Before anything else: residency and tax sequencing
Two things should sit at the top of the planning: which residency-permit route applies to you (almost always employer-led for UK→NL moves; the highly-skilled-migrant route is the most common), and what tax sequencing makes sense across the UK exit and Dutch arrival. Both are specialist decisions and worth scoped advice before the practical moving work begins.
Once those are framed, everything else follows the framework below.
Six months out
The aim at six months out is to have the foundational paperwork in motion and a sense of which Dutch region you are moving to.
- Residency-permit application underway (your Dutch employer usually files; you provide supporting documents).
- 30% ruling check with a Dutch tax adviser if your role is potentially eligible.
- Dutch property search (rental or purchase) substantially advanced — typically the RMC or your employer's housing-support contact handles this.
- Tax-adviser conversation completed; sequencing of move date and tax residency mapped.
- Initial survey with us booked — the volume estimate at six months out helps with everything downstream.
- Pet planning under way if relevant (microchip up to date, rabies vaccination booked, AHC veterinarian identified).
Three months out
At three months out, the move shifts from planning into execution.
- Residency permit approved or strongly advanced.
- Dutch property contract signed (rental) or purchase progressing.
- Written quote with us confirmed and move date in the diary.
- UK utility cancellation dates worked out.
- School registration (state, international, or bilingual) under way if children are part of the move.
- UK and Dutch banking arranged or scheduled.
One month out
One month out is when the move stops being abstract.
- Final inventory walked through and signed off.
- Vehicle shipping paperwork finalised if applicable.
- Pet AHC appointment booked for the appropriate pre-travel window.
- UK utilities given cancellation dates; council tax notified of move-out.
- Mail-forwarding arranged for UK-side correspondence.
- Dutch-side practical contacts collated — employer's relocation contact, RMC, removals firm (us), gemeente-appointment plan.
Move week
Move week is best treated as a fixed sequence: packing day, load-out day, travel day for you, vehicle in transit, delivery at the other end.
- Final personal-effects sort — what travels with you, what travels in the consignment.
- Documents wallet ready: passports, residency permit, employment contract, rental/purchase contract, Customs paperwork copy, ToR1 copy, pet AHC.
- UK property final clean and handover scheduled.
- Dutch property key handover confirmed for the delivery day.
- For canal-belt addresses: confirm verhuislift and RVV permit window.
After the move
Post-move administrative tasks cluster in the first four to six weeks.
- Gemeente registration appointment booked and attended — BSN issued.
- DigiD applied for (online), activation code waited for, account activated.
- Dutch bank account opened.
- Zorgverzekering health insurance registered (mandatory).
- GP (huisarts) registered with.
- Utility contracts in your name (electricity, gas, internet).
- OV-chipkaart (public transport) sorted.
- Vehicle re-registration with RDW started if you brought a UK car.