Moving household goods from Amsterdam to UK?

hi all, hoping to get your wisdom! We're moving to the UK in August (County Durham), and shipping our stuff from the US. Meanwhile we have friends in Amsterdam who are moving out of their house and they've offered to give us a lot of their furniture. Is it difficult to arrange moving household goods from Europe to the UK? Do we need to get special customs clearance, and will it be taxed? We have no idea about the laws governing such moves, and will be very grateful of your advice - thanks!

Hi

Around 2007'ish I helped my best friend and his wife move back from Amsterdam. I simply hired a Luton sized van - these are the ones a bit bigger than a transit and have the electric flat big tail lift at the back, drove it over there, filled it up and drove it back. In terms of the actual process that's all really there is to it. In terms of the legalities etc, I'm unsure as he'd done all of what/if is required previously. As it's within the EU, I don't think the items will be taxed. Perhaps ask around and look at the immigration places etc, you might have to fill in forms to declare the items are 2nd hand etc, but again im not sure on the situation if they've just been given to you. I'd 'guess' that it shouldn't be an issue, after all, if you purchase something on ebay and it's in Holland, you can indeed just drive over, pick it up and bring it back (generally) so I'd expect 2nd hand furniture to be the same.

Keep in mind that the hire costs, fuel and channel crossing costs will add up. I doubt you'll want to do it all in a day, so preferably over a weekend so you can meetup with your friends too. So do factor in the costs of that aspect as well. You 'might' find it's better for them to give away / donate / sell their stuff and for you to purchase your furniture here etc etc.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

It will probably be too expensive for you to have a professional mover do it for you (but I work for one, so do let me know if you'd be interested!).

When I moved over from Switzerland, I used a guy who has a transit van and does runs like this every week. He even brought me and my two cats along with him - all for a very reasonable price. Contact him at: stephen@sgrexpress.co.uk and tell him that Shelley the American who moved her two cats from Switzerland 3 years ago sent you (not sure he'll remember me, but considering we spent two days in a van together, he probably will!).

Thanks for your advice! I really appreciate it. We consulted with some movers and lawyers and learned that, just as you say, there is no tax or duties on goods moved within the EU. Our friends in Amsterdam found a moving firm there which will load and move the furniture for us for approx 2000 euros, which seems reasonable to us. We thought about renting and driving the truck ourselves as you suggest but the problem of returning it seemed like a big issue, not to mention driving on the wrong side of the road for the respective steering wheel! I'll post on the outcome of the move (now scheduled for late August) once it's done and let you know how it worked out - fingers crossed!