For some reason, Berlin’s best and best-known movers evolved from the city’s squatter scene during the 1980s (maybe their hobby just made them good at moving). They ship around the world and their employees tend to be alternatively minded 20 and 30 somethings who are careful with your goods – Zapf and Run Umzüge are two such companies.

There’s also any number of dayworkers with access to a truck that will lug whatever needs lugging for less. However, it’s unlikely the one-man firms are insured and getting refunds for broken property is unlikely. You get what you pay for. Moving the contents of a normal one-bedroom apartment within Berlin should cost a little over €500.

If you want to move your own gear, Robben & Wientjes (030 616 770, www.robben-wientjes.de) is everyone’s favourite truck rental company. Rates are good and the vehicles always reliable. Yards in Pankow and Kreuzberg make it easy for pick-up and return.

For those with small budgets, a popular alternative is to rent a truck and then hire several students to do some of the heavy-lifting – the Heinzelmännchen student employment agency (030 831 6068) is a good starting point.

Both moving companies and Robben & Wientjes will rent moving boxes for about €0.50 each.

When moving items to Germany, the only real concern are firearms – you must have a German firearms licence to possess them in Berlin.