Moving from the Canary Islands to Belgium is far more than loading boxes onto a lorry: it is an international removal by sea that leaves the islands, crosses the Atlantic and arrives at Antwerp or Zeebrugge. At Horizont Atlantic we have spent 15 years organising this kind of move from our own base in Tenerife (El Mayorazgo) and our office in Las Palmas, and here is something many people don't realise: although Belgium is in the European Union, the Canary Islands sit outside the EU customs union and the common VAT area, so your removal always goes through an export clearance in the islands and an import clearance on arrival. We handle the whole thing for you, from start to finish.
What is the route and how long does it take?
The backbone of a move from the Canary Islands to Belgium is container shipping by sea. We collect your furniture in the south of Tenerife or the south of Gran Canaria, take it to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Las Palmas and load it bound for the major ports of northern Europe: Antwerp (Antwerpen) or Zeebrugge. Once in Belgium, the container is cleared through customs and the load is distributed by road to your new address, whether in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Liège or anywhere else.
- Collection and packing in the Canary Islands: we prepare and protect everything at your home in the islands.
- Export clearance: we handle the outbound paperwork at the Canary port.
- Sea crossing: the container sails towards Antwerp or Zeebrugge.
- Import and delivery: inbound clearance in Belgium and delivery by road to your home.
The transit takes several weeks and depends on the option you choose (groupage or dedicated), on how often the ships sail and on customs clearance times. We always give you a realistic, indicative timescale and keep you informed at every stage. If you have a genuine urgency, there is the air freight option, much faster but also more expensive and limited in volume.
Customs and paperwork: what really matters
This is where people who assume that moving within the EU is a simple formality get it most wrong. The Canary Islands are a special territory: politically they are part of the European Union, but they lie outside the customs union and the common VAT area. In practice, that means your removal does not travel as an internal European shipment; it needs an export clearance in the Canary Islands and an import clearance in Belgium, just as if it came from outside the Union.
Don't worry: this is precisely our speciality. We take care of:
- Preparing the valued inventory of your belongings, a key document for clearance.
- Handling the export paperwork at the Canary port.
- Coordinating the import clearance in Belgium with our agents.
- Advising you on the usual requirements for household goods and personal effects when someone is relocating their residence.
We'll be honest with you about something important: we do not make up duty figures or tax schemes. Every situation (change of residence, second home, partial shipment) has its own treatment, and the charges or exemptions depend on your specific case and on the rules in force. What we do guarantee is that we handle the process and advise you throughout, so that the paperwork is correct and there are no surprises or avoidable hold-ups at the port of arrival.
The options: dedicated container, groupage and air freight
Not every move needs the same thing. That is why we work with three options and help you choose the one that best fits your volume, your budget and your timescales.
- Dedicated container: a whole 20 or 40 foot container just for you. It is the ideal choice for a complete household move. Your load travels on its own, with tighter timings and no waiting to consolidate with other shipments. It offers maximum security and control.
- Groupage (consolidated): you share a container with other shipments and pay only for the volume you take up (cubic metres). It is the most economical option and perfect for small or medium moves, partial households or anyone who isn't in a hurry. In return, timescales can be a little longer because we wait for the container to fill up.
- Air freight: for urgent needs or for the essentials you need in Belgium as soon as possible. It is fast but expensive and limited by weight and volume; it is usually combined with a later sea shipment for the bulk of the furniture.
For most moves within the Belgian community, the real decision is between groupage and a dedicated container. After assessing your volume, we explain clearly which one works out best in your case.
A complete door-to-door service
A well-run international removal is the sum of many small details. At Horizont Atlantic we cover the entire journey so that you don't have to coordinate five different suppliers:
- Volume assessment: in person or by video call, to work out the cubic metres and give you an accurate quote.
- Export packing: reinforced protection designed for a sea crossing, using professional materials and special protection for fragile items and delicate furniture.
- Customs handled: export in the Canary Islands and import in Belgium, with all the paperwork.
- Goods insurance: cover for your furniture throughout the journey, based on the declared value.
- Delivery, unpacking and assembly at destination: we take the boxes to your new home in Belgium and, if you arrange it, we unpack and reassemble the furniture.
- Bridging storage in the Canary Islands: if your departure and arrival dates don't line up, we keep your belongings safe in our own facilities for as long as you need.
Who it's for: the Belgian community in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are home to a sizeable Belgian community, particularly settled in the south of Tenerife (areas such as Adeje, Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, San Miguel de Abona or Golf del Sur) and in the south of Gran Canaria (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Mogán or Puerto Rico). Many Belgian residents come to the islands for the climate and quality of life, and over time some decide to return to Belgium or split their lives between the two countries.
We regularly work with very specific profiles:
- Retirees and early retirees going back to Belgium to be near family.
- Families returning for work, their children's education or personal reasons.
- Professionals and remote workers moving their base between the Canary Islands and northern Europe.
- Second-home owners reorganising furniture between their two properties.
Whatever your case, we understand that a move of this scale means paperwork, deadlines and a fair bit of stress. Our job is to let you focus solely on beginning your new chapter in Belgium while we make sure your belongings arrive safely, on time and without customs complications.
Why choose Horizont Atlantic
We are a genuine removals company with 15 years of experience and our own base in Tenerife (El Mayorazgo) as well as an office in Las Palmas. That means our own team, warehouse and storage facilities in the islands, not mere brokering. We know sea logistics from the Canary Islands because it is what we do every week: we ship removals from the Canary ports to the whole of Europe and the rest of the world.
With us you'll have a single point of contact for the entire operation, a clear quote once we've assessed your volume, and the peace of mind that the trickiest part — customs — is in the hands of people who deal with it every day. Ask us for a no-obligation assessment and we'll explain, honestly and without inflated figures, exactly how your move from the Canary Islands to Belgium will work.
Frequently asked questions
Browse the tabs to resolve all your questions.
If you cannot find what you are looking for, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be glad to help!
Because the Canary Islands, although part of the European Union, lie outside the customs union and the common VAT area: they are a special territory. In practice, your removal needs an export clearance in the Canary Islands and an import clearance in Belgium, just like a shipment from outside the EU. We handle all that paperwork and advise you. We'll be honest: any charges or exemptions depend on your specific situation (change of residence, personal effects, etc.) and on the rules in force, so we won't give you made-up tax figures, but rather genuine advice on your case.
With groupage you share a container with other shipments and pay only for the volume you take up, which makes it more economical and perfect for small or medium moves; in return, timescales can be a little longer because we wait for the container to fill up. With a dedicated container you have a 20 or 40 foot container all to yourself: it is ideal for a complete household, offers greater control and security and tighter timings. Once we've assessed your volume, we tell you honestly which option works out best for you.
Yes. We offer goods insurance that covers your furniture throughout the journey, based on the declared value of your belongings. That is why we prepare a valued inventory before departure. What's more, the export packing we use is designed specifically to withstand a sea crossing, with professional materials and reinforced protection for fragile items and delicate furniture. We explain the cover available so you can choose the one that gives you the most peace of mind.
No, it is perfectly normal on international removals and we plan for it. Most of our clients don't travel with their furniture: their belongings go by sea while you make your own way over. We coordinate collection in the Canary Islands and delivery in Belgium on the dates we agree, and if your departure and arrival dates don't line up, we keep your things in our bridging storage in the Canary Islands for as long as you need. At destination we can deliver, unpack and assemble the furniture even if you delegate to another trusted person.
The main leg is by sea in a container from the ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Las Palmas to Antwerp or Zeebrugge, with an indicative transit of several weeks. The exact time depends on the option (groupage usually takes longer because we wait to consolidate the container, whereas a dedicated container goes more directly), on how often the ships sail and on customs clearance times. If you have a genuine urgency, air freight is much faster although more expensive and limited in volume. We always give you a realistic timescale and keep you informed at every stage.
We won't give a fixed figure without knowing your case, because that would be misleading. The cost depends mainly on the volume (cubic metres of furniture), on the option you choose (groupage, dedicated container or air freight), on any additional services (packing, unpacking, assembly, storage) and on insurance. The first step is always a volume assessment, in person or by video call, after which we give you a clear, accurate quote. Groupage is usually the most economical option for small and medium moves.
Why choose us?
Request a quote
Online tracking
After over 15 years repeating the same processes countless times, we set out to create an intuitive, functional tool.
- We optimise the time to upload and sign documents
- We make online tracking easy
- We simplify payments and invoicing
We provide moving services to the following towns:
