What a move costs
The move itself is a one-off project with several moving parts. Budget realistically for shipping, imports and getting established.
The biggest variables in a Bonaire move are how much you ship and whether you bring a vehicle. Because almost everything arrives by sea, freight and import charges are the line items that surprise people most. Figures are indicative — get current quotes for your situation.
Shipping and imports
Household goods usually travel by container from the Netherlands (Rotterdam/Amsterdam) to Kralendijk — either a full container (FCL) or a shared/groupage load (LCL) — with transit of roughly three to five weeks. On arrival, goods are subject to ABB: import duty itself is 0%, but the general ABB rate of 8% applies to the customs value (purchase price + freight + insurance). A local customs-clearance agent can handle the declaration.
- Sea freight: shared (LCL) or full container (FCL) — quoted by volume/weight.
- ABB on imported goods (general rate 8%); 0% import duty.
- Customs handling and local delivery from the port.
Importing a car
A vehicle is close to essential on Bonaire, but importing one is expensive: passenger cars carry 25% ABB on the customs value (zero-emission electric cars are 0%). A personal vehicle owned for a period before you relocate may qualify for a personal-move exemption (limited to one per household) — confirm the current conditions with the tax authority. Many newcomers weigh shipping their car against buying locally.
Getting established
Beyond freight, budget for one-off setup costs: flights, temporary accommodation while you find a home, rental and utility deposits, and vehicle registration/insurance. A financial buffer for the first few months smooths the inevitable surprises.
Shipping & moving companies
Companies that ship household goods to Bonaire by sea. Get an itemised quote for your volume.
Allways Transport
Sea freightCaribbean-specialist mover (35+ yrs): FCL/LCL sea freight, full-service moving, vehicle shipping, customs clearance and storage. NL + Bonaire branch.
- +599 717 7407
- Kaya Watt 3, Kralendijk (also NL: +31 78 631 1877)
- allwaystransport.nl/en/cargo-to-bonaire
Carib Intertrans
Sea freightShipping household goods and cargo from the Netherlands to Bonaire.
Transpack Moving Services
Sea freightInternational moving and relocation, sea freight to Kralendijk.
Sources & official links
For orientation only. Rules, rates and costs can change — always verify the current situation with the relevant authority or an advisor. · Last reviewed: July 2026.
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