Best way to ship my stuff from the US to the Netherlands?
Posted by WanderingAlmond@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Don't worry, I'm starting the purge process now -- I plan on being ruthless with what I bring overseas with me, but it will inevitably be more than can fit in a few suitcases. There's exactly one piece of furniture I'm bringing (a small secretary desk inherited from my great grandmother, about the size of a bedside table) and everything else I thought I might shuck in those durable black and yellow plastic bins you can get from Home Depot. Thoughts? Should I mail them? Ship by cargo? Would love to hear from folks who have done this as to what worked and what didn't. I've done lots of moves, but this'll be my first international one.
a_library_socialist@reddit
Having shipped stuff - don't.
If you can fit it in a suitcase, spend the baggage fee. We took 9 large suitcases for 4 people when we left.
Anything with a motor or heater - will require a transformer, and never work right.
lega4@reddit
Actually I think that's exactly the reason people often buy kitchen kettles in EU and bring them to US - just because you cannot get powerful kettle in US due to 110V. In Europe 2.5 KWt is considered absolutely typical. So no, not every electronic item "never work right". But of course needs checking item-per-item, that's true
akhalilx@reddit
I agree, it rarely makes sense to ship household items overseas.
If you have a determinate posting, put your stuff in storage and rent a furnished place in your new country.
If you'll be gone permanently or for an indeterminate time, just sell your stuff and rebuy what you need in your new country.
CompanionCone@reddit
I moved about 4 cubic m (15ish boxes, a chair, a few artworks, a large TV and some random stuff) from the Netherlands to the UAE last year by boat and it cost around 2000 eur. We used a NL company called Windmill, they were really helpful and I'm sure they move stuff TO NL as well. From the US though don't ship any electronics, having to use transformers is a pain.
sailboat_magoo@reddit
Do you have a link for them? I searched, and all of the results were about how to ship blades for windmills.
CompanionCone@reddit
https://windmillforwarding.com
sailboat_magoo@reddit
Thanks!
seachimera@reddit
there are some electronics that will work though-- so if you have anything that you can't replace check the voltage compatibility before dehoarding. We brought a few items from the US to DK that are compatible-- we just needed to buy plug adaptors.
thebrackenrecord912@reddit
We used an estate sale service to get rid of everything we didn’t take with us and then used the sale’s profits to hire a door to door shipping company for a large crate plus a smaller one. The problem was we somehow failed to get the other end to understand we wanted them to unpack the crate and deliver our items to our new home and ended up with two crates in the middle of the street with no way to open them. It’s a funny story now, involving running through the city with a crowbar, piling pieces of the crate into the garden and hiring a rubbish removal service to dispose of it, but it wasn’t funny then and the neighbors still talk about it three years on. Learn from our mistake if you do it this way.
turtleheading911@reddit
Do you feel like you got a decent amount of money back for your items? How big was their cut?
thebrackenrecord912@reddit
They took a fee for running the online auction (photographing and grouping our items, listing them, coordinating the pickup and managing the payments, etc.). We had the crappiest of furniture (3BR home with mostly second hand stuff and Ikea) and cheap household stuff, but we had a bunch of books and toys, many of which were in great condition and collectors items so they were sold separately. The rest was sold in lots. We made just under $13k on the sale and they took just over $5k of that for their fees and commission. And we sold our cars separately, although they offered to do so for us. To be honest it was kind of a racket, but it was mid-COVID lockdowns and we were leaving the country at a time when we had to show a negative COVID test to be allowed to fly so at the time it was worth it to mitigate our risk. They were fast, respectful, and efficient and that’s what we paid for. We also ended up paying a service a couple of hundred bucks to take away the few things they couldn’t sell (sofas and mattresses mostly). I hope that helps!
turtleheading911@reddit
It does! How long did all of it take from start to finish?
thebrackenrecord912@reddit
We ended up with a delay in the middle of the process because our waiting employment in our target country delayed for a couple months as well with visas, so I’m not entirely sure. I know they spent a weekend sorting and labeling things and then the auction went up a week or so later and they came back a few days afterward for the pickup day when everyone and their mom came traipsing through the house (it was like clean your grocery deliveries with bleach days, so it I remember that was stressful) and then between pickup and settlement of our funds was maybe three weeks. Not long. They would have been faster, but I’ve never been a last minute planner so it wasn’t necessary for us.
sariejanemitt@reddit
Try pirateship.com - deeply discounted UPS among others - I’ve used it - it’s legit
SDreddy2019@reddit
I went to a few thrift stores and bought $10 large or extra large suitcases (4) and sent them via Send My Bag. Worked decently both ways, and was very fast. I did have water/mold damage in the first trip but didn't arrive until later and wasn't able to report it. Way back I wrapped most stuff in plastic just in case. No issues.
elsiesolar@reddit
Just to be clear, the content of your suitcase got water damage while it was being handled by send my bag?
SDreddy2019@reddit
Correct. I believe they were left out in the rain for a brief period of time, enough for water to enter the suitcase (but not enough to destroy any of my electronics). The suitcases were then delivered and I didn't open them for about 3 weeks until I arrived. I had to wash everything from all 4 suitcases because they had become slightly mildewy, threw away a couple items that became discolored. I recommend packing nice things in plastic to be safe.
SDreddy2019@reddit
You can price out different types of boxes or suitcases etc to see what will work best for you
seachimera@reddit
It depends on what exactly you are shipping (beyond the desk you mentioned) and how quickly you need it to arrive. Then it becomes an issue of weight vs volume. And of course, cost. Is cost an issue?
I went with an intl shipping company that charges by volume via groupage (not palletizing). I can't recommend them yet because I haven't received my items yet. They picked them up from my departure address in October and have yet to load them onto a container ship. I was told that the arrival time could be anywhere between December 2024 and April 2025. Pickup was in the US, destination is Denmark.
Let me know if you want more information about the choice we made.
modijk@reddit
I found that moving a few pallets with the most important items was the most economical way to move from PT to PL. Not sure how oversees works, but you could investigate the option.
cachitodepepe@reddit
Try crown relocations
werchoosingusername@reddit
Use SendMybag or myluggage. Check both for your destination.
They are using also DHL etc. But get bulk deals. If you use DHL directly you pay 3 to 5 times more.
forested_morning43@reddit
Even across the US, it’s cheaper to check another bag onto a flight than ship cost to coast.
thatdamnyankee@reddit
I shipped. It was 15+ years ago so pricing doesn't matter. We had about 2.5 cubic meters of stuff including a few sentimental pieces of furniture. They came to the house and packed it up. Delivered it to Sweden after a month or so. Lost a mirror, but I hated that one anyway.
Unfair-Flower5687@reddit
I always move by suitcase internationally. It is just so wildly expensive to ship things. Call the airline and ask how many bags you can add on to your reservation. Bring as many as you think you can handle with the people moving. For my now 5 international moves to date, that means 3 bags apiece. The Send My Bag idea someone else suggested is a really good one, too. We almost did that last move. Especially good if juggling suitcases in the airport is too stressful. Or you just have a lot of clothes! :)
But really, as someone else said, there is very little you will be moving that will work in the new country, or cost more to replace than shipping it costs. Leave all electrics except phones, laptops. Do some serious math with what's left to see if replacing items in your new country is not actually cheaper than shipping. There is Amazon.nl to help price replacements. Why spend $300 to ship a box when the items inside can be replaced for €200? And might not even be replaced at all. European houses are smaller, and you just need different things here. Also, good excuse to discover more shops and places in your new home!
For the sentimental furniture item, I get it. I have family furniture stashed at a relatives house for now that I eventually need to move. I got a quote for 5 pieces of furniture I have to deliver myself to the LA docks where it will be packed and shipped by boat for $1500. Figure it will end up being about $2000 to maybe $3000 depending on moving to the docks, customs, unknown costs, etc. That $1500 quote came from Shiply.com. not affiliated! Good luck with whatever you do. The Netherlands is lovely!! I am next door in Germany. :)
capamike@reddit
Really want to take it across the Atlantic risking to damage it?
Cut it off.. https://youtu.be/zxAzqxM5vc0?si=W07GSzsdCFL2g7T3