A moving company with its own storage offers one decisive advantage when moving to Spain: your belongings remain in one pair of hands, from collection to delivery. There is no handover to an external party, no additional communication link, and no risk of miscommunication about the condition or location of your items. That provides peace of mind, clarity, and practical certainty at a moment when you already have enough on your plate.

Moving internationally to Spain involves more logistical challenges than a domestic move. Moving dates, delivery deadlines, and the availability of your new home rarely align seamlessly. The questions below answer everything you need to know about storage in combination with an international move.

What happens to your belongings if your moving date and handover date do not coincide?

If your moving date and handover date do not coincide, your belongings will be temporarily stored until your new home in Spain becomes available. With a moving company that has its own storage facilities, your belongings remain in the care of the same party that also carries out the move. Nothing needs to be transferred to a third party.

This is more often the rule than the exception with international moves to Spain. Properties are sometimes delayed in handover, notary appointments are pushed back, or you simply have not yet found a definitive home at the time you leave the Netherlands. In all these cases, your belongings need to go somewhere safe.

When your moving company has its own storage, your belongings are placed directly into the company’s own facility after the move-out. The items are carefully packed, catalogued, and stored until the final delivery date is known. Once your new home is ready, the move continues from the storage location, without you needing to get in touch with another party.

We operate from our own storage facilities in the Netherlands and our branch in Malaga, allowing us to manage the Netherlands–Spain route entirely in-house. This way, we maintain control over your belongings, from the first contact to the last box in place in your new Spanish home.

What advantages does own storage offer compared to external storage facilities?

Own storage at a moving company offers three concrete advantages over external storage facilities: there is one point of contact for the entire move, logistical planning runs more smoothly, and your belongings are not unnecessarily moved or transferred. This significantly reduces the risk of damage and administrative errors.

With external storage, your belongings must be transferred to a different organisation after the move. This means an additional loading and unloading moment, a new inventory check, and a new party becoming responsible for the condition of your items. If something is later missing or damaged, it becomes unclear who is liable.

Own storage facilities eliminate those handover moments. The belongings go directly from the truck to the storage space, packed and catalogued by the same team that also carries out the move. The inventory list remains up to date and is maintained in a single system. This also makes it easier to request specific items in the interim if needed.

In addition, professional storage facilities of a recognised moving company are generally better secured and climate-controlled than a standard self-storage unit. Our storage location in Spijkenisse has an A++++-sustainability classification, which is also beneficial for the preservation of your belongings.

How does the combination of moving and temporary storage work in practice?

In practice, the combination of an international move and temporary storage takes place in three phases: move-out in the Netherlands, temporary storage in the company’s own facility, and delivery to the final destination in Spain. Everything is coordinated by one move coordinator, who monitors the planning and keeps you informed.

The first phase begins with a move-out on the agreed date. Your belongings are professionally packed, large furniture is dismantled if necessary, and everything is loaded into our own trucks. Large pieces of furniture are photographed and recorded on video in advance, so that reassembly later goes smoothly.

Your belongings are then placed into storage in our own facility. Everything is catalogued and accompanied by an inventory list. You receive insight into what has been stored and can always ask your move coordinator for an update on the status of your items. For international shipments, we offer track and trace, so you know where your belongings are even from a distance.

Once your new home in Spain is available, the move coordinator schedules the delivery date. From our branch in Malaga, we serve the Andalusia region, from Malaga to Marbella and Cadiz. The belongings are delivered, furniture is reassembled, and if desired our team also provides an unpacking service and handyman work such as hanging lights and curtains.

What are the costs of storage with an international move to Spain?

The costs of temporary storage with an international move to Spain depend on the volume of your belongings, the storage duration, and the specific facilities used. There is no fixed price that applies to everyone, because every move and every situation is different.

Factors that influence the price include the number of cubic metres your belongings occupy, how long the storage lasts, whether climate-controlled storage is involved, and whether additional services such as packing and unpacking are included. The longer the storage period, the greater the share of storage costs in the total budget.

It is wise to always include storage costs in your total moving budget, even if you are not yet certain whether storage will be needed. For international moves within Europe, we routinely advise allowing for a buffer for temporary storage, precisely because handover deadlines in countries like Spain regularly overrun.

Another consideration worth noting: when a moving company offers its own storage as part of the overall service, the costs are often more transparent than when you have to arrange an external storage unit afterwards. You know in advance what you will pay, with no surprises later on.

When is temporary storage truly necessary for a move to Spain?

Temporary storage for a move to Spain is necessary when your moving date and the availability date of your new home do not match. This also applies if you are still searching for a home, if the notary signing is delayed, or if you are temporarily staying elsewhere before moving in permanently.

In practice, there are a number of situations in which storage cannot be avoided:

Your current home in the Netherlands must be vacated before your new home in Spain is ready
You are moving to temporary accommodation, such as a holiday home or apartment, before your permanent home becomes available
The construction or renovation of your Spanish home is running behind schedule
You want to settle into your new environment without your belongings before everything is delivered
There are customs or administrative delays in the import of your belongings

Especially with worldwide moves and international relocations, flexibility in planning is crucial. Unforeseen circumstances are more often the rule than the exception. A moving company with its own storage can act quickly when the situation changes, without you as a client having to renegotiate with an external storage provider.

How do you choose a moving company with reliable own storage for an international move?

A reliable moving company with its own storage for an international move can be recognised by a combination of concrete characteristics: own storage facilities (no outsourcing to third parties), recognised quality certifications, demonstrable experience with international relocations, and a clear point of contact throughout the entire process.

When making your choice, pay attention to the following points:

Own storage facilities: ask explicitly whether the company itself owns the storage space, or whether it is outsourced to a third party.
Recognised mover: choose a company that is a member of a recognised industry association, such as Top Movers Nederland, and that has international networks such as FIDI or IAM.
Own customs declarants: for a move to Spain, customs documents are mandatory. A company with its own declarants handles this in-house, preventing errors and delays.
Track and trace: you must be able to see at all times where your belongings are, especially with an international move.
Dedicated move coordinator: one point of contact who coordinates the entire move, including storage and delivery.

As a fourth-generation family business active in the moving industry since 1922, we have our own storage facilities, our own customs declarants, and a branch in Malaga for the Andalusia region. As a Royal Warrant Holder and recognised member of Top Movers Nederland, we stand for quality that you can verify. Through our relocation services, we take the entire process off your hands, from the first box to the last screw in your new Spanish home.

Would you like to know what needs to be arranged for a move to Spain, including importing a car or motorcycle? Then read more about the options surrounding importing a vehicle as part of your international move.

Veelgestelde vragen

Hoe lang kan ik mijn inboedel maximaal in opslag laten bij een internationale verhuizing naar Spanje?

De maximale opslagduur verschilt per verhuisbedrijf, maar bij de meeste professionele aanbieders met eigen faciliteiten is langdurige opslag van meerdere maanden mogelijk. Dit is met name relevant als je nog geen definitieve woning hebt gevonden of als er sprake is van aanhoudende bouwvertragingen. Bespreek de verwachte opslagduur vooraf met je move coordinator, zodat dit contractueel wordt vastgelegd en je niet voor verrassingen komt te staan.

Kan ik tijdens de opslagperiode nog bij mijn spullen of specifieke items ophalen?

Bij de meeste verhuisbedrijven met eigen opslagfaciliteiten is het mogelijk om tussentijds specifieke items op te vragen, mits dit vooraf wordt afgestemd met de move coordinator. Doordat je inboedel gecatalogiseerd is opgeslagen, kan een specifiek item relatief snel worden gelokaliseerd en vrijgegeven. Houd er rekening mee dat hier in sommige gevallen aanvullende kosten aan verbonden zijn, afhankelijk van de omvang van de aanvraag en de bereikbaarheid van het betreffende item in de opslagruimte.

Wat gebeurt er als mijn inboedel tijdens de opslag beschadigd raakt? Hoe zit het met de verzekering?

Een professioneel verhuisbedrijf met eigen opslag biedt doorgaans een verzekeringsdekking die de gehele keten omvat: van ophalen tot opslag tot aflevering. Vraag vooraf naar de exacte dekkingsvoorwaarden en of je inboedel tijdens de opslagperiode afzonderlijk verzekerd is. Het voordeel van één aanspreekpunt is dat bij eventuele schade direct duidelijk is welke partij verantwoordelijk is, in tegenstelling tot situaties waarbij meerdere partijen betrokken zijn.

Moet ik zelf aanwezig zijn bij de uithuizing in Nederland en de aflevering in Spanje?

Het is sterk aanbevolen om bij de uithuizing aanwezig te zijn, zodat je de inventarisatielijst kunt controleren en akkoord kunt geven op de staat van de inboedel bij het inladen. Bij de aflevering in Spanje is aanwezigheid eveneens wenselijk, zeker als er meubilair hermonteerd wordt of een uitpakservice plaatsvindt. Als aanwezigheid niet mogelijk is, kun je in overleg met je move coordinator een gemachtigde aanwijzen die namens jou aanwezig is en de documenten ondertekent.

Welke documenten heb ik nodig voor de douane bij het invoeren van mijn inboedel in Spanje?

Voor de invoer van je persoonlijke inboedel in Spanje heb je onder meer een geldig identiteitsbewijs, een bewijs van inschrijving in Spanje (empadronamiento of NIE-nummer), een gedetailleerde inventarislijst van de inboedel en bewijs dat je minimaal twaalf maanden buiten Spanje hebt gewoond nodig. Een verhuisbedrijf met eigen douanedeclaranten regelt het merendeel van deze documentatie in eigen beheer, wat fouten en vertragingen bij de grens voorkomt. Zorg er zelf voor dat je NIE-nummer tijdig is aangevraagd, want dit is een veelvoorkomend knelpunt bij verhuizingen naar Spanje.

Wat is een veelgemaakte fout bij het plannen van opslag in combinatie met een Spanje-verhuizing?

Een veelgemaakte fout is opslag pas regelen op het moment dat blijkt dat de opleverdatum van de nieuwe woning niet overeenkomt met de verhuisdatum, in plaats van dit preventief op te nemen in de planning. Hierdoor ontstaat tijdsdruk en is de kans groter dat je genoodzaakt bent een externe opslagunit te regelen die niet is geïntegreerd in het verhuistraject. Plan opslag altijd als standaard onderdeel van je verhuisbudget en -planning, ook als je op dat moment nog niet zeker weet of je er gebruik van zult maken.

Kan ik ook een deel van mijn inboedel laten opslaan en een ander deel direct laten afleveren in Spanje?

Ja, het is mogelijk om je inboedel te splitsen: een deel direct te laten afleveren op de bestemming in Spanje en een ander deel tijdelijk in opslag te plaatsen. Dit is bijvoorbeeld handig als je al over een tijdelijk verblijf beschikt en alvast de meest essentiële spullen wilt meenemen. Bespreek dit vooraf met je move coordinator, zodat de inventarisatie en het inlaadplan hierop worden afgestemd en er geen verwarring ontstaat over welke items waar naartoe gaan.

What is the advantage of a moving company with its own storage when moving to Spain?