Moving to Dortmund
Dortmund is the eastern gateway to the Ruhr – the first big city in the region you reach when driving from Poland. The former city of coal mines and steelworks now lives from logistics, services, IT and its universities, and many Poles live in the area, including those whose families came here generations ago. We plan moving to Dortmund from Wrocław as a two-day or overnight route, and because the Ruhr cities lie close together, we often combine several addresses in the region in a single trip.
The route from Wrocław to Dortmund
Dortmund is about 800 kilometres away. We most often take the A4 motorway to Dresden, then continue past Leipzig and Halle towards Göttingen, along the A7 to Kassel and the A44 straight into Dortmund. The alternative is the route via Berlin and Hanover on the A2 – we choose it when there are roadworks on the stretch through Thuringia. Pure driving time in a van is about eight to nine hours, so we don't combine it with full loading and unloading in a single working day for the drivers.
| Option | How it works | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Two days | loading in Wrocław, departure, unloading in Dortmund the next morning | flats with a move-in date fixed in advance |
| Several addresses | Dortmund and neighbouring cities on one route | family members and employees moving to different Ruhr cities |
| Via storage | the load waits in Frankfurt am Main, a few hours' drive from Dortmund | when the keys to the flat are only available after a few days |
The Ruhr as one city
The boundaries between Dortmund, Bochum, Essen, Gelsenkirchen and Unną are almost invisible to a newcomer – the cities merge into one another, and the A40, A42 and A2 motorways can be congested for most of the day. That's why we set the unloading time with the morning and afternoon rush hours in mind. Many people work in Dortmund but live in a cheaper city nearby, so when quoting we always ask for the exact address, not just the name of the city.
Miners' colonies
Rows of low houses with small gardens, built for miners. Narrow entrances and steep stairs to the attic, but easy access right up to the door.
Tenements in the centre
Kreuzviertel and the area around Westpark have older buildings with high floors and no lift. Here, reserving a parking space is essential.
New developments
Buildings around Lake Phoenix and new blocks on the outskirts: lifts, underground garages and rules for carrying in agreed with the property manager.
Parking and environmental zones
As everywhere in Germany, it's worth arranging a temporary no-stopping zone outside the building for moving day. The application is made to the city authority in advance, and the signs are put up by the company that hires them out. The Ruhr has low-emission zones whose rules have changed in recent years and differ between cities – so before setting off, we check the current regulations for the specific address and choose a vehicle with the right sticker.
Registering your address in Dortmund
You have two weeks from moving in to register your address (Anmeldung). In Dortmund this is done at the citizens' service offices, ideally with an appointment booked in advance. You need an ID card or passport and a confirmation of moving in from the landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). The other formalities, from a tax number to re-registering your car, are described on our moving to Germany page.
You'll find the general principles of moving abroad on our international moving page, and information about storing belongings along the way on our Frankfurt warehouse page.
Moving to Dortmund – questions
How long does a move from Wrocław to Dortmund take?
Usually two days: packing and loading on the first, the drive and unloading on the second. With the storage option, you choose the delivery date yourself.
Do you cover Bochum, Essen and other Ruhr cities?
Yes. Addresses in the region are close together, so we often combine them in a single trip.
Are customs documents needed for a move to Dortmund?
No. Poland and Germany are both in the European Union, so household goods are moved without customs clearance. All you need is a contract with us and an inventory.
Will you move belongings from Dortmund to Poland?
Yes, in both directions. We plan the return trip the same way – directly or via our warehouse in Frankfurt.
Is the move insured?
Yes, we have third-party liability insurance of PLN 500,000, and the move is documented with a contract and a VAT invoice.
A new job in the Ruhr?
Give us the address in Dortmund or a neighbouring city – we'll suggest a two-day option or one via storage.
From Wrocław
to the heart of the Ruhr
A free quote for moving to Dortmund, Bochum and Essen.
Free quote