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17 free guides · Updated for 2026

Everything an expat needs to know before buying here

Written in plain English by people who work in Dutch property, with sources and dates on every figure. No sign-up, no email wall, and no obligation to use anything we offer.

Start here

If you read one thing, make it the main guide.

Guide How to buy a house in the Netherlands The complete step-by-step guide, from budget to keys. Start here. Decision Rent or buy? How long you need to stay before buying pays off, and the expat-specific risks.

Costs and money

What buying actually costs, and what you can compare.

Costs Kosten koper explained Every cost on top of the asking price, with a worked example and what is deductible. Costs What a buying agent costs Fee models, realistic ranges, VAT, and what should be in the quote.

The buying process

How offers, contracts, and buyer protection work here.

Process How bidding works Sealed bids, why the highest offer does not always win, and the ten percent risk. Legal Bedenktijd explained Your three-day statutory escape hatch, and how to actually use it.

Property and legal

The two structures that catch international buyers out.

Legal Erfpacht (leasehold) explained Continuing versus perpetual, ground rent, and how it affects your mortgage. Apartments VvE explained What you join when you buy an apartment, and the red flags in the accounts.

Mortgages

Financing as a non-permanent resident, and what it costs.

Mortgages Mortgage advice and fees What lenders assess in an expat file, and how to compare advisor fees. Mortgages Mortgages on a temporary permit Can you borrow without permanent residency, and what lenders actually look at. Mortgages NHG explained The 2026 limits, the premium, and what the guarantee really protects against.

City guides

Local conditions, district by district, with 2026 figures.

Local Buying in Amsterdam Leasehold, foundations, owners associations, and district differences. Local Buying in Rotterdam North versus south, post-war stock, and overbidding that tripled in a year. Local Buying in The Hague The international districts, pre-war stock, and coastal maintenance. Local Buying in Utrecht The tightest market in the country, wharf cellars, and the ring around it. Local Buying in Eindhoven The Brainport effect, post-war stock, and looking beyond the city boundary. Local Buying in Almere Districts, commuting, polder ground settlement, and self-build checks.

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