Packing Essentials for Your First Weeks As An American Moving Abroad: Netherlands Edition

Darien Wilson
May 22
7 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

When I moved to the Netherlands in 2021, I was 50 years old, had bought and sold several homes, and moved to different states in the U.S. several times. I felt certain my husband and I could handle any hiccup that came our way with an international move. I knew it might take a while for our shipping container to arrive. What I didn't anticipate was how hard it would be to restock even the most basic household essentials once we landed.

three plates on dish drain rack in front of window with bike and storage shed — The three lovely vintage plates our Dutch friend loaned us while we waited for our shipping container to arrive.

Supply chain issues in 2021 made things harder than an average year, but the real challenge was learning how Dutch retail works: which stores carry what, how to pay when you don’t yet have a local bank account, and how to prepare to make those first few weeks easier.

Thankfully, others have shared their wisdom, too. I asked fellow Americans on the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) Facebook group DAFThub what they packed — and what they wished they’d brought when they moved to the Netherlands. I've included their valuable insights for packing essentials in quotes below.

Why Those First Weeks Can Be Bumpy

When you first arrive, unless you have previously spent time in the Netherlands or have family or friends there, you may be unfamiliar with which stores carry which items. You'll probably be jet lagged for a week or so, adding to your brain fog as you use google translate to avoid putting buttermilk in your coffee. (A thing that actually happened to us - you might want to avoid "karnemelk" unless you are making biscuits.)

Additionally, we found that most stores would not accept American credit cards, and we did not yet have a Dutch bank account, so we had to carry cash around. Our shopping locations were somewhat limited until we got a Dutch bank account.

The combination of these challenges can make running a quick errand to buy a broom or band-aids take three times as long and feel twice as frustrating as it would in the States.

folding chairs, a folding table, and a small wooden table with a laptop on it — Our "dining room/office" in our first week in the Netherlands. Our kind Dutch neighbors loaned us their camping furniture when they saw we had nothing to sit on.

In our first week in the Netherlands, my daughter fell off her bike and hurt her arm. I thought I could pick up some children's Tylenol, an ice pack, and band-aids at the supermarket, but my local grocer carried none of those items. Next, I tried Action, which is similar to a dollar store or Target in the U.S., but I only found the band-aids there. I ended up going to a third store, an apotheek, or pharmacy, to find the children's Tylenol. I never did figure out where to buy an ice pack; we just used a bag of frozen peas, but thankfully by the time I found what we needed, she was feeling better anyway.

“I still find Dutch stores confusing — Etos has tampons and diapers but not toilet paper?” - Bethany Quinn

What to Pack in Your Suitcase When Moving Abroad

Everyone’s move looks a little different, of course, but here are the packing essentials that many Americans moving abroad find helpful to have in the early weeks:

Bedding & Sleeping Arrangements

Pillow. Having your own pillow can help make your new place feel like home - but keep in mind you won't be able to buy replacement pillowcases for standard American sized pillows once yours wear out, as pillows come in different sizes abroad.
Duvet and duvet cover - pack in vacuum bags
We struggled to align the delivery date of our mattresses with our move-in date, and we ended up paying a premium to buy mattresses that could be delivered that day. Ideally, you would already have a bed in your new property, but if that is not possible, consider purchasing an air mattress or bringing a camping pad for a few days or weeks. Reminder: American plugs will not work in the Netherlands, and plug converters won't work on anything with a motor, so an air mattress with a motor from the U.S. might not work here in the Netherlands.

“We slept on the floor with a borrowed mattress and one too-small quilt. I wish we’d brought bedding.”

“I had a really good air mattress shipped ahead of time and I was so glad I did. I ended up sleeping on it for six months.” - Bethany Quinn

Basic Suitcase Kitchen Kit

Lightweight dishes
One fork, spoon, and knife per person
Favorite cooking utensils like a spatula
A knife or two (I brought a chef's knife and a paring knife)
1-2 pots and pans
Dish towel
Flexible cutting board
Reusable water bottles

“We brought wheat straw dishes, a couple of pans, and our favorite knife. That got us through until IKEA delivery.” - resident of Den Haag

Personal Essentials to consider packing

Towels - one per person
Chargers and adapters
Toiletries for at least 1–2 weeks
Any over the counter medications you take regularly, along with prescriptions. Aim to bring several months of any critical medication, as it can take some time to find a doctor and get your prescriptions replaced after your move.

Miscellaneous

Scissors
Tape
Zip ties
Favorite spices or pantry items you use every day
Pet essentials if you’re traveling with animals
A screwdriver - we have one that can switch from + to -

“We packed a large suitcase just for the dogs — sweaters, food, nail clippers, and toys.”

“We furnished our entire place with one order from IKEA. They delivered the boxes, and family helped assemble them.”

Where to Shop Locally

A Hema department store in an old brick Dutch house — The adorable Hema on Texel island.

Here are some popular Dutch stores and their American equivalents. This list is not sponsored, nor is it exhaustive.

Kringloopwinkels (thrift stores) – Affordable used furniture and decor, but like American thrift stores and boxes of chocolate, you never know what you're gonna get. Walk in looking for an armchair and you may walk out with a stack of albums, some Christmas ornaments, and a hilarious mug - but no armchair.
Marktplaats is the Dutch correlary to Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace is also a popular choice for buying and selling everything from used furniture to dishes to bicycles. However, we had some difficulty using these forums in the early weeks, as sellers wanted us to pay via bank transfer, and we did not have a Dutch bank account. We used Brenger to pick up the larger furniture pieces we bought secondhand. Over the years, we have also found buying and selling forums specific to our community, but these can be tough to tap into in your first weeks on the ground in a new country.
IKEA – If you're used to shopping at IKEA in the U.S., you'll feel right at home in the familiar maze and meatballs. Here you can find nearly everything you need to outfit a house - furniture, kitchen gear - heck, a whole KITCHEN, light fixtures, extension cords, home decor, and rugs, among MANY other things.
Coolblue – For electronics and appliances. Known for quick shipping and friendly service. We purchased our washer and dryer there, and the delivery team cheerfully hoisted it up two flights of Dutch stairs like it was no big deal.
Action – Inexpensive basics like cleaning supplies, dishes, decor, pet supplies, cosmetics, and snacks. Similar to a dollar store.
HEMA – A department store similar to Target but smaller, here you can find small household items, linens, clothes, cosmetics, bike basics, seasonal decor, and school supplies. They also have a small grocery section, and many Dutch people love their rookworst (smoked sausage).
Bol.com – It's like Dutch Amazon. They carry just about everything, but fair warning: the entire site is in Dutch. Knowing the right Dutch word to search for is not always as simple as using google translate and entering the English word, as some things don't translate word for word. So it can be a bit of a challenge if you lack a cultural translator for, say, matches. The kind of matches you use to light candles are called "lucifers" in Dutch, but if you google translate "matches," it will give you "wedstrijden," which is like a sports match.
Etos and Kruidvat are drugstores similar to Walgreens, minus the pharmacy. They carry things like menstrual care products, first aid items, vitamins, shampoo, soap, deodorant, and cosmetics.
Gamma, Praxis, Karwei, and Hornbach are hardware stores similar to Home Depot or Lowe's.

a very large television in the foyer of a house — That time a stranger's TV was delivered to my house - a common practice in the Netherlands.

One nice thing about delivery in the Netherlands is that it usually arrives quickly. Most of the time I order things online, they arrive the next day.

A word of caution: your packages may be delivered to your neighbors or sent to a pickup point if you are not home when the delivery service attempts to deliver your item. I once received a television for a neighbor I hadn't even met yet. If you don't yet have a car, picking up a large shipment from a pickup point can be a challenge. Try to include a note during checkout to specify what you would like the delivery person to do if you are not home when they deliver your package. The PostNL app allows you to indicate what you prefer them to do with your packages, but setting up the app can take a few weeks, as they snail mail a piece of paper mail to your address to set up your online account.

“Even though our place was furnished, we still had to cook with pan lids and make sauces in coffee mugs. It was like camping!”

“Our backpacks were stuffed with spices and things we didn’t want to wait weeks to replace.”

Final Tips from Those Who’ve Done It

Pack with intention. Don’t bring everything — just what will make your first weeks livable.
Vacuum bags are your friend. Compress bedding and towels to maximize space.
Don’t overpack furniture. As I've written before, Dutch homes tend to be much smaller than American ones, so your favorite sectional might not fit.
If you're bringing bins on the plane: According to a DAFTer who is a resident of Den Haag, Rubbermaid-style totes can be checked if within airline size/weight limits. Zip-tie them shut and include extra zip ties so they can be closed again after customs checks them.
Stay flexible. Think of your first few weeks as a short-term adventure. You’ll eventually feel at home.

Moving Soon?

If you’re preparing for your own move to the Netherlands — or anywhere abroad — check out my Values & Vision Worksheet or book a strategy session with me. I help Americans in the sandwich years make intentional, successful international moves — with fewer surprises and more joy.