vehicles:

Euro 5 vans: until 1 January 2027,
Euro 6 vans: until 1 January 2028,
lorries built before 2017 and vans with Euro 4 or worse: no access.

The government has decided to extend access for Euro 6 vans until 1 January 2029; according to the site, however, this only applies once the traffic regulations (RVV) have been amended. Until then the current rules remain decisive.

An exemption based on the registration number is granted automatically. An exemption permit (ontheffing) you must apply for yourself, exclusively via the RDW; milieuzones.nl warns against websites that charge fees for applications. The emission class and first registration can be checked with the registration number at the RDW. General planning can be found in the Amsterdam moving guide, and the long-distance move service at a glance.

Amsterdam: registration within five days, BSN and health insurance

Anyone staying longer than four months must, according to nederlandwereldwijd.nl, the portal of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, register in person with the municipality within five days of arrival – in Amsterdam, that means the Gemeente Amsterdam. Anyone moving with you also attends in person with a valid ID. An appointment is usually needed and there may be waiting times, so book before you leave if possible. Anyone who is late risks a fine.

You should bring a valid ID and proof of residence, i.e. a rental contract, deed of purchase or the consent of the main occupant. Municipalities often also require birth or marriage certificates; ask for the list in advance.

After registration you receive the citizen service number (BSN) if you do not already have one. According to the site, it arrives within a few weeks, depending on the municipality. You need it for health insurance, a bank account and school enrolment. You can only apply for a DigiD after registering in the BRP. If you are obliged to have it, Dutch basic health insurance must be taken out within four months of arrival, even if you have a foreign policy.

Help for newcomers is offered by IN Amsterdam, the point of contact for internationals; according to iamsterdam.com there is a free helpdesk there. Read more about everyday life in our guide Living in Amsterdam.

Moving Abroad

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 19, 2026

Back to Blog

Moving Abroad Long-Distance Move Amsterdam

Moving to Amsterdam: Costs, Process & Districts

City Guides