Moving with confidence: how to maintain overview and control

Moving Doesn’t Have to Be a Nightmare (If You Follow This Plan)

Let’s be honest: moving house is overwhelming.

Boxes everywhere. Lost keys. Forgotten contracts. Rushed goodbyes. It can feel like your entire life is being turned upside down.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

At Moving Forward Day, we’ve helped hundreds of families and businesses across the Netherlands move smarter, not harder. Over time, we’ve refined what actually works into a step-by-step system.

And now? We’re sharing it with you—for free.

This isn’t just a generic list. It’s a battle-tested, Dutch-approved checklist built from years of experience. Whether you’re moving from Amsterdam to Almere or just switching flats in Lelystad, this guide has your back.

🗓️ 6 Weeks Before Moving Day – The Planning Phase

1. Book Your Moving Company Early

Good moving companies get booked fast—especially in summer. Don’t wait. Secure your moving day with a reliable team (like us 😉) as early as possible.

Bonus Tip: Ask if your mover offers packing materials or storage. We do.

2. Create a “Move Master Folder”

Paper or digital, this folder holds:

Contracts
Moving quotes
Receipts
Change-of-address checklists
Utility account numbers

3. Notify Your Landlord or Sell Your Home

Most rental agreements in the Netherlands require at least one month’s notice. Selling? Get an agent involved now.

📦 4 Weeks Before – Declutter & Downsize

4. Purge What You Don’t Love or Need

Be ruthless. If it doesn’t serve your future home, it doesn’t move with you.

Options:

Sell on Marktplaats or Vinted
Donate to local kringloopwinkels
Recycle or toss what’s broken

5. Buy or Rent Packing Supplies

Don’t forget:

Double-layer boxes
Fragile tape
Markers
Bubble wrap
Wardrobe boxes

Eco Option: Ask us about reusable moving crates.

6. Call Your Utility Providers

Inform:

Water & gas (e.g., Vattenfall, Eneco)
Internet (KPN, Ziggo)
Insurance (inboedel & aansprakelijkheid)
Schools or daycare

🏠 2–3 Weeks Before – Administrative Cleanup

7. Change Your Address Officially

Bank accounts
Health insurance (zorgverzekering)
Belastingdienst
Work contracts
Magazine subscriptions

Here’s the official page: Rijksoverheid – Changing Your Address

8. Pre-Plan Your Layout

Know where your couch, fridge, and bed will go. Measure everything. Create a simple sketch of your new home’s layout.

9. Label Boxes by Room + Importance

Use a consistent format:

“Kitchen – Plates – Fragile”
“Bedroom – Clothes – Open First”

🧳 1 Week Before – Get Real About Moving Day

10. Pack an “Open Me First” Box

Your first night essentials:

Toothbrush & toiletries
Phone chargers
Snacks & bottled water
Tools
Toilet paper 😅

11. Disassemble Furniture in Advance

Beds, closets, desks—anything big should be taken apart before moving day. Store screws in labeled bags taped to the furniture.

12. Confirm Everything with Your Mover

Call us (or your chosen company) and verify:

Arrival time
Address
Parking access
Emergency contact

🚛 Moving Day – Showtime

13. Keep Valuables with You

Important documents, jewelry, passports—keep them in a backpack or handbag with you at all times.

14. Be Available to the Movers

Walk them through your priorities. Show what’s fragile or heavy. Be present, but let the pros do their thing.

15. Final Walkthrough & Key Return

Leave nothing behind. Check every drawer, closet, balcony, and window sill.

🎉 After the Move – New Home, New Start

16. Check for Damages Immediately

If something’s broken, take photos and report it ASAP. A good company (like us!) will make it right.

17. Start with Key Rooms

Day 1 priority list:

Make your bed 🛏️
Set up your Wi-Fi 📶
Make coffee ☕
Breathe.

🧠 Final Words: Move Forward with Confidence

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right plan—and the right partner—it can be smooth, empowering, and even fun.

At Moving Forward Day, we don’t just move boxes. We move lives, memories, and futures.

📞 Want help with any of the steps above?
Get your free moving quote today or call our team for a personal consultation.

📥 Download: Printable Moving Checklist (PDF)

We turned this checklist into a clean, printable PDF for you.

👉 Download it here

Tape it to your fridge. Share it with friends. Use it to own your move.

👣 What’s Next?

✅ Need help packing? Stay tuned for our Packing Like a Pro blog next week.
📦 Want to know our top gear? Read: 10 Must-Have Moving Supplies You Didn’t Know You Needed