By Rens Kleijmeer, Commercial Director at Windmill Forwarding with over 10 years of experience in the international moving industry · July 2026
More Americans than ever are exploring a move to Europe, and the Netherlands is high on the list. A record share of Americans tell Gallup they would move abroad permanently if they could. Among women under 45 it is now 40%, four times the level of a decade ago. The Netherlands is feeling it: according to Dutch statistics office CBS, the number of Americans living here grew from about 60,000 to almost 79,000 in just five years. Whatever your reasons, one practical question always follows the decision: how do I get my household across the Atlantic? In this guide we cover the essentials: paperwork, shipping, costs and customs. Plus the one thing nobody warns you about: Dutch housing.
Why 2026 is the year of the American move
The numbers tell the story. What marketplace enrollees pay for health insurance rose by an average of 114% in 2026 after enhanced subsidies expired, according to health policy institute KFF. Remote work has made location optional for many professionals. And the Netherlands offers something rare for American entrepreneurs: the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), a residence permit requiring an investment of just €4,500. The permit is initially valid for two years and renewable for five after that. Add safety, healthcare and English-friendly daily life, and the appeal is clear.
Relocation specialists see the same trend. In a recent conversation with Bethany Quinn of GTFO Tours, who helps Americans explore a life abroad, exactly this question kept coming back: not whether to move, but how to organise it practically.
Start with the paperwork before you plan the move
Your residence permit determines your moving date, not the other way around. Employees typically arrive on a highly skilled migrant permit arranged by their employer; entrepreneurs often use DAFT; EU-citizens need nothing at all. We are movers, not immigration advisors, so check the IND (Dutch immigration service) for current requirements. Our advice from practice: only book your shipping date once your permit timeline is clear, and allow more margin in summer, the busiest moving season.
What to ship across the Atlantic (and what to leave behind)
The golden rule: ship what is valuable to you, not what is cheap to replace.
- Furniture and personal belongings: usually worth shipping. Quality furniture costs more to replace than to ship, especially with groupage (you pay only for the space you use).
- American appliances: think twice. The US runs on 110V, the Netherlands on 230V. Most large appliances are not worth converting.
- Cars: yes. Importing your car from the US to the Netherlands works well, and it can even enter free of duties and taxes if you have owned and used it for at least six months and lived outside the Netherlands for at least a year. (Fun fact for later: the reverse move is a different story, as the US only admits vehicles that conform to DOT/EPA standards, or classics over 25 years old.)
- The rest: downsizing before an intercontinental move nearly always pays for itself.
Because volumes from a first US household are often modest, groupage, sharing container space with other shipments, is usually the most economical option. You pay per cubic meter, not for a whole container.
What does moving from the US to the Netherlands cost?
Every move is different, but as a rule of thumb transatlantic moves are in line with our published averages: a groupage shipment (you share container space) from around €5,000, a dedicated 20ft container around €10,000 and a 40ft container around €15,000. These are indicative figures based on average quoted prices; no rights can be derived from them. The real driver is volume: ship less, pay less. For the full picture see our overview of international moving costs, and for a precise figure request a free quote based on your actual volume.
Good news at customs: your household goods usually enter duty-free
When you relocate your primary residence to the Netherlands, your used household goods can generally be imported free of import duties and VAT under the removal goods exemption. The main conditions: you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, you have owned and used your belongings for at least 6 months, you import them within 12 months of your arrival, and you keep using them (no selling or lending for 12 months after clearance). Our customs specialists prepare and file this paperwork as part of the move, so your container clears without surprises. This is exactly the step where doing it yourself gets expensive: one form error can mean weeks of delay and unexpected charges.
The catch nobody warns you about: Dutch housing
The Netherlands has a housing shortage of roughly 384,000 homes (2026 figures), and rentals in the big cities attract dozens to hundreds of applicants. Many newcomers spend their first weeks in temporary accommodation while house-hunting. Our practical solution: ship your goods when it suits you, and let them wait safely in temporary storage at our warehouse near The Hague. The moment you sign your rental contract, we deliver, unpack and assemble. You skip the double stress of coordinating a transatlantic shipment and a Dutch housing search on the same deadline.
And because finding the home itself is half the battle: our sister company Lindy Nikken Real Estate specialises in helping internationals rent or buy a home throughout the Netherlands. They can even start the search while you are still in the US.
One partner from coast to coast
A move from the US to the Netherlands involves packing and pickup on the American side, handled by our long-standing US partner Schumacher Cargo Logistics (a partner for over ten years), followed by ocean freight, Dutch customs clearance and local delivery: the 16 steps of an overseas move in reverse. As a FIDI-certified company we coordinate all of them, with one Move Coordinator as your single point of contact. Curious how that works? See our international moving service or contact us; we’re happy to think along.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a move from the US to the Netherlands take?
Count on roughly six to ten weeks door to door, depending on your departure region and whether you choose groupage or a dedicated container. This is an indication based on our experience; no rights can be derived from it, as sailing schedules and customs processing vary.
Do I pay import duties on my household goods?
Usually not: when relocating your primary residence to the Netherlands, used household goods generally qualify for the removal goods exemption. Conditions apply; our customs specialists arrange the application as part of your move.
I don’t have a Dutch home yet. Should I wait before shipping?
No. You can ship when it suits you and use temporary storage in our warehouse near The Hague. We deliver as soon as your new home is available, a common approach given the Dutch housing shortage.