Are you moving to Rotterdam? The Gateway to Europe is known for its rich cultural life, exquisite architecture and riverside setting. You’ll find plenty to explore in its museums, galleries, festivals, and public art installations, along with great rail connection to other Dutch cities. But what do you need to know before moving to Rotterdam from the UK? Sirelo has the answer to the most important questions with a look at moving costs, an essential checklist, and even free moving quotes to help you move to Rotterdam with a smile! 😊
Let’s jump into the first thing that crossed your mind, the cost of moving to Rotterdam. Firstly, the Rotterdam is very close, it easy to drive a lorry there, which is good for keeping the international removal costs down! On average, it costs between £2,200–£3,100 for 3-bed house removal to Rotterdam.
However, you should know that the volume of your move will have an effect on the price. Below you can see some estimates for different size households. If you’re curious about the volume of your move, you can use our free and easy removal volume calculator!
Household size | Cost |
---|---|
1-bed flat | £1,300 – £1,900 |
2-bed house | £1,700 – £2,400 |
3-bed house | £2,200 – £3,100 |
4-bed house | £2,900 – £4,000 |
5-bed house | £3,700 – £5,000 |
Nothing makes a removal easier than professional assistance. Find up to 5 removal companies that can help you move to Rotterdam today by filling in the form below!
Moving can be stressful as it involves uprooting your life and setting up in on a new frontier. However, we have found that a checklist goes along way to helping reduce most of the stress. Feeling that you’re not alone and knowing what to do is a great comfort. Thus, we’ve put together this checklist on moving to Rotterdam.
You might also like to read our more general moving abroad checklist as the following points only cover the most important parts of a move to Rotterdam.
If you’re moving to the Netherlands with an EU/EEA passport, you’ll be pleased to hear that you have freedom of movement and can move to Rotterdam without the need for a visa. All you’ll need to do is register with the local municipality, which we explain here.
If you have a UK or other non-EU/EEA passport, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit, and in certain cases an MVV. A UK citizen is, fortunately, only required to obtain a residence permit. You can find out more about the requirements on the Dutch government’s website.
As you’re moving to Rotterdam, don’t forget your important documents. You might not realise you need the, or have them on hand, so be sure to prepare them before you move. Keep them safe and even make duplicates!
Packing can be the most stressful part of any moving experience. However, you can avoid most stress by packing early, at least a month in advance, and by being well organised. We know it’s not easy to stay organised when uprooting your life, and that’s why we made our expert packing guide. It’s a great packing aid!
Upon arriving in Rotterdam, you’ll need to register with the Gemeente (municipality). Though this, you will receive a Burgerservicenummer (BSN), which is akin to national insurance number. You’ll need this to work, for banking, healthcare, and more. It’s vital to life in the Lowlands.
Once you’ve moved to the Netherlands, it’s important to know that health insurance is compulsory. After you start working, you’ll need to get health insurance in the first four months or face a fine!
When moving to Rotterdam from the UK, it’s important that you inform HMRC. Otherwise, you could be taxed in two countries, which would be a very unfavourable outcome. Paying tax in the Netherlands is normally organised through your employer and requires your BSN, pretty simple.
One thing we highly advise is opening a local bank account to make life easier as Visa cards aren’t widely accepted. Instead, you will find most places only accept Maestro. So, when you arrive in Rotterdam, you can open a bank account with one of the following:
Although you will find that people can, and will, speak a very high level of English in the Netherlands, it doesn’t have an official status. Thus, you’ll find there are obstacles to administrative tasks and also in workplaces as most will work through Dutch.
So, once you’ve moved to Rotterdam, or even before you arrive. Learning the language should be a priority. It’ll go beyond the workplace to improving the quality of your social life as it becomes easier to mingle with the lovely locals.
There are many opportunities for expats to find work, as there are a variety of international and multinational companies. The port town is also one of the largest cities in the Netherlands, so there’ll be no shortage of work. The main multinational companies including:
There are a variety of methods on how to find a job, but before you must make sure your applications are in line with the locals. For starters your CV should only be one page, minimalist is key. Secondly, employers prefer for individuals to include a professional photograph at the top of the CV.
The predominate way to conduct a job search is through online websites and job recruitment agencies. Popular online websites include:
Huzzah, we’ve reached the end. By now, you should be ready to take on and conquer the challenge of moving to Rotterdam from the UK. Your life in the Gateway to Europe is just some steps away, go chase it!
Of course, you may still have questions about the moving process, and as experts we’ve written many useful pages. So, check out the links below, they’re full of great information. Finally, sucess met verhuizen (good luck with moving house)!