Ostend sits right on the Belgian coast, in West Flanders. It is one of the closest Belgian cities to the UK. Most moves take the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. The crossing is 35 minutes. Then it is about an hour and a half along the coast road to Ostend (Oostende in Dutch).
The Dover to Dunkirk ferry with DFDS is a great fit, as Dunkirk is close by on the same coast. Dover to Calais also works well. Your partner mover picks the best crossing for your UK postcode and date.
Ostend is the largest city on the Belgian coast and was once a busy ferry port to England. Today it is known for its beach, its harbour, the arts and a relaxed seaside life. Many moves here are lifestyle moves and retirements, plus jobs in the port and tourism. International Removals Companies is a free matching service. We do not move your things ourselves. We match your enquiry with one FIDI-certified mover. They survey the job and quote.
Free matching. One FIDI-certified partner. No obligation.
Ostend is a city of flats. Much of the sea front and the centre is tall apartment blocks, many with sea views. A lot of these have lifts, which helps. But some older blocks have small lifts or none, so your mover may use a furniture lift up to a window for big items.
Parking near the sea front can be tight, and some streets are busy. Your mover may need a permit to load, or may book a parking bay for the day. They check this before they come.
Away from the front, the suburbs and the towns nearby have houses with easier access and parking. Tell your mover the exact address, the floor and whether there is a lift. Then the right van and any permit are set up before the day.
These are rough planning guides for a UK to Ostend move. The real figure depends on volume, both addresses and access. Ostend is one of the closest Belgian cities to the UK, so a part-load can be very good value.
Boxes and a few items. Flexible date.
About £700 to £1,400
Transit: 3 to 7 days.
8 to 15 cubic metres.
About £1,100 to £1,900
Dedicated vehicle. 1 to 2 days.
20 to 40 cubic metres.
About £2,000 to £3,600
Dedicated vehicle.
40 to 60+ cubic metres.
About £3,300 to £5,200+
Priced after survey.
These are rough planning guides in pounds. Belgium uses the euro, so set-up costs on arrival are paid in euros. Your matched mover gives a firm quote after a survey.
Since Brexit, a move from Great Britain to Belgium is treated as an import into the EU. Your goods need customs clearance when they arrive.
You can claim relief from import duty and VAT on your belongings. This is the EU removal-goods rule, known as transfer of residence. The Belgian authority is the Federal Public Service Finance. That is the SPF Finances in French, the FOD Financiën in Dutch. The standard Belgian VAT rate is 21%.
To qualify you must have owned and used the items for at least six months. You must also be moving your main home to Belgium. Household goods come in free of duty within one year of your move. Belgium gives no relief for a second home. The move must be of your main home.
Is your paperwork not complete? Customs may ask for a bond of about 10% duty plus 21% VAT. You get it back within about six months once you show your note of residence. Your mover prepares the inventory and files the entry. You cannot file it yourself. Bring a full valued inventory. Bring proof you have left your UK address. Bring proof of your new Belgian address. Bring your passport.
FIDI FAIM is the top quality standard for international removal companies. A mover earns it through an Ernst and Young audit. The audit checks more than 200 criteria, every three years. For an Ostend move, that means your mover knows the short coastal route, the sea-front flat access and the Belgian customs process.
International Removals Companies connects each Ostend enquiry with one FIDI FAIM-certified removal company, free. We've operated since November 2010. Company 07425576. ICO ZB022743. Norman House, Saint Saviours Estate, Abbey Street, London, SE1 3DH. Working Member of AGM Group since 2010. Partner movers hold FIDI FAIM (audited by Ernst and Young) and BAR Overseas accreditation.
The Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais is the usual choice. The crossing is 35 minutes. Ostend is about an hour and a half along the coast. The Dover to Dunkirk ferry is ideal, as Dunkirk is close by. Your mover picks the best crossing for your postcode.
Dutch. Ostend is on the coast of West Flanders, the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium. The city's own name in Dutch is Oostende. English is widely understood in this seaside city.
Not if you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief. It removes import duty and the 21% Belgian VAT. It applies to belongings you have owned for at least six months. Your mover files the claim for you.
Yes, and many Ostend moves are exactly this. A lot of homes are flats with sea views. Your mover checks the lift and may use a furniture lift up to a window for big items. Tell us the floor and whether there is a lift.
A dedicated vehicle from London to Ostend usually takes one to two days. Ostend is very close to the crossings, so it is one of the quicker routes. A shared part-load takes three to seven days.
As a guide, a one-bedroom part-load is around £700 to £1,400. A two to three-bedroom home is around £2,000 to £3,600 or more. Ostend is close to the UK, which helps keep costs down. These are rough figures.
Yes. Ostend is close to the crossings, so shared part-load and groupage moves are common and good value. Just ask for a part-load when you enquire.
FIDI FAIM is the top quality standard for removal companies. Ernst and Young audit each firm. They check more than 200 criteria, every three years. We only match Ostend enquiries with FIDI FAIM-accredited movers.
International Removals Companies is a free matching service, not a remover. You send your enquiry. We match it with one vetted FIDI-certified mover for your route. They contact you to survey and quote. No obligation. No charge.
Send your UK collection postcode, your Ostend delivery address, your inventory and your moving date. We match you with one FIDI-certified mover who confirms the route, the quote and the Belgian customs plan.
Get an Ostend QuoteFree matching. One FIDI-certified partner. DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, operating since November 2010.
Tell us where you move from and to. Add your rough list and your date. It takes a minute.
We match you with one vetted mover. Just one. They call you. They look at the move. They give you a quote. It is free. There is no catch.
They pack your things. They load the van. They take the ferry or the tunnel. They drive to Belgium. They bring it to your new home.
They also do the customs papers. You do not file a thing. FIDI FAIM means they pass a strict audit. No shortcuts.
Good movers plan ahead. They book the crossing. They check the road on both sides. They bring the right boxes and wrap for your things. On the day they pack, load and go. You do not need to lift a thing.
Ask for a survey first. A survey is free. The mover sees your home. They count what you have. Then the quote is right, and there are no shocks on the day. A video survey works well too, if you are short on time.
Plan your dates with care. The busy months are June, July and August. Book early if you can. A quiet week can cost less. Your mover will tell you the best time for your route.
Keep your papers in one folder. You will need them for customs. A list of what you own helps a lot. Note down what is worth a lot, like a laptop or a bike. Your mover will help you with the form.
Pack a small bag for the first night. Put in what you need at once. Think of your keys, your phone, your meds and a change of clothes. Tape your boxes well. Mark each box with the room it goes to. It makes the new place easy to set up.
Tell your mover about stairs, lifts and tight doors. Tell them if a big sofa must come apart. The more they know, the smoother the day. Ask any question you have. A good mover is happy to help.
We connect removals to Ostend and moving company Ostend enquiries with one vetted FIDI-certified partner mover. DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, company 07425576, ICO ZB022743. Norman House, Saint Saviours Estate, Abbey Street, London, SE1 3DH. Working Member of AGM Group since 2010.
Prices, transit times, insurance and customs paperwork are confirmed by your partner mover before booking.