Considering a Move to Belgium?

Planning Your Move

When considering moving overseas it is important to speak with a specialist international removal company (not your local domestic mover!) as there are pitfalls. This is why you should speak directly with Abels Moving Services when moving to Belgium.

Before calling, consider whether you want to send all your possessions or just a select few personal effects. To speak to an advisor call our head office on +44 1842 816600 or email shipping@abels.co.uk and you will be contacted shortly to discuss your move.

For full house moves / large volumes it is recommended that a home survey appointment is made. One of our International Customer Service Managers can personally visit your home and discuss your moving requirements. They can then allay any concerns you may have and advise you on the whole moving process, and assess the items to be packed. Also they will explain how best to protect your items during their transit. The survey will also take account of access to your property to ensure that positioning a larger removal vehicle is possible. A full list of all items to be moved will be made by our colleague at this time. A detailed door to door removal proposal will be sent to you shortly following the visit after all costs are collated (including origin, road transportation, delivery services).

Smaller volumes can be discussed over the telephone, email or provided via our online service. Your volume, access, packing requirements and shipping method, will be assessed from the information you provide. A detailed door to door removal proposal will then be produced and either posted or emailed to you for consideration.

After you book with Abels you will be introduced to a Customer Liaison Move Coordinator (who will work on behalf of your Customer Service Manager) booking, organising and managing and assisting you when moving to Belgium.

Fine Art & Specialist Packing Services

Moving Fine Art needs great care and will involve Enhanced Packing when moving to Belgium. Items such as Fine Art Paintings and valuable pieces of furniture along with delicate items such as moving a Grand Father Clock packing and shipping Barometers, transporting Chandeliers, moving Grand Piano’s all need careful handling while being packed in a specific way. The use of made to measure wooden cases are regularly used to give the highest level of protection for delicate and valuable items.

Not only is the Packing of these items important, but also how they are dismantled prior to being moved to Belgium. Grand Father Clocks need their main components taken apart ensuring clearly that the weights are removed prior to casing the clock. Moving a barometer also need specialist packing services and careful handling to avoid any problem with the filled mercury, ensuring the tube is bunged to avoid spillage.

Training, training, training is the key to ensure all members of Abels packing teams are fully versed in the correct handling and packing techniques. Each year every team member comes back to our training school to practice their skills on our own specialist items of furniture (so they don’t practice on our customers!)

Customs Information

Since the UK left the EU we no longer have ‘free movement of goods’ between the UK and Belgium. This means the import of your household goods (furniture and personal effects) are subject to import and export rules and procedures. 

Your Abels Move Manager will provide you with tailored information to guide you through this part of the relocation process.

For now, here is a little breakdown of what to expect to help you start planning your move abroad.  

For your items to clear customs, you will need to provide some specific documentation. Our friendly team will discuss these requirements with you ahead of your move, the documents required at customs will depend on your status and personal situation. 

Explore the FIDI Customs Guide for Belgium, for further guidance ahead of your move consultation with a trusted member of the Abels team.

Destination Services

With items moved by Abels Moving Services to Belgium, Abels will take care of all aspects of the destination services with our own removal teams on our vehicles.

For the majority of deliveries we use one of our large removal vehicles. In situations were it is necessary to deliver items in Belgium by using a smaller delivery vehicle, Abels will make arrangements to transport the items by road in a normal removal delivery vehicle and then tranship to a smaller appropriate vehicle locally in Belgium.

Another consideration for delivery is the number of properties located on higher floors needing careful planning for delivery of your items. This can often be in conjunction with the concierge who will confirm the access possibility to the elevator and times approved for access. Some properties may only permit delivery utilising an external elevator.

Abels are a FIDI-faim quality organisation that highlights the standards that are provided by customers using services from Abels Moving Services. The destination services into Belgium continue with Abels performing arrangements for the Customs Clearance (if applicable) and a full Delivery Service.

An Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme operated by the British Association of Removers provides protection for prepayments made by our private customers (consumers) in the unlikely circumstance of Abels ceasing to trade and fulfilling a contract which has been paid for. This used to be provided by IMMI.

Normal service for delivery into Belgium includes delivery into rooms of your choosing, unpacking of carton items to a flat surface, set up of normal furniture removal and placement into positions as instructed, disposal of waste packaging materials. Should you prefer, arrangements can be made for a put away service of carton items / maid cleaning / relocation or settling in services – should you have specific requirements, please discuss with your Abels Customer Service Manager or Abels Customer Liaison.