Are you ready to start moving to the Netherlands? If so, finding a place to live will be one of your top priorities. The Dutch rental market can be quite competitive, and it can be difficult to find an apartment that meets your needs and budget. In this guide, I will provide tips and advice on how to find a place to live in the Netherlands. I will go over how to find an apartment on your own, or how to find an expert to handle everything for you.
Types of Housing
First, let’s take a look at the different types of housing in the Netherlands. The Dutch housing market can be divided into three main categories: social housing, private renting, and buying a home. Social housing is the most affordable option in the Netherlands, but finding an apartment can take YEARS because there are so many people on the waiting list. This is not really an option for someone moving from the United States to the Netherlands. Private renting can be expensive, but renting an apartment is possible. Buying a home is the biggest commitment and will have the most requirements. However, paying a monthly mortgage in the Netherlands can actually be cheaper than renting an apartment month-to-month.
Renting an Apartment
If you are looking for an apartment in the Netherlands, your best bet is to start by searching online. A quick Google search will return a large number of results, but I recommend using an online apartment finding service like Funda or Pararius. These are the two most popular sites in the Netherlands for renting an apartment. These services are designed to help you find the perfect apartment for your needs and budget. They have databases of apartments in all parts of the Netherlands, and you can filter your search results by price, size, location, number of rooms, and more. Another option is to search Facebook rental groups for whatever city you are planning to live in. However, you must be wary of scammers in these groups as there are a TON of them! Never send money to someone before seeing a place in person.
Buying an Apartment or House
Buying a home has many benefits, such as locking in a monthly payment, building equity over time, and being able to customize the home to your liking. However, finding a home or apartment to buy can be EXTREMELY difficult, as there are many requirements that you must meet and right now the housing prices are insane. In addition, the process of buying a home in the Netherlands is much more complicated than in the United States. I would not recommend buying a home until you have been living in the Netherlands for at least six months or you are 100% sure that you will be living in the Netherlands long term. The costs of finding, buying, and moving into a new home can add up quickly. Another factor to consider is the exponentially rising housing prices in the Netherlands. You can also explore buying a house or apartment Funda or Pararius.
Have a Relocation Specialist Help You Find a Place
If you have the budget, the best option is to find someone who specializes in helping people relocate to the Netherlands. Relocation specialists can be expensive, but they take care of EVERYTHING for you. With a relocation specialist, you can conduct your housing search from the US via video tours. They’ll provide personalized advice about properties and make sure you get a place at a fair price. They will handle all negotiations with rental companies, so you don’t have to. This could end up actually SAVING you money in the long term. Plus, they can even help you arrange your utilities, internet, and anything else you might need when moving into a new place.
If you want a recommendation for a relocation specialist, multiple people who moved to the Netherlands on the Dutch American Friendship Treaty have worked with Sanne Gortzak from Expats on the Move. If you are interested in how she can help relocate to the Netherlands, check out her website and tell her that I sent you.
I hope this guide was able to help you learn how to find a place to live in the Netherlands. Good luck finding your next home!