Buying a house in the Netherlands: extra costs you need to know

So youโ€™ve decided to buy a house in the Netherlands! You know your borrowing capacity, you know where you want to live, and you know youโ€™ve found yourself the perfect home. But you also know about those extra costs, right?

We hate to rain on your parade โ€” but there are a number of significantly important extra costs that you need to consider before you go ahead and buy a house in the Netherlands. Letโ€™s run through them.

In order to bring you the most correct and up-to-date information, we spoke with the experts at Expat Housing Network. They help internationals move to the Netherlands, guiding and protecting them through the process of buying a house โ€” and the extra costs that come with it!

The valuation report (Taxatierapport)

The first thing you may decide to do once youโ€™ve set your sights on your dream home is to get the property valued. In the Netherlands, this is called getting a taxatierapport and, of course, itโ€™s going to cost you some money.

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There are a number of reports you may want to have carried out before buying a house in the Netherlands, one is the valuation report. Image: Freepik

That being said, itโ€™s definitely a worthwhile investment. While it’s very popular in the Netherlands to ask a hefty sum for a home, you don’t want to be downright swindled.

READ MORE | The dos and donโ€™ts of buying a house in the Netherlands, according to the experts

By opting to get a taxatierapport, you’re given a better understanding of the actual value of the home (which can also help when comparing the house to other potentials!) The last thing you want is to dish out your hard-earned money on a property that isnโ€™t valued correctly. 

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? Valuation reports in the Netherlands are ever-changing due to a number of factors. As a result, you can expect a report to set you back anywhere between โ‚ฌ750 – โ‚ฌ1000 and upwards.

โฐ When do you have to pay it? You must pay this cost before the house is evaluated.  

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? Yes. 

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? Not strictly. However, in most cases, before a mortgage company will give you a mortgage, it is required that you get the property valued. 


The building report (bouwkundig rapport)

A bouwkunding rapport (building report) is a constructional report of the house. This is usually done before you buy the house โ€” and with good reason! You need to know a building is architecturally and constructionally sound before you move in, of course.

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Many house hunters pay the extra cost of getting a building report carried out before buying a house in the Netherlands. Image: Freepik

Think of all those characteristically charming, albeit crooked, old Dutch houses. As romantic as they are, itโ€™s best to know that theyโ€™re not going to finally give in to gravity while youโ€™re living there. 

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? A building report in the Netherlands will usually cost you between โ‚ฌ350 and sometimes up to โ‚ฌ750 โ€” again, this varies depending on the building!

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? This is usually paid for before you buy the house. Sometimes, itโ€™s already carried out by the selling party. In this case, itโ€™s up to you if you want another report.

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? Only if the bank instructs you to do a technical inspection. Otherwise, no.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? A building inspection is technically not necessary, itโ€™s mostly for a buyer’s peace of mind. The report can give a good idea of what maintenance costs a buyer can expect in the future.


Transfer Tax (overdrachtsbelasting)

In the Netherlands, if you move into a pre-existing home (i.e. not a new build), you must pay what is called the overdrachtsbelasting or transfer tax.

READ MORE | 10 things that will surprise you about renting in the Netherlands

Itโ€™s important that you keep this tax in mind when bidding on a home as it is a notable additional sum that can amount to up to 2% of the cost of buying your house! (0% if youโ€™re starting your homeowner career and 10.4% if youโ€™re buying for investing in 2023).

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? This depends on the price of your house.  

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? This must be paid to a notary before you sign the deed to your house. The notary will then pay the tax to the authorities on your behalf. 

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? No.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? No. As of 2021, if you are a first-time buyer (i.e., someone between the age of 18-35), you do not have to pay transfer tax when buying a house worth under โ‚ฌ440,000). You also do not have to pay transfer tax if the home you are buying is a new build. 


Mortgage advice (Hypotheekadvies

Naturally, when you decide to buy a house in the Netherlands, youโ€™re also deciding to take out a mortgage (unless you can pay in all-cash, in which case weโ€™re raising our eyebrows).

Many choose to enlist the help of a mortgage advisor when setting up their mortgage โ€” and naturally, this is going to cost you some dough. 

Photo-of-people-talking-with-mortgage-advisor-at-desk-discussing-extra-costs-when-buying-a-house-in-the-Netherlands
One extra cost that many people choose to pay when buying a home is the cost of a mortgage advisor. Image: Freepik

While some may try to keep costs down by not hiring a mortgage advisor, an advisor can actually be a clever investment. A mortgage advisor is an expert in negotiating and holds pre-existing relationships with certain banks.

All this can lead to better mortgage terms for you โ€” which in turn leads to reduced costs in the long run. 

Also, howโ€™s your Dutch? Because if that ainโ€™t up to “I understand hypotheekrenteaftrek“-levels, then you might just want to get on board with a mortgage advisor so you get all those important docs in English too.

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? This depends on the experts you decide to go with! However, in the Netherlands, mortgage advice usually costs between โ‚ฌ2000 and โ‚ฌ3000.

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? Usually, you must pay this immediately, but sometimes it is possible to arrange to pay the fees in instalments. 

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? Yes.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? No.


Mortgage contract (hypotheekakte

Yep. Once you settle on a mortgage plan, youโ€™re going to need to pay for the mortgage deed (hypotheekakte).

In simple terms, a hypotheekakte is basically a promise to the banks that if you canโ€™t repay your mortgage, the bank can take the house. This will be drawn up by a notary. 

photo-of-couple-discussing-buying-a-house-in-the-Netherlands-at-desk-across-from-expert
A mortgage deed is one extra cost you simply can’t miss when buying a house in the Netherlands. Image: Freepik

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? This can range from anywhere between โ‚ฌ450 and up to โ‚ฌ2000 depending on the notary and the services.

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? You pay this amount as part of the notary fees.

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? Yes.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? Yes.


The realtor fee (Makelaarscourtage)

Another professional that may get involved when you decide to buy a house is a realtor. You can think of a realtor as someone who will guide you through the entire process of buying a house: from the search, right through to the notary’s office. 

As you can imagine, the price for such services isnโ€™t low. A realtor will usually charge between 1-2% of the property costs. 

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Enlisting the services of a realtor may actually save you money in the long run! Image: Freepik

Again, while the cost may initially spook you, this is a worthwhile investment in the long run. A realtor will likely help save you money by negotiating the price on your behalf (they’re experts at this) and advising on whether a property is priced above or below its value! 

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? This depends on the price of the property, usually landing somewhere between 1-2% of the price of the house. 

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? This is usually done at the notary’s office. Once all the papers have been sorted and signed, the realtor will send the bill to your notary, who will then pay the commission (using your money on your behalf.)

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? No. 

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? Technically no, but they are used by most house hunters in the Netherlands.


Notary fee (kosten leveringsakte)

As you may have noticed, we keep on mentioning the word โ€œnotaryโ€ in this article โ€” as we should. They play an integral role when it comes to buying a house in the Netherlands. 

READ MORE | How to buy a house in the Netherlands: 9 steps

Buying a house is a big deal, someone needs to oversee the exchange of money and make sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed. A notary is a legal professional who will essentially manage all the legal matters when it comes to buying a house in the Netherlands. 

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? Between โ‚ฌ1000 and โ‚ฌ3000 โ€” but sometimes even higher. Itโ€™s also worth noting that sometimes, the seller will also cover part of these costs. 

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? You must pay the notary bill before the house is transferred under your name. 

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? There are a number of costs included in the notary costs, some of these are tax-deductible, and some aren’t. For example, the cost of the mortgage contract (above) is tax-deductible.  

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? Yes.


Interpreter (tolk) for meeting with the notary

If youโ€™re an international in the Netherlands, then sometimes an interpreter is needed when it comes to understanding the important things. When itโ€™s time to go to the notary’s office, even many Dutch people will struggle to understand what exactly is happening. 

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The notary office can even be confusing for Dutch speakers! Image: Depositphotos

This means that in your case, if you donโ€™t speak Dutch, it may certainly be worthwhile getting a professional translator involved to walk you through what exactly is happening at the notary’s office. Itโ€™s not exactly the best place to just nod and smile when youโ€™re uncertain. 

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? A notary interpreter will usually cost anywhere between โ‚ฌ250 and โ‚ฌ550, depending on how many services they need to perform. 

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? You will receive the invoice for the services once you have clarified what you need to have interpreted. However, you may also face additional charges if the services take longer than initially agreed. 

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? Yes, as they can fall under the costs of financing your own, making them tax-deductible. 

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? It is necessary by law if you donโ€™t speak the Dutch language. It also has to be a sworn-in interpreter, it cannot be a friend or colleague.


Bank guarantee (bankgarantie)

You can think of a bank guarantee as the bank vouching for you when you want to put down a deposit on a house.

READ MORE | The best banks in the Netherlands for internationals

With a guarantee, the bank claims that even if you cannot pay the deposit on the house, it will be paid by the bank, and lets the seller know that you truly want to purchase the home.

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost? A bank guarantee will normally cost 1% of the guaranteed amount, but this can also vary. For example, if you buy a really expensive house.

โฐ When do you have to pay for it? Before you agree to purchase the house. You do not have to pay for it if the purchase doesnโ€™t go through because you changed your mind. (However, there is a three-day limit to this.)

๐Ÿ’ถ Is it tax-deductible? No.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Is it always necessary? No.


Ready to get the experts involved? 

Figuring out the additional costs of buying a house can warrant a book in itself โ€” so what about everything else that comes with buying a house in the Netherlands? 

At Expat Housing Network, it’s literally people’s job to help make the transition of moving to a new home in the Netherlands smoother for you. Specifically, for you as an international. Ready to start your journey with a team of pros? Schedule a complimentary call now.

Can you think of any other important additional costs? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Feature Image:Depositphotos
Sarah O'Leary ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช
Sarah O'Leary ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช
Sarah originally arrived in the Netherlands due to an inability to make her own decisions โ€” she was simply told by her mother to choose the Netherlands for Erasmus. Life here has been challenging (have you heard the language) but brilliant for Sarah, and she loves to write about it. When Sarah is not acting as a safety threat to herself and others (cycling), you can find her sitting in a corner of Leiden with a coffee, trying to sound witty.

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