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Please note our office will be CLOSED from the 22nd of December 2025 to the 2nd of February 2026. Please note our office will be CLOSED from the 22nd of December 2025 to the 2nd of February 2026.

Shipping Container to the Netherlands | Moving to the Netherlands

Verplaats uw wereld, internationale verzenddiensten.

Shipping to the Netherlands from Australia

When shipping a 20FT or 40FT container (FCL) to the Netherlands you are paying a fixed sea-freight rate (subject to USD/AUD exchange rate/s) and may fill up as little or as much of the sole-purpose container as you wish.

With this type of service, the container space is not shared with other cargoes and your goods are not handled from one container to another at several points during transit such as is the case with shared container services (LCL), rather, the goods stay in the same container they were packed at origin, until delivery at the final destination.

What size shipping container do I need for moving my personal effects to the Netherlands?

  • 20FT shipping containers have inner dimensions as follows and a capacity of 33m3//1,158cubic feet:
    • 5.90m x 2.35m x 2.38m // 19.35 ft x 7.71 ft x 7.80 ft
  • 20FT containers are usually sufficient for an entire 2-3 bedroom house contents
  • 40FT shipping containers have inner dimensions as follows and have a capacity of 67m3//2,372cubic feet:
    • 12.01m x 2.35m x 2.38m // 39.39 ft x 7.71 ft x 7.80 ft
  • 40FT containers are usually sufficient for an entire 2-3 bedroom house contents and a motor vehicle, or, an entire 4-5 bedroom house contents.
  • 40FT (High Cube) shipping containers have inner dimensions as follows and have a capacity of 76m3//2,679cubic feet:
    • 12.01m x 2.35m x 2.69m // 39.39 ft x 7.71 ft x 8.82 ft
  • 40HC containers are 30cm//1 foot higher than a standard 40FT container and are designed for when that little bit of extra space is needed for excess cargoes. 

 

What if I wish to ship only a smaller volume of goods to the Netherlands?

If you wish to send only boxes and/or minimal amounts of furniture, our shared container services (LCL) may be the best option for you.

The minimal charge in our shared container services is 1m3//cubic metre, equivalent to approximately 10 standard moving cartons (tea-chest size), these cartons are 43cm x 41cm x 60cm each. See our LCL page here for more information about this type of shipping service.

Are you planning on Moving to the Netherlands?

We provide self pack options or professional packing services (should you require them) to move your household goods and/or motor vehicle/s in 20FT and 40FT shipping container/s from your door in Australia to your door in the Netherlands.

If you have owned and used the goods for more than 6 months, and are planning to move to the Netherlands after being outside of the country for more than 12 months, you may be eligible to import your goods tax/duty free in reasonable quantities and not for re-sale.

Required documents for duty free import:

  • Copy of the importers passport photo page
  • Bill of Lading (provided once cargo is shipped)
  • Comprehensive valued inventory list Dutch or English, signed and dated. Electronics and appliances to state make/model/serial number.
  • Proofs of living outside of the Netherlands for a period of at least 12 months, property lease//purchase, utility bills, tax filings etc


Required documents for vehicle importation: Proof of purchase showing make/model/VIN, Certificate of title, Purchase Invoice, Current/Previous registration, Insurance Policy.

Vehicle/s may be considered as part of the household goods relocation and exempt of taxes/duties if used over 6 months and importer will not dispose of the vehicle within 12 months.

Vehicle/s need to comply with EU motor vehicle standards, import approval is granted on a case by case basis. Importer should check all the details with an import agent prior to arranging shipping of their motor vehicle.

The motor vehicle needs to be listed on the container manifest and the shipping documents showing the motor vehicle make/model/year/VIN.

If you are considering moving to the Netherlands speak to one of our friendly professionals to assist you with all your shipping related questions, call us on +6129575-7614.