Find rooms & apartments in the netherlands

Looking for a place to stay in the Netherlands?

Expat Housing - Visit the pages below to find more information.

Can I afford to buy a home in the Netherlands?

Expat Housing - Foreigners can freely buy a house in the Netherlands. The expanding home market has sent capital values soaring in recent years, with incomes lagging behind.

The average house price in the Netherlands is €419,000. A house in Amsterdam is much more expensive.

What’s the healthcare situation in the Netherlands?

Expat Housing - The Dutch healthcare system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Of course, that doesn’t stop people complaining about it – Dutch healthcare is generally non-interventionist in nature. Doctors don’t hand out medications lightly – yet the Netherlands spends approximately 10% of its GDP on health.

A Dutch doctor (huisarts) is responsible for gathering all your medical records and they are the gatekeepers to all the other types of medical treatment, so will be your first point of contact when you have a health problem (unless it’s an emergency, of course). They can deal with routine health issues, perform standard gynaecological and paediatric examinations, and refer you to other services, including hospitals, specialists, home midwifery, and physiotherapy. Appointments are generally short, averaging 15 minutes or less.

Basic health insurance is mandatory for all residents, with a minimum co-payment (eigen risico) of €385 per year.

Choosing a Location

Expat Housing - When moving to another country, picking the right location is a priority. Whilst other important considerations have to be taken into account, the actual location of your property is perhaps the factor that requires most thought. Many buyers will already have an idea of the type of house they need, number of bedrooms, and so on, but it is with the location that it pays to put some extra thought in to. In order to do this, consider several factors before committing yourself.

Some main factors you might consider are:

• How are you going to travel around?
• Do you need public transport or you will have a car?
• Do you want to find housing close to your study/work place?
• How can you get there?
• Is it close enough to go by bike?
• How much you can spend on housing?
• Is there a shopping centre close by?

Once you are able to answer such questions, then you are ready to make the right decision regarding housing location!

Everything You Need to Know About Finding a New Home

Expat Housing - The Netherlands has a rather large population compared to its size, which can make finding accommodation in the country a little tricky. On top of that, more than two thirds of the housing market are reserved for social housing, which is rarely available for expats.

Depending on where you decide to reside, housing in the Netherlands can be expensive. That is especially notable to Expats who wishes to find a house or apartment for rent in the central area of big cities such as Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

The market in the Netherlands is fast paced, so you will need to be quick when deciding whether or not to sign a contract. When you make a visit to a potential home, come prepared and have the necessary documents at hand. However, that does not mean that you will be able to find and get the place you want right away. Looking for the perfect home might take a while, so consider short-term rentals as a temporary option whilst you inspect the market.

While these days the country has quite a few different types of houses available for both rent and purchase, the most common one is the traditional town house that you see on streets and alongside canals. If canals intrigue you, you can literally immerse your life in them by living on a houseboat.

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> Read more about our moving company in Rotterdam
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Rented Housing

Both social and private (non-subsidised) housing can be rented in the Netherlands. Rules apply to both the tenant and the landlord. They cover security of tenure, rent, rent increases, maintenance, service charges, etc. Social housing tenants on low incomes are entitled to housing benefit if their rent is relatively high.

Social Housing

Approximately 75% of the 3 million rental homes in the Netherlands belong to housing associations. These associations are responsible among other things for letting social housing, defined as homes for which the initial monthly rent is under the then rent limit for liberalised tenancy agreements (private sector) (in Dutch). The current limit is € 763,47. Each year, housing associations must let 80% of their vacant social housing to people with an income of up to € 40.765 and 10% to people with an income between € 40.765 and in € 45.014. The associations may let 10% of their social housing to households with higher incomes than € 45.014.

Tenancy agreements

Houses are let subject to a tenancy agreement. The agreement sets out the terms and conditions agreed by the tenant and landlord. It states how high the rent is and whether the tenancy is for a fixed or an indefinite period. It must include:

• the date on which the rent will be increased each year;
• maintenance agreements;
• house rules;
• the tenant’s and the landlord’s signatures.

Fixed-period or indefinite tenancy agreement

A tenancy agreement is for either a fixed or an indefinite period. An agreement for a fixed period includes a final date. Do you have a fixed-period tenancy agreement of up to 2 years (for an independent dwelling) or up to 5 years (for a non-independent dwelling)? If the agreement was entered into on or after 1 July 2016, your tenancy will end automatically on the final date specified in the contract. The landlord must confirm this in writing at least 1 month – but no more than 3 months – before the tenancy ends. As a tenant, you can also terminate your tenancy before the final date.

Do you have a fixed-period tenancy agreement of more than 2 years (for an independent dwelling) or 5 years (for a non-independent dwelling)? Or do you have a fixed-period tenancy agreement that was entered into before 1 July 2016? This is not a temporary agreement. The agreement cannot be ended before the final date unless both the tenant and the landlord agree. The tenancy does not end automatically on the final date. Both the tenant and the landlord must terminate the agreement by means of a written notice sent by registered post.

Tenancy agreement in the private sector

Tenancy agreements in the more expensive private housing sector have been liberalised; the tenant and the landlord have more freedom to agree the rent and services provided. The rental value of the property is not based on a points system and there is no maximum rent. Only self-contained housing can be rented under such an agreement. Housing that is not self-contained (such as a room in a house) cannot.

For a period of 3 years (1 May 2021 until 1May 2024) the annual rent increase is limited by law. The maximum rent increase is inflation + 1%. In 2022 the maximum rent increase is 3,3% (2,4% inflation + 1%).

Rent ceiling

If the tenancy agreement is not liberalised, the rent payable for rented housing is subject to a ceiling. The maximum rent depends on the quality of the housing.

Housing benefit

If you spend a large proportion of your income on rent, you may be eligible for rent benefit. You can apply to the Tax and Customs Administration.

Maintenance rules

The tenant and landlord have their own responsibilities to maintain, repair and replace parts of the rented accommodation.

In general:

• the tenant pays for minor repairs and the landlord for major repairs and maintenance;
• the tenant must have easy access to make minor repairs and the repairs must not be expensive. Otherwise, the landlord must pay for them;
• the tenant must allow the landlord to enter the accommodation to carry out maintenance or repairs.

Complaints about landlords

Complaints must be submitted to the landlord. If a complaint cannot be resolved satisfactorily, tenants can submit it to the landlord's complaints committee. Most housing associations operating in the social housing sector and some private housing organisations have a complaints committee.

When a complaint isn't solved, it becomes a dispute. Disputes can be brought before the Rent Tribunal (in Dutch: Huurcommissie). Disputes about rent levels, maintenance or service charges can be submitted to the Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie).

Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie)

The Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) is a national, independent and impartial agency which can mediate and adjudicate on disputes between tenants and landlords about rent levels, maintenance and service charges.

The Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) is an ADR: an Alternative, out of court, Dispute Resolution service. It provides information, mediation and arbitrage. It only deals with disputes about housing, rented rooms and caravans. It does not deal with nuisance, housing benefit and business/office accommodation.

Proceedings

If a tenant and a landlord have a dispute that they cannot solve themselves, they can start proceedings at the Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie). This costs for most proceedings €25 for a private person and €450 for a company or organisation (legal entity).

Tenants can start proceedings on the following matters:

• Rent charged under a new tenancy agreement
• Rent increases after improvements/renovation
• Rent decreases due to defective maintenance
• Rent decreases under the rent points system
• Annual settlements of service charges
• Advances of service charges
• Annual rent increases
• The separation of all-in rent into a basic rent and service charges

Landlords can start proceedings on:

• Maintenance defects that have been repaired
• Rent increases after improvements/renovation
• Annual settlements of service charges
• Annual rent increases

Information about these proceedings is available on the website of the Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie). The information is in Dutch only.