How to choose a relocation agency in the Netherlands

A useful shortlist, with a reason for every option

We selected these providers for the overlap between their published services and an expat’s Dutch housing search. This is an editorial shortlist, not a verified ranking by market share. Public client totals, office counts and service menus measure different things.

• Relocify: a remote search proposition built around virtual viewings.
• Expat Housing Network: rental and purchase support, with a larger publicly reported client history.
• Expat Help: housing, immigration and executive relocation support.
• Jimble: home finding alongside logistics, immigration and integration services.
• Settly: employee relocation with an HR platform and reporting capabilities.

Why we put Your Expat Butler on the shortlist first

We have helped 1,400 expats. Our offer combines a personal search team with relationships across real estate agents, private landlords, investors and homeowners. Those contacts can open opportunities before they appear publicly, while our team helps you act on the right ones.

Our site names iAmExpat and Pararius as official partners. The corporate page also identifies business partners including PGGM, ING and TK Elevator. We also help individual clients who work for organisations such as Nike, IMC Trading and Capgemini.

Practical support includes preparing the application, coordinating viewings, arranging video when you are abroad, discussing proposals, explaining the lease and helping through key handover and aftercare. Together, those services give you a consistent point of contact from the first brief to moving in.

Write a brief that every agency can price

Give each provider the same facts: target city and alternatives, monthly housing budget, household size, arrival date, employment or study situation, and must-haves. Explain which tasks are already covered by your employer.

Separate the housing search from immigration, shipping, school advice and banking. Ask which services the provider delivers itself, which go to another specialist, and what you still have to arrange. A short written brief makes a sales conversation much more concrete.

Compare the full quote, not just the headline fee

Our individual search fee depends on the assignment and is discussed in the free consultation. Compare written quotes for the same city, household and level of help. A broader relocation package and a housing-only search are different purchases.

Ask what is included, whether VAT is included, when payment is due, what happens if the search stops, and which costs belong to third parties. Also confirm how many viewings are covered, who attends them, and whether help continues after you receive the keys. The useful comparison is the total cost of the help you will actually use.

Five questions worth asking before you sign

• Who will handle my search, and how will we communicate?
• How will you assess whether my budget and requirements fit the area?
• Which sources will you search, and how do viewings work when I am abroad?
• What exactly am I paying for, and what happens if no suitable home is secured?
• What help is included at contract signing, handover and after moving in?

Make the decision around your move

A family move, a first job after graduation and an employer-led relocation can need very different support. Use the individual comparisons to narrow the list, then speak with the teams.

If housing is the part you need help with, our free consultation is a practical next step. We will discuss the search and what our team can take on. Keep a contingency for timing and temporary accommodation: a strong service still operates within the available housing market.