General information

How to rent an apartment in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is a very popular destination for seasonal work trips. Working and living in this country often turns out to be so attractive that many foreigners decide to stay there for longer. When working through an employment agency, you usually do not have to worry about housing, but in many cases the housing conditions leave much to be desired… So if you are planning a longer stay in the Netherlands, it is worth renting an apartment on your own! How to rent an apartment in the Netherlands? Read the article!

The latest job offers in the Netherlands on europa.jobs!

Apartments in the Netherlands – where to look for offers?

We can rent an apartment (or a room) in the Netherlands in two ways: directly from the owner, or using the services of a real estate agency. The second option will usually involve additional commission costs, but it often gives us a guarantee that we will not be cheated in any way by the owner of the apartment.

The easiest way to search for apartments is on websites such as:

  1. www.funda.nl
  2. www.pararius.nl
  3. www.marktplaats.nl
  4. www.expathousingnetwork.nl

Documents needed to sign the rental agreement

When renting an apartment without intermediaries, there is no need to have any additional documents apart from the identity card. However, real estate agencies may require:

  1. permanent employment contract
  2. income certificate from the employer or tax office

In this way, real estate agencies protect themselves against insolvent clients, but also based on this data they can adjust the offer to our financial capabilities.

What should a rental agreement contain?

Once we have chosen our dream apartment, we need to draw up a contract! Such a document should contain:

  1. tenant and landlord details
  2. amount of rent, deposit and other fees (electricity, gas, water)
  3. address and a detailed description of the current condition of the apartment
  4. the date of commencement and possible end of the rental period
  5. rules for terminating the contract
  6. date and method of payment
  7. house rules
  8. apartment maintenance conditions (e.g. minor repairs, renovations)

What to pay attention to when signing a contract?

Before the final decision and signing the contract, it is worth paying attention to several things:

  1. An opinion about the selected real estate agency – if we use this service. 
  2. When renting directly from the owner – it is worth making sure that the person offering to rent the apartment is actually its owner (you can ask to see the ownership certificate). 
  3. Does the contract contain all necessary information, especially regarding fees.

It is worth asking the owner of the apartment or the real estate agent about the possibility of registering – registration in the Netherlands is necessary if we plan a permanent stay in this country.

Apartment in the Netherlands – rental costs

The main factors influencing the price of renting an apartment in the Netherlands are: location, size and standard. Modern apartments in the center of large cities will be much more expensive than older apartments outside the center. On average, the monthly rental cost is:

  1. from €200 to €400 per room 
  2. from €600 to €1300 for a studio apartment 
  3. from €800 to even €2500 for a multi-room apartment

Here are sample prices for renting a studio apartment and a room, in the three cities most frequently inhabited by foreigners in the Netherlands:

City Studio apartment Room
Amsterdam EUR 700-1400  EUR 350-800 
Rotterdam EUR 650-1200  EUR 250-650 
Den-Haag EUR 500-850  EUR 150-500 

Apart from rent and bills amounting to approximately €180 per month, we also have to take into account the municipal fee for garbage collection. Each municipality determines its own amount of this fee, on average, it costs €250-330 per year.

If, while browsing through offers, we come across excessive (in our opinion) rental prices, it is worth informing the State Rental Commission, which will take our application and check the situation. More information can be found at: www.huurcommissie.nl

Are you thinking of going to the Netherlands?

Check out job offers in the Netherlands on europa.jobs

Related entries:

  1. Costs of living in the Netherlands
  2. Days off and holidays in the Netherlands in 2023
  3. Minimum wages in the Netherlands – what is the age distribution?
  4. Jobs in the Netherlands without knowledge of the language – list of industries
  5. Moving to the Netherlands for work? Here’s everything you need to know about tax

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