ACCESS NL > Housing in the Netherlands > Housing
Housing
The Netherlands is very densely populated. In 2020, it has 17 million inhabitants. It is expected that in 2030 this will be 18 million and in 2039 it will reach up to 19 million inhabitants. In 2020, there are almost eight million homes in the Netherlands.
Types of housing
- Detached (Vrijstaand)
- Semi-detached (Twee onder een kap)
- Terraced/Town houses (Rijtjeshuis)
The most common type of dwelling is the terraced house. This is a family home, two or three storeys high, with a front and back garden, adjoined by two, three or more identical homes.
A standard Dutch house has two rooms in addition to the kitchen, living room, toilet and bathroom.
Most Dutch people live in urban areas, yet the limitation of space is putting pressure on rural areas too. Many city dwellers would love to live amidst the water and the greenery of the countryside. Since space is scarce in the Netherlands, many people live in low- or high-rise flats.
Due to a lack of information on the local property market, regulations, laws and technicalities, it is advisable for newcomers to use the services of an estate agent (makelaar), rather than trying to find a property by themselves. This applies to both renting and buying properties and saves unnecessary costs that might be incurred on top of an agent’s commission.
Cost of housing
The cost of housing depends on the area and the size of the property.
Most expats rent properties but some buy their homes. Both options are available depending on your company relocation policy, income and the length of your stay.
During the first quarter of 2010 the average house sold in the Netherlands for € 232,000. This is an increase of 0.4% in comparison to the last quarter of 2009. In the “Randstad” area (the area including and in between The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam) housing is most expensive and Amsterdam is considered to be the most expensive city to live in. Due to the constant shortage of new housing, the market remains tight.
Rent or buy?
There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to rent or buy a house in the Netherlands. If you plan to stay in the Netherlands for a short period it may be more advisable to rent a property rather than buy one. Here are two important reasons why it is better to rent:
- The costs associated with buying amount to approximately 10% of the purchase price. You will have to make a 10% profit, if you do not want to lose money. Recovering that amount during a few years’ stay in the Netherlands can be difficult
- You have to maintain your premises. Consider the costs incurred during the process of redecorating your new home
Resources
The safest, most efficient way to find a rental property in the private market is to commission a real estate agent (makelaar) with experience in helping expats, to find one for you. You can start by contacting the Dutch Association of Estate Agents, the Nederlandse Vereniging van Makelaars (www.nvm.nl).
NVM’s property site www.funda.nl contains information about properties for sale and for rent throughout the Netherlands.
Huurda.com is a website – in English – offering rental accomodation in the Netherlands. No registration is needed. Interested tenants can get in touch with the landlords immediately and directly.
More information
If you need a list of estate agents in your area, please contact the ACCESS Helpdesk on 0900 222 2377(€0.20 per min) 10:00–16:00, Monday to Friday, or send us an email at helpdesk@access-nl.org.
