Moving from the Netherlands to Italy

Leaving Amsterdam after several years abroad

After several years living abroad, we decided it was time to move back to Italy and be closer to our family. It was a big decision, but we felt it was the right moment for a new chapter.

Leaving a country where we had built our everyday life was emotional. We had spent years there, so moving away meant saying goodbye to a place that had become part of our routine. At the same time, we were excited about starting again somewhere that felt more familiar.

Moving from Amsterdam to Turin was therefore about much more than transporting our belongings. It was also about leaving one chapter behind and returning to Italy with everything that came with that decision.

Comparing quotes before choosing a moving company

Before choosing a moving company, we compared different options and asked for several quotes. We eventually chose Mondial Kattenberg Verhuizingen because they were responsive and professional from the beginning.

They came to our home for an in-person survey, which gave us a good impression. Their quote was clear and in line with what we had seen from other companies on the market.

Communication was another important factor for us. It was very good throughout the whole process, and that mattered because there was already a lot to organise around an international move.

What worried us most before the move

Our biggest concern was making sure everything would arrive safely and within the agreed timeframe. Moving a household internationally is stressful, especially when you have many belongings and a lot to organise.

We tried to plan as much as possible in advance. Comparing companies and understanding what we could expect helped us make our decision, although there was still the natural stress of waiting to see how everything would work in practice.

The protection of our belongings was particularly important to us. While the move overall went well, the use of protective wrapping was inconsistent for some items. That was one of the small things we felt could have been handled better.

The move itself was less stressful than we feared

Fortunately, the actual move went very smoothly. The team was professional and efficient, and everything was done within the agreed schedule. We did not experience any major problems or delays.

That made the experience much less stressful than we had expected. Moving countries is exhausting and emotional in itself, so having good communication and seeing the process happen as planned made a big difference.

What went well

• Communication was good throughout the moving process.
• The team was professional and efficient.
• Everything was completed within the agreed schedule.
• We had no major problems or delays.
• The move was less stressful than we had expected.

What didn’t go as expected

• Protective wrapping was used inconsistently for some of our belongings.
• A couple of small things could have been handled better, even though we were satisfied overall.

Arriving in Turin felt familiar and strange

Coming back to Italy felt familiar and strange at the same time. After spending years abroad, being back in a familiar environment was exciting, but it also felt a little surreal.

It was nice to rediscover everyday things that we had missed. Most importantly, we were finally closer to our family, which had been one of the main reasons behind our decision to return.

The arrival of our belongings was another important moment. Once everything was there, we could begin unpacking and turning the new house into our own space.

Unpacking is what made Turin feel like home

We are still settling in, and there is a lot to organise after a move like this. Even so, it started feeling like home quite quickly once our belongings arrived.

Being able to unpack and arrange our own furniture made the new house feel much more familiar. After the stress and emotion of leaving Amsterdam and making the journey back to Italy, having our things around us helped us feel that we had actually arrived.

There was also an emotional adjustment. Even when you are returning somewhere familiar and know the decision is right, leaving a country where you have lived for years can be surprisingly difficult.

What I would keep in mind before an international move

There is a lot to organise when moving between countries, but it is also important not to focus only on the practical side. Based on our experience, these are the things I would keep in mind:

• Plan as much as possible in advance.
• Compare several moving companies before deciding.
• Don’t choose a mover based on price alone.
• Pay attention to communication and reliability.
• Prepare for the emotional side of leaving a country where you have lived for years.

Looking back on the move from Amsterdam to Turin

Looking back, our move was a mixture of saying goodbye, starting again and slowly realising that we had made it to the other side. There was a lot to organise, and moving countries was both exhausting and emotional, but returning to Italy brought us closer to our family and gave us the new chapter we had been looking for.

Our belongings arriving and finally being able to unpack helped the new house begin to feel like home. As I think about the whole experience now, one moment sums it up best.