Whether you are relocating to a tech job in Amsterdam or settling into a family home in North Brabant, AMC turns moving to the Netherlands into a smooth, door-to-door experience.
We export-pack your household goods in Ireland, send them via direct ferry to Rotterdam or through the Hook of Holland, and deliver safely to any Dutch postcode.
The Netherlands is a small country, about the size of Munster, but its cities have genuinely different profiles. The one you pick shapes your cost of living, commute, industry access, and how long it takes to find a flat.
The obvious choice and the hardest one. Amsterdam is the financial, tech, and creative capital. It has the largest international community, the most English-speaking services, and the most direct connections to Dublin (multiple direct flights daily). It also has one of the most competitive rental markets in Europe. Vacancy rates are extremely low. A two-bedroom apartment in reasonable areas (Oud-West, De Pijp, Jordaan) runs €2,000-2,500/month. Many landlords require a signed employment contract and payslips before they'll consider you. Budget for 4-6 weeks of temporary accommodation before landing a long-term flat.
30 minutes from Amsterdam by train, noticeably cheaper, and increasingly popular with Irish people who've done the maths. Rotterdam was almost entirely rebuilt after World War II and has a bold, modern architectural style that's unlike anywhere else in Europe. Its economy is built around the port (the largest in Europe), logistics, energy, and engineering. A growing creative and tech scene has arrived in the last decade. Rents for comparable apartments run 30-40% below Amsterdam. Worth serious consideration if you're not tied to the capital.
The political capital. Home to the Dutch government, the International Court of Justice, and a large cluster of international organisations, embassies, and NGOs. The Hague has a very family-friendly feel and a well-established expat infrastructure: international schools, English-speaking services, and a community built around diplomatic and legal careers. If your work is in international law, policy, or development, this is the city. Rents sit between Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Central, well-connected, increasingly popular. Utrecht is a genuine university city with a young population, a strong tech and life sciences sector, and good train links to every other Dutch city. It's notably more affordable than Amsterdam, has a real city feel without Amsterdam's pressure, and is growing quickly as a destination for professionals who work in Amsterdam but can't justify Amsterdam rents.
The tech city. ASML, one of the most strategically important semiconductor companies in the world, is headquartered here, along with a cluster of high-tech suppliers and spin-offs. Eindhoven has transformed from a manufacturing town into one of Europe's most significant tech hubs. Rents are the lowest of any major Dutch city. The international community is growing fast but the expat infrastructure is less developed than Amsterdam or The Hague. Good choice if you're arriving for a specific tech role and want to save money.
This sounds like a minor detail. It's not.
Amsterdam's canal houses were built in the 17th century with extremely narrow, steep spiral staircases, sometimes at angles of 60 degrees or more. A standard sofa doesn't fit. A double bed frame often doesn't fit. Large wardrobes and dining tables frequently can't make it up.
The solution is the gable hook, the iron hook you see projecting from the gable of almost every Amsterdam building. Furniture is hoisted up through the window using a rope and pulley. This is standard practice, not unusual, and AMC brings the appropriate equipment for Dutch urban deliveries.
What this means practically: at the survey stage, tell us your delivery address and building type. If it's a canal-house apartment above the ground floor, we plan for a hoist. You'll also want to measure your largest furniture pieces against the window opening before the move, some items genuinely cannot enter the building without dismantling.
Rotterdam, The Hague, and Eindhoven have more modern apartment stock and the access problems are less severe, though narrow staircases still appear in pre-war buildings.
Ireland to the Netherlands is one of Europe's most direct removal routes. Stena Line and Irish Ferries run regular direct sailings from Rosslare to Rotterdam (Hook of Holland). No English landbridge needed, no additional ferry crossing. It's a clean, efficient route.
Your shipment goes with others heading in the same direction, collected in Ireland and delivered to your Dutch door. For studios, one or two-bedroom apartments, and partial moves, groupage is the right call. Typical timeline: 4-8 days from collection.
Your own vehicle, your own schedule. For 3-bedroom houses or larger, or when your delivery date is fixed. Typically 3-5 days door-to-door. Faster and more expensive.
Available for large moves where budget is the priority over timeline. Shipped from Dublin or Cork to Rotterdam. 1-2 weeks transit. Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, so clearance is efficient.
The BSN is the Dutch equivalent of your PPS number. It's your unique citizen service number, and you need it for everything: employment, health insurance, bank account, DigiD, tax return, and most interactions with Dutch authorities.
You get your BSN by registering at your local gemeente (municipality). Bring your passport and your signed rental agreement or landlord's letter. If you don't yet have a fixed address, you can register at a temporary address, but you need something. Registration should happen within 5 days of arrival; staying more than 4 months without a BSN is technically illegal.
In Amsterdam, Gemeente Amsterdam appointments fill weeks ahead. Book online as soon as you have a confirmed address, or before you arrive if you can.
DigiD is the Dutch government's digital identity system. Once you have your BSN, apply for DigiD at digid.nl. The activation letter arrives by post to your Dutch address within about a week.
Without DigiD you can't access your health insurer's portal, submit your tax return, check your DigiD permits, access MijnOverheid (your government mailbox), or do most things online with Dutch government services. It takes 5 minutes to apply and a week to arrive. Do it on Day 1.
Every resident of the Netherlands must have Dutch health insurance. The deadline is within 4 months of arrival, but getting it sorted in the first week is better. Coverage starts from the date you register, not the date you apply, and gaps in coverage can result in backdated fine premiums.
You choose a private insurer (Zilveren Kruis, VGZ, Menzis, CZ, DSW are the main ones). The basic package (basisverzekering) is standardised. All insurers offer the same core coverage. You choose based on price and supplementary options.
Basic premium: roughly €130-145/month depending on the insurer and year. On top of this, you pay an eigen risico (deductible) of €385/year. This is the amount you pay yourself before insurance covers the rest. It resets on 1 January each year.
Zorgtoeslag: If your income is below a certain threshold, you can apply for a healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) from the Dutch tax authority (Belastingdienst) to offset your monthly premium. Worth checking at toeslagen.nl once you have your BSN and employment situation sorted.
Register with a huisarts (GP) close to your home. In the Netherlands, the GP is the gatekeeper for all other healthcare, you need a referral to see a specialist. Walk-in specialist appointments without a GP referral are generally not covered by basic insurance. Register with a GP in your first week, before you need one.
If you're moving to the Netherlands for an employer who recruited you from outside the country, you may qualify for the 30% ruling (30% regeling). This allows 30% of your salary to be paid tax-free for up to 5 years, recognising the additional costs of relocating internationally.
The ruling is applied through your employer and requires meeting a salary threshold (currently around €46,107 gross annually for most roles; lower for some research and teaching positions). Your employer submits the application to the Dutch tax authority.
Not everyone qualifies, and the application process has specific requirements. But if you're coming to the Netherlands for a tech, finance, pharmaceutical, or engineering role, ask your employer whether they'll apply for it. The financial benefit is substantial over 5 years.
We are a removal company, not tax advisers. For specifics, talk to a Dutch tax specialist or your HR department.
The Netherlands has a vehicle registration tax called BPM (Belasting van Personenauto's en Motorrijwielen). It applies when you register a foreign vehicle with Dutch plates. The amount depends on the car's CO2 emissions, age, and type.
For a typical petrol family car with average emissions, BPM runs from roughly €1,000-3,000+ for a car a few years old. Hybrid vehicles pay significantly less. Electric vehicles are exempt until 2026 (policy may change).
In addition, you pay motorrijtuigenbelasting (road tax), a quarterly or monthly fee based on the car's weight and fuel type.
The process:
The whole process involves several steps and can take 2-4 weeks if you do it yourself. Many people use a car import specialist to manage it.
Practical consideration: the Netherlands is one of the most cycle-friendly countries in the world. In Amsterdam especially, many expats find they don't need a car at all, the cycling and public transport infrastructure is genuinely excellent. Run the numbers on BPM + road tax + parking (expensive in Dutch cities) vs. just cycling and using occasional car rental before assuming you're bringing the car.
Ireland and the Netherlands are both EU countries. Standard EU pet travel rules apply.
Your pet needs:
No quarantine for EU pets with the correct documentation.
The Netherlands has no national breed-specific legislation. It repealed its pit bull ban in 2008. Some municipalities have their own rules, but generally the Netherlands is one of the more permissive EU countries on this.
AMC doesn't transport live animals but can point you toward specialist pet relocation services for the Ireland-Netherlands route.
The direct Rosslare-Rotterdam ferry route makes the Netherlands one of AMC's more efficient European routes. No UK landbridge, no extra ferry, simpler logistics.
Prices are for collection in Ireland and delivery to the Netherlands. Packing service, vehicle transport, hoist equipment for Amsterdam apartments, and specialty items are quoted separately.
If your Dutch address is an Amsterdam canal-house apartment above ground floor, mention this at the survey stage. We quote for hoist access at that point.
A. Price depends on volume, access (canal streets, staircases) and timing. Request an obligation-free quote for accurate pricing.
A. In historic canals we sometimes trans-ship to small vans or use furniture hoists. We arrange permits for you.
A. Yes. Boxes, wardrobe cartons and tape can be delivered a week or more before loading. See our various packing materials & sizes here.
A. Transport & packing fees are payable before departure; storage is billed monthly.
A. It depends on the building. Canal houses have very narrow staircases — most large furniture goes through the window via hoist. We bring hoist equipment for Amsterdam deliveries. Tell us your address and building type at the survey and we plan accordingly.
A. You can, but self-packed cartons aren’t covered by insurance. Professional packing ensures full cover.
A. We’ll store goods in Naas or Cologne until you receive keys.
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