Finding suitable housing in the Netherlands is probably one of the most important but time consuming aspects of relocating here. We all have different requirements and preferences when searching for a property and it’s important to find the right fit.

Roughly speaking, there is the difference between owner-occupied homes and rental homes. We advise to rent first, so that you have a better idea of where you will live and work. After six months of renting, it is fine to start looking at a home to buy if you want to.  

There is a great scarcity on the rental market. We distinguish roughly five different categories: 

– Student housing, usually room rental. 
– Social rental home, maximum rent is € 900,07 
– Affordable rental property, rent between € 900,07 and € 1 184,82 
– Mid-range, unregulated, rent between € 1 184,82 and € 2 000,00 (Amsterdam € 2 350) 
– Higher-end segment, from €2,000/€2,350 

 1. Define Your Needs

Location: Which city or neighbourhood?
Budget: What is your monthly rent limit? Landlords expect a salary level of 3-4 times the monthly rent.
Type of home: Apartment, house, furnished/unfurnished?
Size: Number of bedrooms, square meters?
Commute: Proximity to work, school, or public transport?

 2. Start Your Search

Basically, there are four methods to find your rental home in the Netherlands:

– Do your own search on Funda and Pararius
– Register on websites of cooperations 
– Ask a real estate agent to perform a search
– Ask Anywr Netherlands to do the search 

3. Prepare Your Documents

Landlords often ask for:

– Proof of income (employment contract and/or payslips)
– Copy of passport or ID
– Residence permit (if applicable)
– A profile of you, preferably including employer reference or rental history

4. Schedule Viewings

Be quick: the rental market is competitive. You cannot re-schedule viewing meetings in most cases.

Ask questions about utilities, service costs, deposit, and registration.

5. Sign the Rental Contract

Read the contract carefully (the Dutch version is binding, you’ll also receive an English version to read).

Check for:

– Duration (fixed or indefinite)
– Notice period
– Deposit (usually 1–2 months’ rent)
– Maintenance responsibilities

6. Register at the Municipality

Required for receiving your BSN (citizen service number).
Needed for health insurance, taxes, and more.

Simple answer; no. Overbidding is more common in the current market than negotiations on the monthly rent. 

Depending on your search method:

– Registration costs for cooperations
– Real estate agent fee, usually equivalent of 1 month rent
– Fixed fee for Anywr home search assistance

We help lots of people find homes every year. With the right budget, we usually find your new place in about 2.7 weeks. If your budget doesn’t cover a full home search, no worries — we’ll point you to other good options and make sure you’re supported. We can be there during your move-in inspection to help flag anything that needs fixing or attention — just to make sure everything’s in order from the start.