India to Netherlands Relocation — Exemption Filed, Stairs Planned

The Netherlands is Europe's most efficient gateway for a household coming from India — Rotterdam is the continent's largest port, sailings from Nhava Sheva and Mundra are frequent, and the Dutch customs service, the Douane, publishes clear rules for importing household effects tax-free when you move from outside the EU. The two things that trip people up are proving residence and the Dutch staircase. REHOUSING PACKERS PVT LTD handles the first with paperwork and the second with a furniture lift. For our general international process, see the international relocation overview.

The Douane exemption for household effects

You can import your removal goods into the Netherlands without paying import duty and VAT, but only if you apply for the exemption — it is not automatic. The conditions the Douane sets are:

• You are moving from a non-EU country to live in the Netherlands (or another EU country), transferring your normal place of residence.
• You have lived outside the EU for at least twelve consecutive months.
• You have owned and used the goods for at least six months and will use them again for the same purpose.
• You import the goods within twelve months of taking up residence.
• You will not lend, pledge, lease or transfer the goods within twelve months of the date the exemption is granted.

Your removal company applies on your behalf. The Douane typically asks for proof of your former residence in India, proof of your new Dutch residence — most commonly the registration with your gemeente (municipality), which also gives you your BSN — your employment contract or residence permit, and a signed inventory. If you do not yet have all documents (registration can take a little time after you find housing), the removal company can under certain conditions still apply and you send the missing items as soon as possible. We plan the shipment to arrive around or after your registration so this rarely becomes a problem.

Not exempt: alcohol in the household consignment attracts import duty; tobacco without Dutch excise seals is seized. Cars and motorcycles need a separate declaration and, if exempt from import duty, a separate BPM (vehicle tax) exemption application.

Rotterdam first, then your city

Containers from Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Chennai reach Rotterdam in roughly four to six weeks port to port, sometimes via a Mediterranean or Middle Eastern hub. From Rotterdam, everything in the Netherlands is a same-day truck: Amsterdam and Amstelveen, The Hague and Leiden, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Delft, Groningen. Door-to-door commonly runs six to eight weeks including Indian export clearance, LCL consolidation, Douane clearance and delivery. Air freight to Schiphol arrives in days and suits a student or a first-fortnight kit.

Dutch homes: small, tall, steep

Amsterdam canal-side flats and many older Dutch apartments have narrow, steep staircases that a sofa or wardrobe will not climb. Dutch movers solve this with a verhuislift — an exterior furniture lift that raises items through a window or balcony. Our destination partner asks for your floor, window width and street access at survey, books the lift where needed, and arranges a parking permit for the truck in cities that require one. Newer Amstelveen, Eindhoven and Utrecht apartments with lifts are straightforward.

Expat rentals — especially in Amstelveen and The Hague — are often furnished or part-furnished; long-term family housing is usually unfurnished. Ship furniture only if the piece will fit both the stairs and the room.

What to ship from India

The Netherlands runs on 230 V, 50 Hz with Schuko sockets; Indian mixers, grinders and induction plates work with a plug adaptor. Bring kitchen essentials for Indian cooking, bedding, books, framed art, the mandir, and warm clothing you already own — the Dutch climate is damp and windy year-round. Bicycles are welcome (the Netherlands is a cycling country) but clean them thoroughly before packing. Small quantities of sealed, labelled dry spices are usually acceptable when declared; fresh or homemade food is not.

Insurance

Every Netherlands shipment carries complementary transit cover up to ₹50,000; full declared-value cover is available at 3% of the declared value. The signed inventory used for the Douane application also serves as the insurance schedule.

Book your Netherlands survey

Send your origin city, Dutch city and housing type, visa category (highly skilled migrant, student, family) and expected arrival to +91 87005 74566 (call or WhatsApp) or use the contact page. We survey, prepare the Douane documentation, and time dispatch to your gemeente registration. Pre-departure storage in India is priced on our charges page.