Guides
What size moving van do I need? m³ guide and table
A student room usually needs 3 to 10 m³ of cargo space, a one-bedroom flat 15 to 25 m³ and a terraced house 30 to 45 m³. So an 11.1 m³ moving van, like the Go-Mez Ford Transit L3H2, will usually move a student room in a single trip, while a fully furnished one-bedroom flat takes two or three trips. Below you’ll find how to estimate your own volume, what fits in the van and how to load it well.
In short
- Student room: 3–10 m³. Usually fits in one trip with an 11 m³ van.
- Studio: roughly 10–25 m³, depending heavily on how much you own.
- One-bedroom flat: 15–25 m³, so two or three trips.
- Terraced house or family: 30–45 m³. With one 11 m³ van, that’s at least three trips.
- Licence: a standard category B car licence is enough for the Ford Transit 350.
How many m³ do you need per home?
Removal companies work with volume, not floor area. One student owns a mattress and ten boxes, another a full sofa set, so use the table as a starting point and then add up your own things.
| Home or household | Typical volume | Trips with 11.1 m³ (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Student room, little furniture | 3–10 m³ | 1 |
| Studio or one-room flat | 10–25 m³ | 1–3 |
| One-bedroom flat (2-kamerappartement) | 15–25 m³ | 2–3 |
| Couple without children | 20–30 m³ | 2–3 |
| Terraced house or family with 1–2 children | 30–45 m³ | 3–5 |
The ranges combine guidelines from several Dutch removal firms. The lower figure for a studio comes from a Dutch rental company, which suggests a 9–12 m³ van for a studio or one-room flat. In Dutch listings, a one-bedroom flat is called a two-room flat. The number of trips is simply the volume divided by 11.1 m³, rounded up. You never fill a van completely, so if in doubt, plan one extra trip.
Working out your own volume
The most accurate way is to list what’s coming with you, room by room, and add up the volumes. Removal companies use roughly these figures:
- Moving box: about 0.1 m³, so ten boxes per m³
- Desk: about 1 m³
- Double bed: 1.5–2 m³
- Three-seater sofa: 2–3 m³
- Wardrobe: 1.5–2.5 m³
- Fridge: 1–1.5 m³
A worked example for a student room: double bed (2 m³) + wardrobe (2 m³) + desk (1 m³) + 20 boxes (2 m³) comes to about 7 m³. That leaves room to spare in an 11.1 m³ van, for your bike, for instance.
What fits in an 11.1 m³ van?
The cargo area of the Ford Transit L3H2 that Go-Mez rents out is about 3.49 m long, 1.78 m wide and 1.89 m high. Between the wheel arches a Transit is roughly 1.39 m wide. What does that mean in practice?
- Long items fit lengthways. A bed frame, mattress or sofa of 2 to 2.5 m fits easily in a load length of almost 3.5 m.
- Mind the wheel arches. Anything lying flat on the floor that’s wider than about 1.39 m won’t fit between them, so stand a wide mattress or tabletop on its side.
- Tall wardrobes go on their side or in pieces. Anything taller than 1.89 m won’t stand upright. Measure big items against the door opening too: according to the specifications for the current Transit, the rear door opening is lower than the interior height.
- A student room in one go. An 11 m³ van holds roughly the contents of a student room: bed, desk, wardrobe, fridge and personal belongings.
Category B licence, 3 seats and costs
A category B licence lets you drive a vehicle of up to 3,500 kg, including its load (Dutch government, in Dutch). On the Transit, the 350 designation stands for a gross vehicle weight of 3,500 kg, and SnappCar states that a B licence is enough for every van on the platform. Because the load counts towards that limit, don’t overload the van. Boxes full of books are heavy.
To rent through SnappCar you must be at least 21, have held your licence for at least 12 months and live in the Netherlands or Germany. SnappCar only accepts licences from the EU and the UK; Greek, Swiss and Norwegian licences are checked manually. Licences from other countries aren’t accepted, not even with an International Driving Permit. The Transit has 3 seats, so two helpers can ride along. If a helper wants to drive as well, they can be added free of charge as an extra driver with their own verified SnappCar account.
The van costs €59 per day, including 200 km; beyond that you pay €0.25 per km plus a 10% SnappCar commission. On top come a service fee of €10.66 per day, all-risk insurance of €5.50 to €21 per day (depending on your profile) and roadside assistance at €3.50 per day in the Netherlands. As a guide, that comes to €79–94 per day (as of September 2026; see how SnappCar prices are calculated). SnappCar may also ask for a deposit; for vans, SnappCar says it’s usually €250. For booking, pick-up and return, see how it works.
Go-Mez is an independent host on SnappCar. Booking, payment and insurance all go through SnappCar, and SnappCar’s current terms always take precedence.
Loading: make every cubic metre count
- Take apart what you can. Beds, tables and wardrobes take up far less space dismantled. Put the screws in a bag and tape it to the furniture.
- Heavy and bulky items first. Heavy things and boxes go at the bottom, light ones on top. Load from the front wall of the cargo area and pack everything tightly together so nothing can slide; that’s also the advice of a Dutch transport insurer.
- Fill the gaps. Cushions, duvets and soft bags fit into every corner.
- Secure the load with ratchet straps. If you’ve already unloaded part of it on the way, secure the rest again (another tip from that insurer).
- Protect with blankets. Old blankets or moving blankets between furniture prevent scratches, on your things and inside the van.
- Keep the fridge upright. Transport a fridge upright where possible. If it has to lie down, wait 12 hours before switching it back on.
- Lock the washing machine drum. Drain the water from the inlet hose and the filter first, fit the transit bolts and keep the machine upright. Remove the bolts again before your first wash.
- Load last what you need first, such as bedding, tools and the kettle.
Pick-up in Sprundel, moving into Tilburg
The van is based in Sprundel (Rucphen municipality). That’s roughly 8 minutes’ drive from Etten-Leur, 15–20 minutes from Roosendaal, 20–25 minutes from Breda and around 40 minutes from Tilburg. The nearest train station is Etten-Leur, about 6 km away. The Transit isn’t keyless: you arrange a time with Jorge to hand over the key and do the check-in together in the SnappCar app.
Moving into or within Tilburg city centre? Keep two things in mind (as of September 2026):
- Access hours. The car-free city centre is open for loading and unloading daily from 06:00 to 11:00. According to Tilburg municipality, house moves also have to take place within those hours. So start early.
- Zero-emission zone. Since 1 January 2025, a zero-emission zone for vans and lorries has applied inside the ring roads. According to Op weg naar ZES, Euro 6 vans first registered before 2025, like this 2017 Transit, may enter until at least 1 January 2028, and the Dutch government plans to extend that to 1 January 2029. Check the rules just before your move, as zone rules are your responsibility as the renter: any fine is passed on through SnappCar, plus a €20 admin fee (SnappCar fines policy, in Dutch).
In Breda, the zero-emission zone inside the canal ring only starts on 1 January 2029. Breda’s current low-emission zone applies only to diesel lorries, not to vans (Breda municipality).
Living in Tilburg after your move and need a car now and then? Our Toyota Aygos are parked across the city.
Frequently asked questions
Does a student room fit in one trip?
Usually, yes. Removal companies put a student room at 3 to 10 m³, and the van holds 11.1 m³.
How many moving boxes fit in an 11 m³ van?
In theory, just over a hundred boxes of 0.1 m³. If furniture is coming too, add up its volume first and see how much space is left for boxes.
Can I use the van to take bulky waste to the tip?
No. The Transit isn’t suitable for bulky waste, rubbish, rubble or garden waste. Return it clean and empty, with the same fuel level as at pick-up.
What if my moving date changes?
Cancel more than 24 hours before the start and you get your money back; within 24 hours there’s no refund (SnappCar’s cancellation terms, in Dutch, as of September 2026). For a different date or time, send a change request from your booking. The change only goes through once the owner agrees. You’ll find more answers in the FAQ.
