Temporary storage during a move to Spain works as follows: your household goods are professionally packed and stored in a secure storage facility until your new home in Spain is available. This can take place either in the Netherlands or in Spain, depending on the situation and planning. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about temporary storage during an international move.

When is temporary storage needed during a move to Spain?

Temporary storage is needed when there is a gap between the moment you leave your home in the Netherlands and the moment you can move into your new home in Spain. This occurs with international moving to Spain more often than people expect, and it is wise to take this into account in advance.

The most common situations in which temporary storage is needed:

The key handover of your new home in Spain is later than the completion of your home in the Netherlands
You are already renting out your Dutch home, but the Spanish property is not yet ready
You want to first find a suitable home in Spain before having your household goods transported
Renovation work is underway in the new home
Your employer is covering the move, but the start date in Spain has not yet been confirmed

In short: storage provides the flexibility you need to keep the logistics of an international move running smoothly, without being under time pressure.

How does storing household goods during an international move work?

When storing household goods during an international move, your belongings are professionally packed, inventoried, and then stored in specially equipped, secure storage facilities. As soon as your home in Spain is available, the household goods are collected and delivered to the final destination.

The process generally follows these steps:

Inventory: Everything going into storage is carefully recorded on an inventory list. This is not only useful for logistics, but also essential for insurance and any customs formalities.
Professional packing: The household goods are carefully packed with protective materials, so that fragile items remain in perfect condition even during longer storage periods.
Storage in a secure facility: The goods are stored in a climate-controlled and secure storage location. We have our own storage facilities, including our location in Spijkenisse with an A++++-sustainability rating.
Transport to Spain: Once the home is available, the household goods are loaded and transported to Spain using our own fleet of vehicles. From our branch in Malaga, we serve the entire Andalusia region.
Delivery and placement: At the final destination, the household goods are delivered, unpacked, and, if desired, placed and assembled by our team.

Thanks to track-and-trace for international shipments, you have insight into the status of your household goods throughout the entire process. That provides peace of mind, especially with a move over such a great distance.

How long can you temporarily store your household goods?

There is no legally established maximum storage period for household goods during an international move. In practice, temporary storage during a move to Spain is used for periods ranging from a few weeks to several months, depending on the personal situation.

Do keep the following in mind:

Costs add up: The longer the storage, the higher the total costs. It is wise to keep the storage period as short as possible.
Insurance and customs: With longer storage periods, the terms of your household contents insurance or the customs exemption may come into play. Make sure you are well informed about this before making a decision.
Practical planning: For most customers moving from the Netherlands to Spain, the interim storage period averages a few weeks. This is sufficient to complete the key handover and any renovation work.

Our move coordinators are happy to think along with you about the most practical and cost-efficient planning for your specific situation.

What does temporary storage cost during a move to Spain?

The costs for temporary storage during a move to Spain depend on the volume of your household goods, the storage location (Netherlands or Spain), and the duration of the storage. An exact price can only be given after a personal inventory assessment, but costs typically consist of a fixed amount per period based on the storage volume used.

Factors that influence the price:

Volume: The more cubic metres your household goods take up, the higher the storage costs.
Duration: Storage for two weeks is of course cheaper than storage for three months.
Location: Storing in the Netherlands or in Spain involves different cost levels, partly due to transport costs and local rates.
Additional services: Professional packing, insurance, or special handling of valuable items may incur additional costs.

We do not compete on the lowest price, but on quality and peace of mind. With more than 100 years of experience and our own storage facilities, we ensure that your household goods are in good hands, without any unpleasant surprises afterwards.

Is your household contents insured during temporary storage?

Yes, your household goods can be insured during temporary storage, but this is not automatically covered by your regular household contents insurance. It is essential to check in advance whether your existing insurance provides coverage for goods that are temporarily stored outside your home, especially when it concerns an international move.

There are two situations to take into account:

Coverage through your own household contents insurance

Many standard household contents insurance policies offer limited or no coverage for goods that are temporarily stored, especially when you have already deregistered from your Dutch address. Always check this with your insurer before the move begins.

Additional transport insurance

With international moves, it is common to take out a separate transport insurance policy that covers both the transport and the storage period. This insurance is specifically tailored to the risks of an international move and generally provides full coverage for damage, loss, or theft. Our move coordinators will help you arrange the right insurance coverage for your situation.

What do you need to arrange before your household goods go into storage?

Before your household goods go into storage, there are a number of practical matters you need to arrange: drawing up a complete inventory list, taking out the right insurance, and checking whether any customs formalities apply. Good preparation prevents delays and unexpected costs.

Here is what you need to address concretely:

Inventory list: Make sure all goods going into storage are accurately documented. This is required for customs purposes and necessary in the event of a damage claim.
Insurance: Take out appropriate transport insurance that also covers the storage period. Check with your current insurer whether there are any overlaps or gaps in coverage.
Customs formalities: When moving from the Netherlands to Spain, you may be eligible for a customs exemption on your household goods. Our own customs declarants will guide you through the required documentation and applications.
Deregistration and change of address: Make sure you deregister from your municipality in good time and that relevant authorities are informed of your new address.
Valuable or fragile items: Indicate in advance which items require special attention, such as antiques, works of art, or electronics. These can be packed and stored separately.

With our relocation services, we, as a fourth-generation family business, take all the paperwork and administrative tasks completely off your hands. From the inventory list to the customs documents: you don’t have to think about a thing. That is exactly what we mean by complete peace of mind.

Veelgestelde vragen

Kan ik mijn inboedel ook gedeeltelijk opslaan en een deel direct naar Spanje laten vervoeren?

Ja, dat is zeker mogelijk. Bij veel internationale verhuizingen kiezen klanten ervoor om essentiële spullen — zoals kleding, elektronica en dagelijkse benodigdheden — direct mee te nemen of te laten vervoeren, terwijl de rest van de inboedel tijdelijk wordt opgeslagen. Een move coördinator helpt je bij het maken van een slimme verdeling, zodat je in Spanje niet zonder basisbenodigdheden zit terwijl je wacht op de rest van je inboedel.

Wat gebeurt er als mijn nieuwe woning in Spanje later beschikbaar is dan gepland?

Vertragingen bij sleuteloverdrachten of verbouwingen in Spanje komen helaas regelmatig voor. In dat geval wordt de opslagperiode eenvoudig verlengd, uiteraard tegen de geldende opslagtarieven. Het is verstandig om hier bij het afsluiten van de opslagovereenkomst al rekening mee te houden en te vragen naar de flexibiliteitsvoorwaarden, zodat je niet voor verrassingen komt te staan als de planning wijzigt.

Is klimaatgecontroleerde opslag echt noodzakelijk voor mijn inboedel?

Voor de meeste inboedels is klimaatgecontroleerde opslag sterk aan te raden, zeker bij langere opslagperiodes. Schommelingen in temperatuur en luchtvochtigheid kunnen schade veroorzaken aan houten meubels, elektronica, kunstwerken, boeken en antiek. Zeker wanneer de inboedel vanuit het Nederlandse klimaat naar het warmere Spanje gaat, biedt klimaatgecontroleerde opslag de beste bescherming voor jouw bezittingen.

Kan ik tijdens de opslagperiode nog bij mijn spullen als ik iets nodig heb?

Dit hangt af van de afspraken die je maakt met de verhuisonderneming en de opzet van de opslagfaciliteit. Bij sommige aanbieders is beperkte toegang tot de opgeslagen goederen mogelijk, maar bij professionele verhuisopslag — waarbij alles ingeladen in containers of opslagruimtes staat — is dit praktisch gezien niet altijd eenvoudig te realiseren. Bespreek dit vooraf met je move coördinator, zodat eventuele benodigde items apart worden gezet of direct worden meegegeven.

Hoe voorkom ik dat mijn verhuizing naar Spanje onnodig duur wordt door de opslagperiode?

De belangrijkste manier om kosten te beperken is een goede planning: zorg dat de opslagperiode zo kort mogelijk is door de sleuteloverdracht en eventuele verbouwing in Spanje zo goed mogelijk af te stemmen op de vertrekdatum uit Nederland. Daarnaast loont het om kritisch te kijken welke spullen écht mee moeten — minder volume betekent lagere opslag- én transportkosten. Een persoonlijke inventarisatie helpt je om een realistische kostenraming te maken en onaangename verrassingen te voorkomen.

Moet ik zelf aanwezig zijn bij het inladen van de inboedel in de opslag?

Het is niet verplicht, maar wel sterk aanbevolen om aanwezig te zijn bij de inventarisatie en het inladen, zodat je zelf kunt controleren of alles correct wordt vastgelegd en verpakt. Mocht je er echt niet bij kunnen zijn, dan kan een gemachtigde persoon jou vertegenwoordigen. Zorg er in dat geval voor dat diegene goed op de hoogte is van eventuele bijzondere instructies voor kwetsbare of waardevolle items.

Wat zijn de meest gemaakte fouten bij tijdelijke opslag tijdens een internationale verhuizing?

De meest voorkomende fouten zijn: geen of onvoldoende verzekering afsluiten voor de opslagperiode, vergeten om de douanevrijstelling tijdig aan te vragen, en een te krappe planning waardoor de opslagperiode onverwacht lang uitloopt. Ook onderschatten mensen regelmatig het volume van hun inboedel, wat leidt tot hogere kosten dan verwacht. Door vooraf goed advies in te winnen bij een ervaren verhuisspecialist vermijd je de meeste van deze valkuilen.

How does temporary storage work when moving to Spain?