Moving to Antwerp: Costs Process & Districts

Since 2025 the city of Antwerp has been divided into ten districts, including Antwerpen-Stad, Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne, Hoboken, Wilrijk, Merksem and, the newest, Borsbeek. Zurenborg, with its Art Nouveau houses on the Cogels-Osylei, and the Zuid, with museums and studios, are among the sought-after residential areas. On the Eilandje, the former port district with the MAS museum, lofts have been created in old warehouses. Berchem has a station with good connections, while Linkeroever on the other bank of the Scheldt is quieter.

Borgerhout and Deurne are close to the city centre and more mixed. The historic centre around the cathedral and the Grote Markt is touristy but offers short distances. For the removal service, the exact address counts in every district: we clarify street width, floor and stairs with you in advance.

With more than 500,000 inhabitants, Antwerp is the largest city in Flanders; the Port of Antwerp is considered the second-largest seaport in Europe. Add to this chemicals and logistics around the port, the diamond industry in the quarter by Central Station and the fashion scene around the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The official language is Dutch.

The University of Antwerp attracts students and skilled workers. Brussels and the Netherlands can be reached directly by train, and for commuters the proximity to Antwerpen-Centraal or Berchem matters most. The city centre and Linkeroever lie within the low-emission zone (LEZ); if you bring a car, check its eligibility in advance. How high rents currently are in your preferred district is best checked on current property portals – we do not give fixed average values here. Everyday life is described in our guide Living in Antwerp.

For a personal quote, arrange a free survey.

The moving price depends primarily on the volume and the distance, which we calculate at €3.85/km. Further factors are the floor, a possible lift and a parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone). Furniture assembly and shared load can also be booked as options.

For your move to Antwerp you can book these services individually or together:

1. Furniture transport – for individual pieces of furniture or entire flats.
2. Move with assembly – including assembly and dismantling.
3. Home removal – personal and reliable.
4. Company relocation – without interrupting business.
5. House clearance – fast and discreet.
6. Shared load – the cost-effective choice.

For long-distance moves we plan the route, driving times and overnight stay from Berlin (Stromstraße 21). Details can be found under Long-distance moves, and places with their own pages in the locations overview.

If the removal van is to stand directly outside the building in Antwerp, according to the city of Antwerp you need a permit for a temporary parking ban (tijdelijk parkeerverbod). You apply online with a city A-profile. You also need a means of payment (payment app, card reader or bank card); the city recommends opening the application on a laptop or PC in the Google Chrome browser. The permit applies to loading and unloading; parking remains prohibited.

Important for your planning:

• Deadline: under the standard procedure the application must be received no later than 5 working days before the start (the day of application counts, the day of the parking ban does not). Under the express procedure it is 2 working days in advance and before 9:00.
• Signs: the city puts up the traffic signs 2 days before the start and notes the registration numbers of parked cars. Putting up signs yourself is not permitted.
• Costs: according to the city, a new parking ban costs at least €65, or at least €132 under the express procedure. The administration fee is €33 (express procedure €100), plus €4 per space (6 metres) per day, at least €32.
• Changes and cancellation: from 5 working days before the start, the application can no longer be changed. Cancellation by email is possible at least 3 working days before the start date, in which case the variable part of the costs is refunded.

On public holidays and bridge days the responsible department is closed and does not process applications, so schedule the moving date with a buffer. How we organise the Berlin side is explained under Parking restriction zone.

According to the city's "Slim naar Antwerpen" portal, Antwerp's city centre and Linkeroever form a lage-emissiezone (LEZ, low-emission zone). The most polluting vehicles may not enter, and foreign vehicles must also comply with the local rules. So check the registration number of the removal vehicle on the portal before the journey. Some vehicles must be registered free of charge, no later than one day after entering the zone. The same applies to buying an authorisation or an LEZ day pass.

After moving in, these points apply:

• Address registration: anyone moving to or within Antwerp must, according to the city, report the new address online within 8 working days. This is mandatory; after approval you are registered at the new address. If you are coming from Germany, clarify with the city in advance which procedure applies to your move.
• Residents' parking card: with the residents' parking permit (bewonerskaart) you park free of charge in your residents' zone, according to the city. You apply for, renew or change it via the city.

On customs: according to German customs, you can bring goods duty-free from any EU country if they are intended for your personal use or consumption; cash of €10,000 or more must be declared if you are asked. Customs' special rules for removal goods concern moves from non-EU countries, not from EU states. The process at the border is described in our guide Moving to Belgium: customs, formalities and process. The route from Berlin can be found in the long-distance moving guide for Antwerp.