Netherlands/Housing Pets

Housing & Cost of Living (work in progress)

The Netherlands is in the middle of a housing crisis and access to affordable housing is a concern for immigrants and non-immigrants alike. Housing will be most expensive and most competitive in the Randstad, but the shortage impacts all regions of the country. https://www.theguardian.com/news/article/2024/may/06/netherlands-amsterdam-next-level-housing-crisis and https://nltimes.nl/2024/07/12/dutch-housing-shortage-rises-400000-population-growth-outstrips-construction

Trans-Friendly Housing

• Finding Safe Housing: Tips on locating safe and inclusive living spaces.
• Housing Rights: Information on legal protections against housing discrimination.

Cost of Living

• Expense Comparison: Comparison of living costs between major U.S. cities and Dutch cities.

One question often asked is how expensive it is to live in The Netherlands compared to the US, this is a difficult comparison to make overall because things cost "differently".

• Salaries are generally lower in Europe than in the US, but buying power is higher due to differences in the cost of products and services.
• Healthcare is one of the biggest differences, the average monthly health insurance premiums are €157/month, with a €385/year standard deductible.
• Food is affordable, with access to plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. A budget of €500/month is reasonable for a 2 person household.
• Mobile and internet is affordable, with an unlimited 5G mobile plan costing ~€25/month, and internet between ~€30 and €60/month (€50 will get you 1gb fiber internet in many locations)
• Public transportation is widely available and (contrary to many local complaints) quite reliable. Intercity train tickets can be expensive though, with a standard 2nd class ticket from Den Haag to Amsterdam costing over €14.
• Eating out has become increasingly expensive since COVID. Dinner at a local restaurant for 2 will easily run you €50.
• Housing is by far the biggest expense, as there is currently a housing shortage in The Netherlands, especially in the Randstad area. The website Funda is the de facto website for renting or buying property in The Netherlands.

• Budgeting Tips: Advice on managing finances in The Netherlands
  • Markplaats is kind of like Craigslist meets eBay and is very useful for furnishing your apartment. https://www.marktplaats.nl/
  • There are ticket discounts for taking the train during "non-peak" hours. https://www.ns.nl/en/featured/traveling-with-discount/when-can-you-travel-with-a-discount.html
  • Shop around for insurances and utilities to make sure you're getting the best price. https://www.easyswitch.nl/compare-energy-prices/
  • Many take-out restaurants on delivery apps also offer their own delivery. Their delivery is almost always cheaper so check online to see if it's offered.

Safety Considerations

• Regional Safety: Overview of safety for transgender individuals in different regions.
• Legal Protections: Information on hate crime laws and reporting mechanisms.

Renting A House

This will vary by city, province, and housing type. In Amsterdam, the most expensive rental market in the Netherlands, a room in a house will start at €600 -€1200, a studio at €900 - 1,600, and an apartment at €1,200 - 5,000 depending on location, size, and amenities. Keep in mind these are starting prices and may vary!

• Social Housing vs Private Housing -- Social housing is mostly meant for people with lower incomes and comes with protections and benefits to those that qualify. It must be applied for and the waiting lists can be many years long. Assume you will not qualify for it until several years into your immigration journey. Private housing is anything that is not social housing. It has fewer protections and is more competitive/expensive to secure. https://www.iamexpat.nl/housing/netherlands-rentals/social-housing-private-free-sector
• Rental Agreement Types -- In the Netherlands there are multiple kinds of rental agreements that come with different protections and lengths. Make sure you're familiar with the types before signing a lease as it could have repercussions for how long you can stay in a house and at what price. What is the best rental contract for my property?
• Funda -- Funda is the most popular site for finding housing in the Netherlands.
• Pararius -- Pararius is a popular rental site for finding rental housing in the Netherlands
• Documents Required -- To rent an apartment you will need proof of identity, a residency permit, proof of income (generally 3 months of paystubs) or proof of savings, an employment contract, and usually a completed rental application form. Unlike in the US, the Dutch do not have a credit score system,so you will not have to provide a credit report.
• Real Estate Agents -- A real estate agent (makelaar) can help finding a rental property. It is very common to hire a makelaar to help in your housing hunt. Keep in mind that makelaars work in very specific regions and if you're looking in multiple cities simultaneously you may need to hire multiple makelaars.
• Initial Costs -- Generally, you'll pay a one-time deposit + first month’s rent for your apartment. The amount of that deposit can vary and in some cases may be 3x the rent. Also, if you used an agent/makelaar there will be a mediation fee as well.
• Things Your House Might Not Include -- Unfurnished apartments in the Netherlands vary from those in the US. Yours may not include appliances, light fixtures, and even flooring and kitchen cabinets. Note that sometimes the previous tenant will offer to sell you what's in the place if it's not needed in their new place.
• Bills and Utilities -- These may or may not be included in your housing contract. Here is a helpful overview to utilities in the Netherlands.
• Pets -- Dutch law leaves pet regulations up to individual landlords. Some landlords may not allow them at all, others may have breed/size restrictions or require a larger security deposit for pets. Finding Pet-Friendly Rentals in the Netherlands: A Guide for Expats
• Housing Rights -- Housing law is complicated and we are not lawyers. However, here is a guide that might help you with the basics. Rental contracts & Housing rights

Buying A House

In the third quarter of 2024, a single-family home in the Netherlands cost approximately 434,000 euros. This will vary by city, province, and the type of house.

• Can you buy? -- The Netherlands does allow foreigners to buy and own houses.
• Will buying a house get you residency? -- No, buying property will not help you with residency.
• Getting a mortgage -- Expatica guide
• Real estate agents -- A real estate agent (makelaar) can help with buying a home. It is very common to hire a makelaar to help in your housing hunt, as they often get tips about new houses earlier than the general public. Keep in mind that makelaars work in specific regions and if you're looking in multiple cities simultaneously you may need to hire multiple makelaars.
• Homeowners' associations -- Apartment buildings will have a homeowners association (vereniging van eigenaren or VvE). Understand how these work before buying a house with one. IAmExpat guide.
• Bills and Utilities -- Here is a helpful overview to utilities in the Netherlands.
• Schools
  • International Schools
    • Many Americans chose to put their children in International Schools. Currently there are International Schools in ten Dutch cities. https://www.international-schools-database.com/country/netherlands
  • Dutch Schools
    • Most municipalities will have multiple small schools within their area to choose from each with their own religious affiliation (if any) and their pedagogical philosophy (like Montessori, Dalton, or Jenaplan).
    • Dutch schools are free but may ask for a voluntary contribution (ouderbijdrage) for special activities like school outings.
    • Some Dutch schools (TTO) support bilingual education (tweetalig onderwijs) with English and Dutch. This helps children English speaking kids transition into the Dutch school system gradually.
    • Children with learning disabilities are welcome in regular Dutch schools and additional support is provided to the child and the school. In the case the child need more specialized care, there are schools (speciaal onderwijs) that you can be referred to. These are also free.
• When Looking -- If you're looking to buy a house, keep in mind that the Dutch don't really flip houses so they might look a little more dated than what you'd expect in America. They assume that you'll renovate and customize it as you see fit, and assume that you'll budget for that in the price you're paying.

Animal Policies

• For information on how to import your pet to the Netherlands, see: Traveling with pets