A house move is one of the more stressful things you can take on, not because any of it is hard, but because there are so many small things to arrange at once. This checklist takes you through it calmly and in good time, phase by phase. That way, nothing catches you off guard on moving day.
We've split the complete plan into five phases: from eight weeks out to the week after your move. Work through it from top to bottom and nothing important slips through.
8 weeks out: locking in the basics
- Give notice on the rental or sale of your current home, and watch the notice period, usually one month.
- Confirm the key handover and handover date for your new home.
- Set your budget and decide: do it yourself or hire a moving company?
- Request quotes and book in good time, popular dates (Saturdays, end of the month) fill up fast.
- If needed, request time off work for moving day.
July and August are the busiest moving months, with the student changeover and the end of the school year falling together. If you want to move during that period, book at least 6 weeks in advance. Want to know where you stand financially first? Calculate your moving price with our calculator with no obligation.
6 weeks out: declutter and sort
- Go room by room and sort: keep, give away, sell or throw out.
- Sell what you are not taking on Marktplaats or Facebook Marketplace, or take it to a second-hand shop. Less volume means a lower moving bill.
- Measure large furniture and check whether it fits through the doors and stairwell of the new home.
- Arrange moving boxes, tape and packing materials (or request these as part of your quote).
- Make a floor plan of the new home: where does each piece of furniture go?
The less you take with you, the cheaper and faster the move. A move is the natural moment to let go of years of accumulated belongings. Not getting through it, or does a whole house need emptying? Then take a look at our house clearance service.
4 weeks out: changes of address and institutions
- Notify the municipality (gemeente) of your move. You can do this from 4 weeks before until 5 days after, with DigiD.
- Change your address with your bank, your health insurer (zorgverzekeraar), any other insurers, your employer and the tax office (Belastingdienst).
- Take out an energy contract for the new address and submit the final meter readings of your old home.
- Arrange internet and TV at the new address, schedule installation early, as waiting times add up.
- Set up mail forwarding (verhuisservice) with PostNL so you do not miss any post.
- Register with a new GP (huisarts), dentist (tandarts) and pharmacy (apotheek).
Go through your bank statements from the past few months. Every direct debit is a party that may need your new address: gym, newspaper, charities, streaming services. That way you won't forget anyone.
2 weeks out: packing
- Start packing things you don't use daily (books, seasonal clothing, decorations).
- Label each box clearly with the room and the contents, and mark "fragile" where needed.
- Pack a separate "first-night box": toiletries, chargers, a change of clothes, bedding and coffee.
- Disassemble furniture you no longer need ahead of time and store the screws in labelled bags.
- Take photos of the back of your TV/audio setup so you can easily reconnect everything.
- Confirm the appointment with your moving company: time, address and parking options.
Moving day (and the days around it)
- If needed, reserve a parking space or permit for the moving van right outside the door.
- Keep the first-night box and important documents with you personally, not in the van.
- Note the meter readings of both your old and new home.
- Check the old home for damage and clean it for the handover.
- Make sure all boxes and furniture are loaded; tick off your inventory list.
- Hand over the keys to the old home to the landlord, estate agent or new occupant.
Handing back a rental home? Then the condition of the home matters a great deal for your deposit. For that, read our separate guide: rental home handover, how to get your deposit back.
Rather hand over the heavy work?
We handle the whole move in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe: packing, lifting, transport and assembly. Fixed prices, no surprises.
The week after your move
- Check that all post is being forwarded correctly and update any forgotten changes of address.
- Register with the municipality (gemeente) if you have not already, no later than 5 days after the move.
- Test smoke detectors and check that the heating, water and electricity work properly.
- Introduce yourself to the neighbours, handy for parcels and local tips.
- Return your emptied moving boxes or pass them on to the next mover.