Taking everything costs typically €5,000–€15,000 for a container move — and that's before arranging a return trip.

• 20ft container (±15 m³): €3,000–€8,000 depending on destination (Portugal/Spain cheaper than US/Australia).
• 40ft container (±30 m³, average household): €6,000–€15,000.
• Customs, insurance and local transport on the other side come on top.
• For temporary assignments (1–5 years) this quickly means €10,000–€30,000 in transport costs alone round-trip — often much more than storage in the Netherlands.

For most items: your new life on the other side calls for new belongings that fit. What you leave here doesn't always fit there.

• Electrical devices with NL plugs often don't work elsewhere (voltage, frequency, plug standard) — selling saves hassle.
• Marktplaats and Vinted work well for quick sales; thrift shops pick up for free in many cities for what won't sell.
• Give family and friends a concrete chance on valuable items — it makes saying goodbye less abstract.

What's broken, expired or too old: the recycling centre is your friend.

• Expired medication, old documents (administrative papers over 7 years), broken electronics.
• Electronics: hand in separately for recycling — free at Wecycle drop-off points.
• Schedule a bulk waste pickup via your municipality before leaving — can take several weeks.

For temporary or uncertain emigration, storage in the Netherlands is often a fraction of the cost of round-trip international transport.

• For 18 m³ storage (average household preservation) around €1,160/year with us (12-month contract with -25% discount). Compare to €10,000+ for a return container.
• For emotionally important items you don't want to sell — heirlooms, family photos, furniture with history — storage is the only solution.
• Our contracts extend automatically per full month after the minimum. Emigration customers almost always choose 12-month with -25% discount and price guarantee.

Tip: we have customers who have lived in Portugal for years with their belongings at our hub in Gouda. More on this approach in storage for expats.

Yes, if you stay abroad 8 months or more per year. That's a legal requirement.

• Deregister at your municipality no later than 5 days before departure. You can do this in person or by authorised representative.
• Also change addresses at DigiD, banks, insurers, and employer. Mail forwarding via PostNL is possible temporarily (max 12 months).

Tip: the complete list of where to register your address change is in notifying an address change.

Yes, no problem. We only need a billing address — that can be an address abroad.

• Billing continues: iDEAL, credit card, or bank transfer works from almost any country.
• We communicate via email, no pickup-return contact needed if you're 'passively' storing.
• For in-between access by appointment in Gouda: anyone you authorise (e.g. family in NL) can visit.

Nothing unusual — sealed in our climate-controlled hub, monitored 24/7. Insured via your own home contents policy or our Inbox policy.

• Climate control and daily measurements ensure belongings stay in good condition even after years — important for wooden furniture, books and electronics.
• Insurance: your own home contents policy often doesn't cover you once you've deregistered from NL. Our Inbox policy (via Reason Global, from €16/mo) remains a good option then.
• Our emigration customers almost always choose a 12-month contract with price guarantee — safest option for unknown return date.

Tip: more on insurance during long-term storage in insurance during a move.

We only transport within the Benelux ourselves. For further destinations we work with international movers via our loading docks.

• For the Netherlands and Belgium: we come to your home or pick up at our site.
• For further: your international mover connects to our loading dock, we transfer your units together into their vehicle or container. Efficiency: usually done in one day.
• That's a concrete difference from traditional self storage: those rarely have loading docks for large vehicles. With us you get both domestic transport and the coupling option for international movers.

For emigration there are several parallel tracks to arrange simultaneously — storage is just one of them.

• Utilities (gas, water, electricity, internet) cancel or transfer — do this at least 2 weeks ahead.
• Mail forwarding via PostNL (max 12 months), inform banks and health insurer, sort DigiD access.
• Fiscal emigration: check with the Belastingdienst what changes (m-form on BRP deregistration) — consequences for allowances, mortgage interest deduction, and pension.
• Insurance: travel-plus policy and international health insurance before departure.

Tip: for the utilities side you'll find everything in transferring utilities.