Apartment Moving Service in the Netherlands — Van + Driver for €49/hour

MoverMate moves studios, one-bedroom flats, two-bedroom apartments and shared housing across the Netherlands for €49 per hour, van and driver included, with transport costs calculated separately on the actual driving distance. The minimum booking is 1.5 hours, so the smallest possible job is €73.50 plus transport. MoverMate is NIWO-licensed — the Dutch national transport authorisation required to move goods commercially — and has completed more than 800 moves across 24 cities. Booking runs over WhatsApp in English, and same-day slots are often available outside peak weeks.

Apartment moving is the service MoverMate was built around. A much larger share of Dutch housing is rented than in most of Europe, and in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht rental flats make up the majority of the housing stock. Lease cycles are short, the market is tight, and people switch apartments constantly. A van with a driver at €49 an hour is the practical way to move a flat without paying full traditional-mover rates. If you are moving between cities, the intercity moving service covers the same job on a longer route.

An apartment move is any relocation involving a flat, studio, or apartment as the origin, destination, or both. The volume is generally smaller than a house move and the access conditions are typically more constrained — narrow staircases, elevators with size restrictions, shared hallways, time-limited loading zones.

Common apartment move types we handle:

Studio relocations. One room of belongings, typically 10–20 boxes plus a bed, desk, wardrobe, and small furniture. The fastest type of apartment move — usually 1–1.5 hours total.

One-bedroom apartment moves. A separate bedroom and living area, kitchen items, and standard furniture. The most common move we handle. Typically 1.5–2 hours.

Two-bedroom apartment moves. More volume — often a full kitchen, multiple beds, sofas, dining furniture, and a home office. May require one large van load or two trips. Typically 2–3 hours.

Shared housing transitions. Moving into or out of a shared apartment, antikraak housing, or co-living arrangement. Usually only your own belongings — a manageable volume that fits a single van load.

Apartment to apartment within the same city. Switching rentals in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, or any Dutch city. Same-day key handover deadlines, narrow staircases, and tight parking are common.

Apartment to apartment between cities. Same service, just adds the intercity drive time. Amsterdam to Utrecht, Rotterdam to Den Haag, Den Haag to Delft — common corridors we drive every week.

Apartments come with constraints that houses do not. Understanding these matters because they affect how long the move takes and how much it costs.

Limited or shared access. Most Dutch apartment buildings have a single front door, a narrow corridor, and either a staircase or a small elevator. Loading 30 boxes through a shared hallway takes longer than loading the same volume from a garage or driveway.

Elevator size and rules. Apartment elevators are often small. Some buildings require advance booking of the elevator for moving day. Some have time-limited reservations (60 or 90 minutes) which means the entire move must fit within that window.

Stairs. Many older Dutch apartments — particularly in Amsterdam, Den Haag, and historic city centres — have steep, narrow staircases. The driver loads from your apartment door (top of the staircase) into the van, with the van + driver model. Carrying items down the staircase itself is your responsibility — but planning the loading window around staircase access is part of how we schedule the move.

Parking and loading zones. Apartment buildings often sit on streets with paid parking, time-limited loading zones, or no van-accessible parking at all. In Amsterdam centre, you may need a temporary loading permit. In Utrecht or Den Haag, certain streets restrict vehicle access during specific hours.

Building rules. Some apartment buildings (especially newer complexes or housing association properties) have specific moving day rules: when you can load, where you can park, which entrance you must use, how to operate the service elevator. Sharing these details when booking lets the driver plan around them.

Time-pressured key handovers. Apartment leases often end and start on specific dates, sometimes the same day. You may have until noon to return old keys and access to new keys from 2pm. The move has to fit a defined window.

These constraints are normal, manageable, and predictable — but they are why an apartment move is a specialised job, not a generic relocation.

MoverMate operates as a van + driver transport service. Here is the exact scope for an apartment move:

We arrive at your apartment building at the agreed time. The driver loads your packed belongings from the entrance of your apartment into the van. We drive to your new address. We unload at the entrance of your new apartment.

Included: the van, the driver, loading from your apartment door to the van, the drive, and unloading from the van to your new apartment door.

Not included: packing materials, furniture disassembly or assembly, carrying items up or down internal staircases, or storage. You pack and prepare in your apartment — the driver loads from your door, transports, and unloads at the destination door.

This model fits apartment moves well because the volume is manageable, items are typically already packed, and the limiting factor is not crew size — it is access and time. One driver with a clean, spacious van handles a studio or one-bedroom apartment move efficiently. A two-bedroom move may take longer but the same model applies.

The base rate is €49 per hour for the van and driver. Fuel costs are calculated separately based on the driving distance.

What determines the final cost:

Total time from arrival until the last item is unloaded

Distance between the two addresses

Volume — number of boxes and furniture items

Access conditions — elevator availability, parking proximity, building rules

Preparation — items packed and accessible at the door vs still being organised

We provide a clear estimate before you confirm. No hidden fees. No minimum packages beyond 1.5 hours.

Studio, same city. 1.5 hours at the minimum. €73.50 for the van and driver, plus transportation costs.

One-bedroom apartment, same city. 2 to 2.5 hours. €98–€122.50 for the van and driver, plus transportation costs.

Two-bedroom apartment, same city. 2.5 to 3 hours. €122.50–€147 for the van and driver, plus transportation costs.

Intercity apartment moves. Same €49 hourly rate. The total depends on the corridor, so we quote per route before you confirm — Amsterdam to Utrecht and Den Haag to Rotterdam are short hops, Rotterdam to Eindhoven or Enschede to Den Haag are longer days. Send both postcodes on WhatsApp for a specific figure.

Every figure above assumes your belongings are packed and waiting at street level when the van arrives. Transportation costs is the only cost on top of the hourly rate — there is no callout fee and no deposit. If you are moving a single sofa or wardrobe rather than a whole flat, the furniture transport service is the cheaper fit.

Apartment moves happen everywhere — but the conditions vary significantly by city. Here is what to expect in the cities we serve most:

Amsterdam. The most challenging city for apartment moves. Narrow canal-house staircases, restricted parking in the centre, time-limited loading zones, and complex building access. A typical Amsterdam apartment move takes longer than a Rotterdam apartment move purely because of access conditions. Our drivers handle Amsterdam-specific logistics regularly.

Rotterdam. Modern post-war apartment buildings with elevators dominate. Easier access, wider streets, and more available parking than Amsterdam. Apartment moves here are typically faster and cheaper.

Den Haag. Mix of historic centre apartments (challenging — narrow streets, paid parking) and modern apartment blocks (straightforward access). Many expat-occupied apartments in Statenkwartier and Benoordenhout — areas we handle frequently.

Utrecht. Compact city centre with one of the highest rental turnover rates in the Netherlands. Lots of student and young professional apartment moves, especially around end of semester and start of academic year.

Eindhoven, Tilburg, Breda. Mostly modern apartments with practical access. Tech professionals and university students drive consistent apartment move volume.

Delft, Leiden. University cities with a mix of historic apartments (narrow access, charming but logistically tricky) and modern student housing complexes (purpose-built, easier access).

Smaller cities (Almere, Amersfoort, Hilversum, Gouda, Dordrecht): Generally modern apartment buildings, free parking, easier access. Apartment moves here are typically faster and more affordable than Randstad equivalents.

Young professionals switching apartments. The single largest customer profile. Tight housing market, regular lease changes, moves driven by job changes or relationship situations. Typically one-bedroom moves, often in the same city, often booked within 1–2 weeks of the move date.

Expats settling in or relocating within the Netherlands. International residents in Amsterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht, Eindhoven. Often arriving with limited belongings and acquiring more over time. English-friendly service is essential — we handle communication, contracts, and the move entirely in English.

Students moving between rooms or apartments. Co-optation moves within shared houses, transitions from student housing to private apartments, exchanges into new university cities. Smaller volumes, tighter budgets, often last-minute timing.

Couples moving in together. Two studios consolidating into a one-bedroom. Often involves combining belongings from two addresses on the same day — a pickup at one, pickup at another, delivery to the new shared apartment. We can plan multi-stop moves like this.

People moving from a house back into an apartment. Downsizing after children leave home, after a separation, or for lifestyle reasons. The destination is an apartment with the constraints that come with it.

Apartment moves benefit hugely from good preparation because access constraints make every minute count.

Pack everything before moving day. All items in closed boxes or bags. The driver does not pack. Last-minute packing in an apartment hallway costs you time and money.

Disassemble bed frames, desks, and shelving in advance. Apartment doorways and elevators are often narrow. Disassembled furniture loads faster and fits through tight spaces.

Move boxes to the apartment door or hallway. The driver loads from the entrance to your apartment. The closer your items are to the door, the less time loading takes.

Book the elevator if your building requires it. Many Dutch apartment buildings — especially housing association properties and newer complexes — require advance reservation of the moving elevator. Check with your building manager. If there is a time slot, share it when booking so we plan around it.

Arrange a loading permit if your street requires one. In Amsterdam centre, parts of Den Haag, and some Utrecht streets, you need a temporary parking permit for a moving van. The permit takes 1–3 working days to arrange — do not leave it to the last minute.

Coordinate key handovers. Most apartment moves involve specific times for returning old keys and collecting new ones. Share these with us at booking — we schedule the move to fit your window.

Defrost your fridge 24 hours ahead. If you are moving a fridge or freezer, defrost it the day before so it does not leak in the van.

Empty drawers and shelves. Even if a dresser stays assembled, empty the drawers. Loaded drawers make furniture much heavier and harder to manoeuvre through narrow apartment hallways.

Send a WhatsApp message to +31648852148 or fill in the contact form with:

Your current apartment address (with floor and elevator/stairs info)

Your new address (same details)

Number of rooms and approximate volume

Your preferred date and time

Any building rules or access constraints (elevator booking, loading permits, key handover times)

We reply quickly with availability and a clear cost estimate. No obligation until you confirm. No deposit required. Same-day apartment moves are often available outside peak periods.

MoverMate charges €49 per hour for a van and driver, with a 1.5 hour minimum of €73.50 and transportation billed separately. Loading and unloading happen at street level, if elevator is missing, so bring your boxes down before the van arrives. MoverMate is NIWO-licensed, has completed over 800 moves, works in English, and books over WhatsApp on +31 6 48 85 21 48. Same-day availability is common outside the end of the month, the summer, and the start of the academic year. For city-specific access notes, see Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag and Utrecht.