By Rens Kleijmeer, Commercial Director at Windmill Forwarding with over 10 years of experience in the international moving industry · November 2026
It is one of the most common questions we get from clients moving to the Netherlands, or returning after years abroad: “My belongings can come, but I don’t have a home yet. What now?” That situation is the rule rather than the exception. In this article we explain why, how temporary storage works and what to watch out for so you don’t miss any deadlines.
Why your belongings and your new home rarely arrive at the same time
The Netherlands has a housing shortage of roughly 384,000 homes (ABF Research forecast, 2026). The shortage is slowly shrinking, but anyone searching from abroad still competes with many other house hunters. Renting temporarily as a stopgap has also become harder: since 1 July 2024 a permanent rental contract is the norm, and temporary contracts are only allowed in specific situations.
Meanwhile, your move keeps going. An overseas shipment typically takes six to twelve weeks door to door, depending on the destination. Waiting to book until you have a key often means weeks or months without your own things. Temporary storage separates those two timelines.
How temporary storage works
- Your shipment arrives and clears customs. Our customs specialists handle the import, as with every move.
- Your belongings go to our warehouse near The Hague, where they are checked and stored, packed as they were shipped.
- You look for a home without pressure. There is no maximum storage period: some shipments stay with us for a month, others for a few years.
- Once you have the key, we deliver. Our moving team unloads, unpacks and places your furniture in the right rooms. A handyman can assemble furniture on request.
Storage in our own warehouse is step 11 of the 16 steps of an overseas move. It is not a separate service from a third party: your shipment stays with one company and one point of contact from departure to delivery.
Please note: storage is not insured automatically. Through our all-risk moving insurance you can also cover the storage period, at 0.10% of the insured value per month. For household goods insured at €50,000, that is €50 per month.
Not self-storage, and therefore more affordable
With self-storage you rent your own unit and walk in and out yourself. We work differently: your belongings stay packed in our warehouse, exactly as they arrived. If you need something in between, that is possible once or twice by arrangement. In return you get two advantages. You only pay for the volume of your shipment, not for a unit with empty space. And your belongings don’t need an extra move: they go straight from the container into our warehouse and from there to your new home. That usually makes storage with us more affordable than self-storage.
Mind the 12-month customs window
When you relocate your primary residence to the Netherlands, your used household goods can be imported free of import duties and VAT, subject to conditions. One of them: you import your belongings within 12 months of your own arrival in the Netherlands. In addition, you must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and have owned and used your belongings for at least 6 months. That gives you room to manoeuvre: you can come first and have your belongings follow later, or ship straight away and store them here. Just plan your shipment so it is imported within that window. We are happy to help you find the most practical order.
Returning Dutch: registering without a permanent address
If you are a Dutch national returning after a period abroad and you will stay in the Netherlands for more than four months, you need to register in the Personal Records Database (BRP). No permanent address yet? You can request a correspondence address (briefadres) from the municipality. Rules differ per municipality, so contact the municipality where you will live in good time. More practical tips in our article on returning to the Netherlands.
Help finding a home
Storage solves the waiting, but of course you also want a home quickly. Our sister company Lindy Nikken Real Estate helps people moving to the Netherlands from abroad rent or buy a home throughout the country, and can start searching while you still live abroad. Moving from the US? Also read our guide on moving from the US to the Netherlands.
What does temporary storage cost?
Storage costs €8 per m³ per month excluding VAT (€9.68 including 21% VAT), with a minimum of one month. A shipment of 10 m³, roughly the contents of a small apartment, therefore costs €80 per month excluding VAT. Moving your goods into and out of our warehouse is usually already included in the price of your move. If not, we charge a one-off €17.50 per m³ excluding VAT (€21.18 including). Whether VAT applies depends on your situation; you will see it in your quote. These are indications; no rights can be derived from them. For the full picture, see our page on international moving costs. Your free quote shows the total price of your move, including storage.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a home before I book my move?
No. You can book and ship whenever it suits you. If you don’t have a home on arrival, your belongings go into temporary storage and we deliver as soon as you have the key.
How long can my belongings stay in storage?
As long as you need. There is no maximum: some shipments stay for a month, others for a few years. You pay for at least one month of storage.
Can I access my belongings in between?
Once or twice, by arrangement. Storage with us is not self-storage: your belongings stay packed in our warehouse. That is why you only pay for the volume of your shipment.
How long do I have to import my household goods duty-free?
You need to import your belongings within 12 months of your own arrival in the Netherlands to qualify for the removal goods exemption. Further conditions apply; our customs specialists advise you on your situation.
Questions about your situation? Contact us; we’re happy to think along.