Movers Pella
Movers in Pella, Iowa
Local movers serving Pella — the Dutch heritage city in Marion County, home to Central College, Pella Corporation, and Vermeer. Hourly pricing, real itemized quotes, same crew start to finish.
10,464
Residents (2020)
~40 mi
SE of Des Moines
1847
Year founded
800
Original Dutch settlers
The Dutch heritage city in Marion County
Pella sits about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines via Highway 163, in Marion County. The 2020 Census counted 10,464 residents. Like Ames and Boone, Pella is its own micropolitan statistical area — not part of the Des Moines metro — but it has long been a distinct destination in central Iowa for reasons all its own.
The city was founded in 1847 by 800 Dutch immigrants led by Dominie Hendrik Peter Scholte, a Dutch Reformed Church dissenter. They named their new town Pella after the ancient city where early Christians had once found refuge. Pella is Iowa’s oldest Dutch-American community, and Dutch culture remains central to its identity nearly two centuries later. Some longtime residents still speak Pella Dutch, a distinct local dialect that has been the subject of academic study.
Three major institutions anchor the city today: Central College (founded 1853), Pella Corporation (the family-owned manufacturer of Pella Windows), and Vermeer Corporation (founded 1948, with 3,400 employees). These three together employ a significant share of the Pella workforce and have built generational ties to the community.
Pella is served by the Pella Community School District, plus the private Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School. The city also famously has its own dialect of Dutch, its own annual Tulip Time festival (running every May since 1935), and its own architectural style — Dutch-influenced brick storefronts, gabled rooflines, and decorative tilework woven through the downtown.
Midwest Moving Pros now serves Pella as part of our expanded service area. We’re a family-owned local moving company based in Des Moines. The crew that loads in Pella is the crew that unloads at the new place. The price on the quote is the price on the invoice. No brokers, no consolidated shipments.
Three pillars of the Pella economy
Few Iowa cities of 10,000 residents have a single major employer, let alone three. Pella has Central College, Pella Corporation, and Vermeer Corporation — institutions that have shaped the city for generations.
1853
Since · Founded
Central College
Private liberal arts college on a 130-acre campus. About 1,169 students, NCAA Division III, athletic nickname “Dutch.” Founded as Central University of Iowa.
1925
Since · Founded
Pella Corporation
Family-owned manufacturer of Pella windows and doors, with a global product reach. Headquartered in Pella, with the company museum downtown.
1948
Since · Founded
Vermeer Corporation
Founded by Gary Vermeer, now run by the third generation of the Vermeer family. About 3,400 employees making industrial and agricultural equipment.
Dutch heritage landmarks
Pella’s Dutch identity is visible everywhere downtown — in architecture, in landmarks, and in annual traditions. Several specific places anchor that heritage.
Built 1847–1848
Scholte House
The home Dominie Scholte built for his wife Maria, just six months after arriving. North side of the square; gardens contain 35,000+ tulips during Tulip Time.
Since 1935
Tulip Time Festival
Three days each May celebrating Dutch heritage with Dutch dancing, parades, the Tulip Queen and Royal Court, and traditional Dutch foods. Started as a single-day 1935 event with 125 wooden tulips.
Replica of 1940
Tulip Toren
The concrete tower in Central Park, replica of a 70-foot wooden tower built in 1940. The dramatic backdrop for Tulip Time and the city’s most photographed landmark.
Dedicated 1985
Klokkenspel
Downtown bell tower with eight animated Dutch figures portraying scenes from Pella’s history. Performs multiple times daily; arches filled with Dutch tiles.
Opened 2001
Molengracht Plaza
Downtown plaza completed in 2000-2001 with a winding canal, brick walks, a Dutch drawbridge, and buildings in Dutch architectural style.
Completed 2002
Vermeer Windmill
The tallest working grain windmill in the United States at 124 feet. Built in Hoogmade, Netherlands, by Lukas Verbij; disassembled, shipped, and reassembled in Pella.
Lake Red Rock
#1Iowa’s largest lake
Just a few miles west of Pella
Iowa’s largest lake, created by a dam on the Des Moines River. Red Rock Marina, the Volksweg Trail, fishing, boating, and miles of shoreline make it a major recreation draw for Pella residents and a regular destination for central Iowa families. The Bos Landen Golf Club sits between the city and the lake.
Neighborhoods we move across in Pella
Pella’s neighborhoods reflect 175+ years of city history, from the original 1847 settlement blocks to newer subdivisions on the south and east sides.
Downtown square & Franklin Street
The historic Pella downtown, anchored by Central Park, the Tulip Toren, the Klokkenspel, and the Pella Opera House. Some of the oldest housing stock in the city, with Dutch-style brick storefronts. Walkable blocks; some homes date to the 1850s.
Central College area
Neighborhoods around the 130-acre Central College campus. Mix of single-family homes, faculty housing, and student-oriented rentals. Move volume spikes in the academic calendar but on a much smaller scale than Ames.
Historic core & Scholte House area
Some of Pella’s oldest homes, including houses built between 1850 and 1900. Mature trees, narrow stairwells, original Dutch architectural details. Several of these homes have been restored and are still occupied today.
Vermeer area / east side
The neighborhoods on Pella’s east side, near the Vermeer Corporation campus on East Vermeer Road. Mid-century and newer family homes, with quick access to Highway 163.
South side near sports park
Newer residential subdivisions south of downtown, near Pella Sports Park and the soccer complex. Modern construction with wider doorways, attached garages, full basements. Loads faster than the historic core.
Lake Red Rock side / west edge
The western neighborhoods that trend toward Lake Red Rock. Mix of established and newer homes, with quick access to the lake, the Volksweg Trail, and Bos Landen Golf Club.
What moves look like in Pella
A few things about Pella specifically shape how the work runs.
The drive from Des Moines is about 50 minutes
Our trucks come from Des Moines, and the route runs about 40 miles via Highway 163 southeast. The hourly rate covers that drive time — truck-on-road counts the same as truck-on-job. No trip charges, no distance surcharges.
Tulip Time week (first week of May)
The Tulip Time festival brings significant visitor traffic to Pella each May. Downtown streets close for parades and events. If your move falls on Tulip Time week, expect downtown access to be slower than normal. Send us the move date and we’ll plan the truck approach to avoid festival closures.
Older homes in the historic core
Homes around the downtown square and the Scholte House area have some of the oldest construction in central Iowa, with several houses dating to the 1850s. Narrow stairwells, original woodwork, tight doorways. We bring disassembly tools to every move and plan loading carefully to avoid damaging original architectural details.
Central College academic calendar
With about 1,169 Central College students, the academic calendar matters in Pella too — just on a much smaller scale than Ames. Late August arrivals and mid-May departures are the busiest windows around the campus.
Pella and Pella Christian school districts
The Pella Community School District serves most Pella addresses. Many families also choose Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School. Confirm with the school registrar before move day if you’re moving for the schools — some rural addresses may fall in neighboring districts.
What a Pella move costs
Our pricing is the same for Pella as for the rest of our service area. The longer drive from Des Moines adds time, but the hourly rate captures that — no trip charges or distance surcharges.
$160/hr
Hourly Rate
Crew, truck, fuel, pads, dollies, basic moving insurance.
+$100
Heavy Item
Flat charge for items too heavy for the standard crew.
$50
Local Deposit
Holds your move date. Applies to the final invoice.
$300
Long-Distance
Deposit for cross-country and out-of-state moves.
Most Pella moves end up higher than metro-only totals because of the drive time, but the hourly rate doesn’t change.
Moving in or out of Pella?
Itemized written quote within 24 hours. Same crew start to finish. The price on the quote matches the price on the invoice.
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