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Discover everything you need to know about moving costs, visas, essential checklist, and even free moving quotes for moving to Holland from South Africa.
The average cost of moving to the Netherlands from South Africa for a 3-bed house is between R108,800 – R155,000.
In this table you’ll find the average costs for differing household sizes:
| Size of Household | Cost of Move |
| 1-bed flat | R50,200-R78,500 |
| 2-bed house | R72,900-R112,600 |
| 3-bed house | R108,800R-R155,000 |
| 4-bed house | R153,200-R207,300 |
| 5-bed house | R191,100-R255,500 |
Disclaimer: These are estimates, several factors will influence the international moving costs.
As for the shipping times, you can expect to have your belongings around 6 to 10 weeks, depending on the size of the volume. Smaller moves will take longer, as they will usually be shipped in a shared container.
Are you searching for movers to the Netherlands? You’re in the right place. Take a look at the 3 best international removal companies from South Africa to the Netherlands:
The moving company offers both international and national services. They provide vehicle, pet and transport services as well.
What Customers Are Saying
Most users recommend the company, with overall positive reviews. They are claimed by their professionalism, good care of belongings and with a very good cost-effective ratio.
The international relocation specialists offer comprehensive moving services, from piano, vehicle and art transport to excess baggage services.
What Customers Are Saying
Some customers mentioned their efficiency and good price. However, some others complained about their poor communication, customer service, and handling of their belongings.
Providing international and national removals, these movers can take care of the whole process of your move – vehicle transport and transport are some of the services that can be included.
What Customers Are Saying
Users are highly satisfied, appreciating their wide range of services and professionalism. Others report some negative experiences, mainly about damage in their items and customer service.
Fill in the form below and receive up to 5 removal quotes. Make your move easy!
Understanding the visa procedures, requirements and every step regarding your process of moving to the Netherlands is key for you to embark on this journey.
Depending on your situation you must meet different conditions. However, there are some general requirements and documents that you need to prepare:
You’ll need to apply for a visa to be able to move to the Netherlands. This will be in the form of an MVV (Provisional Residence Permit), a type of long-term entry visa, and a residence permit.
How can you apply? There are two ways:
Learn more about the details of how it works on the official page Government Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of South Africa.
You can also make sure which visa you need by filling in the easy Do I need a visa for the Netherlands? form on the government page.
If you’re moving back to the Netherlands and if you have Dutch nationality, you’re able to move back to the Netherlands without any issue.
This section covers the most important things that you need to plan for before moving to the Netherlands in the form of a checklist!
As we mentioned in the requirements, you’ll need to bring your important documents with you – passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and others.
Trying to fit your life and home into boxes is not an easy task. We advise that you give yourself a month to pack and try to keep organised. If you would like more tips, then read our 7 tips for Packing up a house.
You must register in the Netherlands with your municipality within 5 days after moving. Once that’s done, you’ll be issued your Burgerservicenummer (BSN), a Citizen Service Number.
Your BSN is integral to paying taxes, healthcare, opening a bank account, and more. So, make it a priority. To register you’ll need to gather:
You must know that it is compulsory to get health insurance. There are two types of health insurance:
If you’re planning on living in the Netherlands for a long period, it would be wise to open a Dutch bank account. Below are the top three banks in the Netherlands:
According to Statista, the average house price in the Netherlands in September 2023 was €422,000 (R8,600,00) and the rental prices were €1,400 (R300,000). However, the prices will lower or decrease based on their location and size.
Be aware that the Netherlands is going through a housing crisis due to the rising demand and housing shortage. Especially in big cities such as Amsterdam or Rotterdam, the lack of affordable apartments is also a main factor.
To bring your furry friend, you must meet the following requirements:
These apply to dogs, cats and ferrets. If you want to bring a small rodent, fish, bird, rabbit, amphibian or reptile you’ll also need to have a pet health certificate signed by a veterinarian. Read more in detail on the Government page on Can I bring a pet from another country to the Netherlands?.
The average cost for moving your dog can range from R15,400 and R42,000 depending on the animal’s size and method of transport. Other costs can sum up, such as veterinary checks, passport or getting a microchip.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about the culture or what the living costs are like, read on to find out more.
Numbeo indicates that consumer prices are 90.7% higher than in South Africa, especially in the larger cities. However, this is compensated by a much higher salary.
Below, we made a comparison of the living costs between Cape Town and Amsterdam.
| Metric | Cape Town | Amsterdam |
| 3-bed appartement City Centre | R21,240 | R47,225 |
| Price/m2 in the city centre | R30,310 | R142,580 |
| Monthly utilities for 85m2 apartment | R1,537 | R2,995 |
| 0.5L of draught beer | R35.00 | R89.80 |
| 12 eggs | R31.50 | R44.20 |
| Cappuccino | R28.80 | R60.00 |
| Milk 1L | R14.75 | R18.80 |
To receive a work permit, you will need to have already found work in the Netherlands and been sponsored by the company you will work for. Therefore, it’s important that you find work before you go.
High-skilled workers are in high demand in the Netherlands, especially engineers, IT specialists, and those working in the financial and business sectors. Also, you don’t have to worry about not speaking Dutch as most businesses work in English.
There are many ways to find work in the Netherlands, below are a few websites that you can use:
When moving abroad, you can expect to have some cultural differences. In that sense, you should prepare yourself for them!
English is widely used but learning Dutch is always a plus. Being able to speak Dutch will help you in nearly every aspect of life. If you already speak Afrikaans, the jump to Dutch isn’t too far, the languages are related after all.
Before you move on, we understand that you might be curious to learn more about the moving process, about which we have lots of great articles. Read the FAQs section below or check our articles to start reading more. Otherwise, veel succes (good luck) with your move!
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