Finding accommodation
Finding a place to live in the Netherlands is one of the issues that you should look into as soon as you can once you’ve decided to move to the Netherlands. It is likely to take a lot of time and effort before you find something you’re happy with. As a rule, many Dutch host organizations will offer you some accommodation initially, but only for a limited period of time. You will be expected to find your own accommodation in Holland soon after.
Generally speaking, the following options are available:
- Renting from a university housing scheme – tends to be available for a maximum of one year
- Renting through the government scheme – tends to have very long waiting lists
- Renting on the private market – tends to be expensive
- Buying – tends to be very costly and involves some risks.
Once you have decided which option is most likely to work out for you, you can set to work. Your personal contacts will probably prove to be a valuable help in your search. After your arrival in the Netherlands, the local newspapers might also be a good source of information.
Most estate agents will collect you from your hotel or temporary accommodation to show you around properties on offer. Ask for last of available properties on Friday afternoon. (Use the weekend to check-out locations and decide whether which properties are worthwhile to go viewing the next week.) Time and patience will be necessities to find a house that will become your home. You will find something; just expect a bit of a process.
Just so you can know what to expect of your real estate agent (makelaar), a good one will not only show properties, he/she will know and point out strengths and weaknesses in a potential purchase. The makelaars fee and other administrative costs of buying usually come to about 10% of the purchase price (kosten koper). Make an agreement on the makelaar's fee before you start using his/her services!
A few sites to start with: www.housingonline.nl, pararius and funda.
Good to know: A verbal “yes” is legally binding, both for renting or buying a property.
More information & links
Factscheet
If you want to know more about how to find accommodation in the Netherlands, please read our factsheet (pdf).
Other information source
Another good source for information on finding accommodation in the Netherlands is the website www.expatica.com.
Relocation Companies
Relocation companies specialize in assisting expats moving house and all the issues connected with it. They aim to make moves convenient, cost-effective, and stress-free for customers. Whether you're moving across the country or around the world, they guide you through the entire relocation process, ensuring that your needs are met through a multitude of assistance services such as: cost of living analysis, temporary housing, home marketing and home finding assistance, quality household goods mover selection, changing your mailing address, scheduling utility connections, getting your driver's license and registering your automobile, finding daycare, and more. Many of them offer a free consultation so you can see if their services are right for you. Below is a list of local relocation services. If you'd like to do some research, there are some umbrella membership organizations which help ensure standards and codes of conduct, namely World Relocation Network, European Relocation Association and Employee Relocation Council (worldwide network).
|
• Access |
Other expat assistance:
| • TaXpat Services: expatriate tax services • Domestic Outsourcing Services: ex-pat services, administrative support, internet & telephony, cleaning service, pet service, etc. |
Links to websites about housing
| • www.housingpartner.nl Housingpartner provides rental housing for expats in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. • www.apartments-for-rent.com/amsterdam Amsterdam Apartment for Rent offers both serviced and non serviced apartments as corporate, extended and short stay housing solutions for visiting business people and consultants or when relocating to Amsterdam. • www.directwonen.nl The largest leasing agent in the Netherlands with 22 branch offices. • www.dutchhousing.nl/ Agency for luxury living for international companies who need temporary furnished/unfurnished accommodations for their employees. • www.barrington.nl Agency for expatriates in the Netherlands. • www.renthouse.nl Rental accommodation in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. • www.housingonline.nl Furnished or semi-furnished housing in the Netherlands. • www.amsterdamhousing.nl Rental agency specializes in furnished and semi-furnished housing in or around Amsterdam, Amstelveen, The Hague, Wassenaar, Haarlem and the surrounding cities. • www.gis-apartments.nl A rental agency for the Amsterdam area. • www.apartmentservices.nl/en A1 Apartment Services offers quality ex-pat accommodation in the Amsterdam area. • www.amstelhousing.nl Specializes in furnished and semi-furnished apartments in Amsterdam, Amstelveen and the surrounding area. • www.amstellandhousing.nl Housing agent for Amsterdam. • www.behomerentals.com Luxurious houses and apartments in Amsterdam and its surroundings. • www.boodtenhuis.com Rental properties in Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Utrecht and the surrounding area. • www.expatica.com/housing Interactive housing search service hosted by Expatica. • www.interagency.nl Offers rental apartments and houses in and around Amsterdam. • www.relocationadvisers.nl Wide range of furnished and semi-furnished accommodations, in particular in and around Amsterdam, but also for example in Haarlem, Wassenaar and 't Gooi. • www.perfecthousing.nl Specializes in housing and relocation services for client companies and their international employees and families in the Netherlands. • www.kimmel.nl Housing in The Hague and Wassenaar. • www.bnsrentalservice.nl Assists employees of international companies with finding accommodations in and around Utrecht and 't Gooi. • www.tvnsite.nl Real estate agency operating in the Randstad specialized in finding proper accommodations for the ex-pat community. • www.hakkenbroekhousing.nl Real estate agency both for temporary rent of luxury houses and apartments and for assistance when buying a property in the Netherlands. • www.haagen-partners.nl Housing agency covering the entire Randstad. • www.vanpaaschen.nl/engels/index.html Real estate agency specialized in working with expatriates. • www.holhoman.nl Holland Home Management provides living accommodations for ex-pats. • www.rotsvast.nl With 27 offices located throughout the Netherlands, Rots-Vast Groep is one of the country's largest specialists in the field of residential rental brokerage and property management. • www.stoit.nl Stoit Groep specializes in temporary accommodations for employees of international companies in the Brabant region. • www.nvm.nl Dutch Association of Real Estate Brokers ('Nederlandse Vereniging van Makelaars') • www.funda.nl A resource for home buyers with real estate information supplied by members of the Netherlands Association of Real Estate Brokers NVM and independently sourced neighborhood information from publishing house Wegener. • www.woninggids.nl Real estate portal • www.Woninghuren.com Woninghuren.com is a comprehensive Dutch housing service for apartment rentals, ex-pats, houses for rent, and sublets. • www.huistekoop.nl/infoenglish.htm Information site where owners of real-estate offer their house for sale to potential buyers without broker involvement. |
Books:
• Holland Handbook
Essential information for the expatriate on all aspects of living and working in the Netherlands such as: career, fiscal issues, health care, housing, insurance, international education, registration and telecommunications. Also more general information on Dutch culture and habits, tourist information, language and international clubs). Published by Xpat Media (Publisher: XPat Media - ISBN 90 5594 406 8) www.xpat.nl or www.hollandbooks.nl
• Housing in Holland
An all-inclusive book on finding and financing a house in Holland. Published by Xpat Media. www.xpat.nl or www.hollandbooks.nl. Wide range of quality books on the Netherlands.
Home
