It’s the question that keeps us all guessing: How much money do you need to make in order to buy yourself a home in the Netherlands?
The answer depends on several factors — let’s break it down.
What is the minimum amount you must earn to buy a house in the Netherlands?
The current estimate is that your Dutch mortgage can be 4.25 times your gross (bruto) annual salary. This is the amount that you earn before taxes.
That means that, theoretically, if you earn €5000 gross per month, your annual salary is €60,000. Multiply that by 4.25, and you’ll likely be able to spend around €255,000 on a house (not taking into account any savings and fees).
Several factors will help determine how much you have to earn to buy a Dutch house. Image: Freepik
However, the minimum amount you need to earn to afford to buy a house in the Netherlands depends on factors like:
👬 Whether or not you have a partner: If you are looking to buy a home with a partner, your combined income will increase your purchasing power.
🧑💼 Your work status: For example, someone with a permanent contract may be able to borrow more compared to a freelancer (ZZP’er) who has just completed their first year in business.
🛍️ Whether you have any debt: Got student debt? This will reduce how much you can borrow towards a mortgage.
💰 How expensive houses currently are: This is the most important aspect. Let’s discuss it further below.
What was the average house price in the Netherlands in 2024?
According to the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS), as of December 2024, the average house price in the Netherlands was €455,512.
So, how much do I have to earn to buy the average house in the Netherlands?
If we take the average house price of €455,512 and consider the estimate that your Dutch mortgage can be approximately 4.25 times your annual salary before taxes, then we get the following figures:
If you’re buying alone, you must earn approximately €107,179 per year before taxes. However, the Dutch government currently allows single buyers to borrow an extra €17,000 towards their mortgage if they meet certain conditions, which brings this number down.
If you’re buying with a partner, this number would be reduced to an average annual salary of approximately €53,589 each.
However, the above is a very general calculation that doesn’t take your specific situation into account.
For example, if you have debt or your parents are willing to put some money towards your mortgage, this will affect the minimum amount you need to earn to buy a home.
How to calculate your maximum mortgage in the Netherlands
For the most accurate understanding of just how much you have to earn to become a homeowner in the Netherlands, you should make use of expert tools or, even better, speak with an expert.
Can you afford to buy a house in the Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Cats love to wander around and get themselves into extraordinary situations, but this Dutch cat took that hobby to the next level. He was accidentally sent on a four-week journey from the Netherlands to Curaçao.
While this sounds like a nice holiday to many, it has been a traumatic experience for the male cat, who had to survive without food in a dark shipping container.
Luckily, as Omroep Brabant writes, he lived to meow the tale.
‘Emaciated and very scared’
The kitty was accidentally locked up in a container headed to the Caribbean island of Curaçao from the Dutch town of Moerdijk. On January 11, the container was sealed and put on a ship.
It wasn’t opened until it arrived at its final destination four weeks later, on February 9. Much to the shock of the logistics workers who opened it, a furry surprise was waiting for them.
They immediately called the local cat rescue foundation, which described the cat as “emaciated and extremely afraid but otherwise doing well.”
It’s a miracle the cat survived, and so the foundation lovingly named him Wonder (Miracle). 🐈⬛
The search for the owner continues
After a week of staying at the shelter, Wonder has slowly begun to come out of his shell, as the foundation writes on Facebook.
He is an unneutered male cat with no (readable) chip, and he’s now getting the space he needs to process his big journey.
Meanwhile, the local rescue foundation continues to search for Wonder’s owner in the Netherlands.
Do you know anything about this adventurous guy? Anyone with information about him can email info@kittenrescuecuracao.com.
Who needs horoscopes when we have Dutch supermarket stereotypes to define our personalities?
This article is your guide for projecting the image you want into the world simply by carrying around a plastic bag with a supermarket logo on it.
Although, for 50 cents in this country, you may just want to bring a cloth bag from home instead.
Just remember, as you stand leaning against a wall nonchalantly, that grocery receipt poking out of your jacket pocket is saying so much about you right now. The question is, what?
Shop at Dirk? You’re a creature of habit
Hmm. You don’t like making decisions, do you? In fact, you’re probably the type to own a dozen versions of the same pair of shirts and trousers to avoid making them.
A beloved safe haven: Dirk van den Broek. Image: Depositphotos
You’re also probably not particularly adventurous. You’re not interested in exploring an extensive foreign food aisle — we mean, who really needs a smoked camembert?
That limited selection at Dirk just makes life easier. Maybe that means you’re the CEO/Steve Jobs type who needs to “reserve” his brain space for making more important, executive decisions.
Maybe you’re a bit of a “tech bro” who likes being quick and efficient, or maybe you just have serious issues 🙂. Kidding, kidding. But you also seem like that one guy who eats a pindakaassandwich for lunch every day without fail.
Or maybe you’re struggling financially — and boy can we relate to that, we’ll see you in the off-brand cereal aisle with the tech bros.
More of a Jumbo fan? You’re an Albert Heijn wannabe
Let’s face it, you’re a perfect human being. Flawless skin, bouncy hair, and an overall healthy glow. You probably eat a whole lot of ready-made sushi, vegan tikka masala, and avocado toast.
Your shopping basket contains food products inspired by buzzwords you read on “hip” insta pages. You’ll wake up to do yoga at 5 AM, and then make kale smoothies while listening to podcasts about the benefits of meditation.
You’re disciplined and somewhat frugal, but you know how to let your hair down and have a good time on occasion… by indulging in a €3.99 slice of vegan cheesecake now and again.
Do you hop between Aldi and Lidl? Then … who are you?
If you frequent either of these two supermarkets, then it’s safe to say you live in obscurity; you’re not an exhibitionist.
Who cares about brands anyway? It’s all going to be ground up and swallowed down the hatch regardless.
So the label is written in a language you don’t know. What of it? Bacon bits look like bacon bits everywhere. It’s cheap, and that’s what matters.
And no, calling Lidl or Aldi cheap isn’t bad; everyone calls it cheap — including the companies themselves. It’s how they’ve marketed themselves and distinguished their stores from the pretentious Albert Heijn-goers.
Deze week bij Lidl: ”De Smaak van Nederland” 🇳🇱 Wat een fijnproevers zijn we ook pic.twitter.com/Ah5dyuMS3H
— Voedingsweetjes | Leroy van de Ree (@voedingsweetje) May 30, 2023
Translation: This week at Lidl: ”The Taste of the Netherlands”. We are also gourmet food lovers.
Is Albert Heijn your fav? You’re a fancy foodie
Your shelves are stacked with culinary books, you watch Michelin-star-related documentaries on Friday nights, and your Tinder bio promises you’re willing to cook a meal on the first date.
Frankly, you’re a (self-proclaimed) foodie, mainly inspired by Molly Baz.
Oh, and you have extra money to spend. Possibly because of a divorce that worked out in your favour (yes, AH is a hotspot for middle-class divorcees, so if for whatever reason you wish to meet them, go there).
Snagged that AH bonus-card-toting 40-year-old? Great! Just know you’ll probably attend wine tastings on a bi-monthly basis.
Actually, let’s put it this way: if you do happen to attend wine tastings of any sort, it’s pretty obvious where you’re buying your washing-up liquid from.
Beste @albertheijn het was een serieuze vraag. Waarom reageren jullie niet? Nogmaals wat is er aangepast aan de AH muesli fruit en noten. Mijn vermoeden is namelijk minder fruit. pic.twitter.com/6yZgQ4CX5W
Translation: Dear @albertheijn it was a serious question. Why aren’t you responding? Again what has been adapted to the AH muesli fruit and nuts. My suspicion is less fruit.
Note: The above doesn’t apply if it’s just the supermarket closest to you. We’re all lazy; we get it.
Preference for Hoogvliet or Vomar? How… neutral
The likes of Albert Heijn and Jumbo are a tad too daunting for you, while Lidl might actually be too approachable.
You just like a nice, decent, middle-of-the-road, uncontroversial supermarket, okay? Is that so wrong? When it comes to politics, you’re probably a centrist too.
(You also frequent the shelves of IKEA and HEMA for kitchen utensils and room decorations you likely won’t use.)
Raiding the shelves of Spar? What do you do for a living?
The Netherlands is famous for having the tallest people in the world. But even here, being exceedingly tall might seem like a disadvantage sometimes.
That is why 11-year-old Ninthe is considering growth-prohibiting surgery. At her young age, she’s already 170 centimetres (5′7″) tall — and she’s only expected to grow further.
An isolating feeling
It can feel isolating to be so tall at 11, when the average height for a child is around 150 cm (4′11″). Ninthe is expected to grow to 190 cm (6′ 3″), more than 20 cm over the average female height in the Netherlands.
Speaking with RTL Nieuws, her mother Marion explains how standing out can be difficult: “Although she knows how to defend herself, she still gets a nasty comment thrown at her every now and then, which can make her sad.”
Ninthe and Marion posted a video online to find other young girls who are remarkably tall, especially ones who have experience with growth-prohibiting surgery.
The post got a lot of positive reactions, but Marion noted that there seems to be a bit of a taboo when talking about the surgery. “Many girls wrote that when they told their environment, people reacted with: ‘ridiculous, who would let a healthy body be cut?’ I find that very sad to hear.”
Growth-prohibiting surgery? Yes, it’s a thing
Orthopaedic surgeon Lars van Rozen explains that growth-prohibiting surgery involves making a small incision around the growth plates at the bottom of the thigh and the top of the lower leg.
The procedure halts about 30-40% of expected growth, with an average remaining growth of 8 centimetres.
To be eligible for this type of surgery, boys must have a height prognosis of more than 205 centimetres, and girls must have a prognosis of more than 185 centimetres.
People opt for the procedure for personal as well as practical reasons, says Lars. Being exceptionally tall can make it challenging to find clothes, travel by public transport, or even enter certain professions.
Lisa Lambert (22) decided to undergo the surgery when she was 15. She grew to be 188 cm — eight centimetres less than her expected height of 196 cm.
She saw Ninthe’s video and sent her some words of encouragement: “If you’re considering the operation, it’s not something to be afraid of. The first few weeks are tough, but after that, you won’t have any problems. Tall girls rule the world!”
Buying a home in the Netherlands is expensive and… getting even pricier. Almost every Dutch municipality has seen property prices soar over the past year, but there are still a few places where you can score a relatively affordable home.
In 2023, the average price of an existing home was €451,000, and that number is expected to climb to €520,000 by 2025. So… is it still possible to buy an affordable home in the Netherlands?
The Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) crunched the numbers to find the most (and least) affordable municipalities to buy a home. And the results are in!
The cheapest municipalities in the Netherlands
Let’s start with the good news. If you’re looking to buy a home without breaking the bank, there are 11 Dutch municipalities where the average home price is still under €300,000.
Here are the 10 most expensive municipalities in 2024:
Municipality
Province
Average transaction price (in 2024)
1. Laren
North Holland
€1.047.700
2. Bloemendaal
North Holland
€1.043.300
3. Blaricum
North Holland
€994.000
4. Wassenaar
South Holland
€849.800
5. Rozendaal
Gelderland
€802.900
6. Heemstede
North Holland
€750.300
7. De Bilt
Utrecht
€701.200
8. Bergen
North Holland
€694.900
9. Gooise Meren
North Holland
€677.400
10. Landsmeer
North Holland
€673.300
The conclusion? Whether you’re hunting for a steal or dreaming of luxury, the Netherlands has a little something for everyone — you just have to be willing to search (or splurge).
In your new Dutch job, you should think beyond the euro value of your salary. Instead, consider negotiating a salary package brimming with benefits.
Employers in the Netherlands are surprisingly open when it comes to secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden (“secondary benefits” or “fringe benefits”). Secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden are benefits that you agree with your employer on top of your Dutch salary.
Your fringe benefits could be anything from a company car or bicycle (how Dutch!) to discounts on your health insurance or the flexibility to work from home. Sound good? That’s what we think!
How would you feel about a snazzy e-bike with all the bells and whistles? Or getting paid to complete a Master’s degree? What about a discount on the pricey Dutch health insurance? All these are possible when you make the most of your secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden.
Of course, not all employers are going to dish up these benefits on a silver platter for you to enjoy — first up, you need to know what you can claim, and how to negotiate it.
The Dutch are great at negotiations and compromise, so we’ve got some handy tips for you to get the most out of your employer.
Good to know: fringe benefits are company and industry-specific, or can be dependent on your collective labor agreement. But, it’s always worth checking with your employer to see if you’re eligible!
So what can you get? Below are our top seven fringe benefits you can negotiate in the Netherlands.
1. Transport
Got an office? Unless you’re lucky enough to live next door, you may be shelling out some travel expenses. The average Dutchie travels 22.6 kilometres to get to their workplace and someone has to pay for it — why not the employer?
While companies are generally not obliged to reimburse your travel expenses, you can negotiate this as a fringe benefit. Normally, this will be 19 cents per kilometre travelled if coming to work with your own transport — including by bike!. Or, you can negotiate to have your public transport subscription covered.
On the other hand, if you’re committed to being as Dutch as possible you could also make your fringe benefit a trusty fiets — not an old rusty bike, but a snazzy bicycle included in your salary!
The Nationale Fiets Projecten (National Bicycle Plan) lets employers purchase a bike of up to €749 every three years. Live too far from work to cycle in? Opt for an electric bike — then you can spend up to €1,000!
2. A “Thirteenth Month”
We’ve all wished for more hours in a day — but how about a thirteenth month in a year? In the Netherlands, that’s possible. Not as a bending of the time/space continuum, but a whole extra month of wages — um, yes, please.
A dertiende maand (thirteenth month) is also known as the year-end bonus because it’s typically paid at the end of the year — just in time for Christmas. It’s not a “bonus” because it’s not dependent on whether your company performed well or not.
Instead, it can be guaranteed as part of your contract. But, it’s important to note that it’s taxed differently to your normal salary, so your net amount may be different from a normal month.
3. Education
A very wise philosopher once said “the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Now, while Dr. Seuss may not have been talking about negotiating further education as a fringe benefit in your contract, he might as well have been.
Your learning doesn’t have to stop once you graduate. Instead, in the Netherlands, you can negotiate a budget or course to extend your skills with your employer.
The company gets an even more qualified worker, and you get new skills (that you can use to negotiate for a pay-rise later) — that’s a win-win!
4. Flexibility
There are some days that you really just need to sit at home and work in your pajamas. Or, perhaps you work better in the evening — but coming in at 8:00 in the morning is a real drag.
Try negotiating flexible working time into your contract. For example, the freedom to work from home two days a week, or to log on to work at 10:00 instead of 8:00 AM.
If you’re a parent, you’ll especially value a bit more freedom to pick up your child from school or shuffle them to an activity.
5. Services and facilities in the office
You don’t need to negotiate for all of your secondary benefits. Some may just be built-in, like a killer office space. It’s not uncommon to see a ping-pong or foosball table in the Dutch workplace, or even a dartboard to blow off some steam (remember not to pin your boss’s face to the target though!)
A relaxing massage from an in-house masseuse or massage chair may be just what you need after a long day.
A very common benefit that many Dutch employers may offer is a free lunch (who says there’s no such thing!) Delicious sandwiches or even a freebie cafeteria with a delectable Dutch spread? Mmmmm.
6. Health and fitness
A healthy employee is a happy employee — and a happy employee is a productive employee. Employers have a real incentive to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself.
You could benefit from a discount on your health insurance (which is mandatory in the Netherlands), or a free or discounted gym membership. You may even be able to convince your boss to pay for your membership to a sports team or club — score!
7. Relocation costs
You’ve found a Dutch job — but you’re in a completely different country. Moving to the Netherlands is expensive, whether you’re coming from Europe or overseas. So why should you have to foot that bill?
If you’ve got some bargaining power up your sleeve, ask for your new company to pay for your relocation costs. It’s common for companies to pay for you to ship all your new furniture over — or you may be able to make a case for receiving a furniture allowance after you make the move. Time to go shopping!
Other fringe benefits you can get in the Netherlands
These aren’t all the secondary benefits you can get in the Netherlands. You may also like to consider asking for:
How to negotiate “fringe-benefits” from your Dutch employer
Now that you know what you want, how do you ask for it?
First up, you need to consider your fringe benefits and your salary as a whole package — does it accurately represent your worth? Are you asking for too much, too little, or is it just right?
Secondary employment conditions aren’t always financially tangible, but they can have a huge impact on your job satisfaction and quality of life.
When you think you’ve struck the right balance, it’s time to negotiate.The Dutch are direct, and you need to be as well. Clearly outline your expectations, and they’ll clearly outline what they think is possible.
Why you should be negotiating fringe benefits when working in the Netherlands
It’s important to remember that secondary benefits are, as the name implies, secondary. If your potential or current employer isn’t offering an adequate financial reward, tell them that you expect good fringe benefits — benefits like flexible working hours are particularly good to negotiate with if the employer doesn’t have extra cash flow.
That means while an employer may not have much wiggle room when it comes to salary, they may be able to make up for it with additional benefits.
Even better, while you’ll need to pay tax on some secondary benefits (like a Thirteenth Month), other secondary benefits aren’t taxed at all.
For example, meals, health insurance discounts (up to a maximum amount), stock plans, some travel benefits, and employee discounts. If you can work some of these into your offer, you may end up saving a few euros when tax time comes around.
What secondary benefits appeal the most to you? Tell us in the comments below!
Dutch Prime Minister Schoof and NATO Secretary General Rutte will join several European leaders in Paris today (February 17), to discuss both the situation in Ukraine and European security.
The emergency meeting comes after Trump announced talks would commence with Putin regarding Ukraine, leaving EU leaders feeling “overwhelmed and sidelined”, RTL Nieuws reports.
What happened to Europe’s seat at the table?
The US wants clarity about the form of support Europe will contribute. As long as it does not have that, Trump will not involve Europe in his ongoing negotiations with Russia.
The Netherlands faces questions about what they will supply to maintain security, as the US calls for the support of all European military forces.
“We are not sufficiently able to say what we want and can put on the mat,” Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated during yesterday’s Buitenhof discussions.
He also acknowledges the Americans’ “businesslike” response to this: “If they do not know what they have in Europe, we do not have a place at the table.”
However, the EU still intends to “prevent Americans and Russians from deciding the future of Ukraine over our heads”, RTL Nieuws reporter, Roel Schreinemachers, states.
Emergency talks in Paris
In response to the ongoing pressure from Trump, Europe draws a seat at its own table — in the form of emergency talks at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and NATO boss Mark Rutte will attend, along with the German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Danish, and British heads of government.
The meeting, dubbed a “once in a generation” event by UK leader Keir Starmer, follows hot on the heels of Munich’s Security Conference — where most of today’s guest list was in attendance.
In a turbulent world, in which many things can no longer be taken for granted, it is vital that we continue to work together and strengthen our ties. In that spirit, I attended the Munich Security Conference #MSC2025 today and yesterday, accompanied by @ministerBZ Veldkamp,… pic.twitter.com/Nry7AIU060
“The [Paris] conference is all about Ukraine,” Schoof tells Trouw. “We have to realise what this Russian war of aggression means for the rest of Europe. That is an important message I want to pass on: that we as Europe need to do more.”
In particular, Schoof stresses that Europe will need to discuss how much financial support it will supply Ukraine, as well as what additional support is to be provided: “With how many people, and whether that is land forces or navies, or with F-35s after all?”
Another hot topic of discussion is likely to be the effectiveness of a ceasefire with Russia.
“If you don’t get that right,” Schoof explains, referring to a proposed ceasefire, “you run the risk that within one to two years Russia can develop enough strength to start another war of aggression somewhere else.”
How do you feel about Europe’s exclusion from the Trump-Putin Ukraine discussions? Let us know in the comments below.
Tuesday will be similar — the bright sunshine will remain, but we’ll likely see more clouds spreading across the country.
Morning temperatures will rise to just above freezing. By afternoon, however, temperatures will rise to 2 degrees Celcius in the north, while the south warms up to around 6 degrees.
Interest rates in the Netherlands (and the rest of the world) keep dropping while living costs keep rising. How are we meant to deal with this? One solution is to invest your money and give it a chance to continue growing.
That’s why bunq, the all-Dutch neobank, has launched Stocks, its investment platform to help you get started.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risks.
What sets bunq apart from other investing platforms?
There are countless trading platforms out there, so why should you go for bunq? Great question. 👇
Enjoy simple language and an easy-to-use app
Unless you’re a finance bro or a seasoned investor, getting started with stocks can seem intimidating — but not with bunq.
Not only can you open your bunq account from your phone in just five minutes, but you don’t even need a BSN.
Opening a bank account has never been easier! Image: Depositphotos
Available in eight languages, the bunq app also lets you skip the unnecessary finance jargon and focus on what really matters: investing your money and helping it grow.
Do you still have questions? No problem! bunq’s customer service experts are at your disposal and contactable with just a few taps on your phone.
Get started with just €10 and fractional shares
If you think you need to commit to stocks worth hundreds of Euros, I have good news: you’re wrong!
bunq lets users get started with as little as €10, and thanks to the option to buy fractional shares, you’re never locked into full shares and full share prices.
Want to just buy €20 worth of Google and €10 worth of Tesla? Dat kan! With bunq, you’re in complete control of how much you want to invest.
💡 Good to know: bunq Stocks is only available in the Netherlands and France for now.
Only the best stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies
Choosing from the vast ocean of stocks, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and cryptocurrencies to invest in can be overwhelming.
bunq Stocks makes life easier by having a curated selection of some of the best stocks, ETFs and crypto ETFs.
No need for endless scrolling through your options! Image: bunq/DutchReview
This makes it easy to navigate the most popular stocks and ETFs on the market without having to scroll and research endlessly.
Low, transparent fees (and three months for free!)
When investing in the stock market, you generally pay a fee per transaction to your trading platform or bank. With some traditional banks, this can be an expensive fixed fee.
bunq handles this a little differently:
They charge a 0.99% fee per transaction (of the amount invested) for bunq Free and bunq Core users, while
bunq Pro users get a 20% discount on this fee, and
bunq Elite users get 50% off.
Even better, new users of bunq’s investment platform get three months of free trading on transactions up to €100,000. 🎉
Easy integration with all your other banking tools
One of the best parts about investing with bunq is that it can be done straight from your regular bunq app.
This means you’ll have all your money in one place, from your current account to your savings and investments.
It also means that if you decide to open a bunq account for trading, you automatically get access to bunq’s other top features.
There’s a lot to explore with bunq! Image: bunq
As such, everyone who uses bunq for trading also gets a free savings account with an interest rate of up to 3.01%, complete with a free virtual credit card.
Want more? Depending on which bunq plan you go for, you can make use of things such as multiple sub-accounts, nifty budgeting and savings features, and fee-free currency exchange.
How does it work?
Ready to start investing with bunq? Great! Here’s how:
First off, open your bunq account in five minutes (if you don’t have one already)
1. Download the bunq app via the Appstore, Playstore, or bunq Web. 2. Register yourself with your name, birth date, address, e-mail, and phone number. 3. Verify your identity with your valid ID easily using your phone. 4. bunq will aim to verify your account within five minutes.
Next up, get yourself a Stocks account
5. Go to the Stocks tab in the bunq app. 6. Hit “Get started”. 7. Follow the instructions to provide additional info: nationality and additional ID (if asked). Wait for auto-approval (can be as fast as three minutes!). 8. Once approved, you’ll be notified and can start trading right away!
With extremely limited space and high construction costs, Dutchies tend to make the most of existing buildings that have fallen into disuse.
As we already know, they are brilliant at repurposing old churches, turning them into gyms, bookstores, and even swimming pools. But are the Dutch as inventive when it comes to empty prison cells?
The short answer is yes — and it’s not just about repurposing.
Vacant cells te huur
Can you turn a prison into a cash cow without putting in extra effort and money? It’s definitely not impossible.
In the 2000s, when the Dutch prison population began to shrink, the Netherlands simply started… renting out vacant jail cells to other countries.
In 2009, such a deal was signed with Belgium, and the first year of leasing brought the Netherlands a casual €30 million — niet slecht, toch? Five years later, it was Norway’s turn to send a few hundred inmates to the Netherlands.
However, the Dutch also started to put their prisons to other uses…
Not-so-sweet homes
Given the Netherlands’ housing crisis, it’s no wonder that disused prisons and jails were considered as one of the possible solutions to this problem.
What could go wrong when you turn cells into kamers (rooms) without trying too hard?
Based on the experience of one of the DutchReview authors, the idea of affordable housing of this sort wasn’t that bad. Some international students were pretty happy to find accommodation that didn’t cost a fortune.
A bit more of a questionable decision by the Dutch, however, was to turn former prisons into temporary housing for asylum seekers.
The bitter irony here is that some people fled their homes to avoid going to prison for political reasons — and ended up in prison anyway, luckily not surrounded by barbed wire (though often with barred windows and heavy steel doors).
Some prisons ended up in the hands of developers, who transformed them into attractive residential complexes.
For example, Tuin van Noord in Rotterdam now boasts spacious apartments of up to 280 square metres each. Could its former prisoners have imagined their gloomy home would eventually become something like this?
Keeping up with developers, some hotel chains have renovated former prisons and filled them with modern, top-notch amenities. However, they still try to preserve some of the historical prison atmosphere to attract curious tourists.
The very name of the 5-star boutique hotel Het Arresthuis in Roermond gives a hint of its previous function, and barred windows provide travellers with another clue.
Even the luxury suites have evocative names like De Rechter (The Judge) and De Cipier (The Jailer).
The hotel Oostereiland in Hoorn, also known as Het Gevangenis Hotel (the Prison Hotel), offers different types of rooms, including tiny ones set in former jail cells.
It also has a bruidskamer (a bridal room), ideal for those wanting to thoroughly prepare for a lifelong sentence with their chosen person.
Another unique example is the historic Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam. Initially founded as a hotel for transatlantic voyagers, it was later turned into a prison and functioned as a youth detention centre for decades until it finally came a full circle and turned into a hotel again.
Business and cultural hubs
Remember ubiquitous TikTok videos and serious business news about a new Amazon office in a former prison?
While some publications exaggerated the situation, assuming that Amazon turned the entire Koepelgevangenis — a historic domed prison in Haarlem — into its workspace, there was some truth in those articles.
There’s indeed a business and digital tech hub right under the former prison’s iconic domed roof.
It’s called Cupola XS and offers a spacious circular co-working space, along with private offices and meeting facilities. The rest of the now-multifunctional building is occupied by even more interesting facilities, including a six-screen cinema.
Another similar example can be found in Leeuwarden, where the old Blokhuispoort Prison (which seems more suitable for a Disney princess than dangerous criminals) is now occupied by around 130 creative entrepreneurs.
The building complex also houses eateries, pop-up stores, and even the city’s main library.
Educational facilities
What parent would voluntarily send their child to prison and even pay thousands of euros every year for it?
If we are talking about a former prison that has been transformed into an elite British school in Amsterdam, many people are interested in such a possibility.
Formerly known as “Het Huis van Bewaring” (the House of Detention), the cross-shaped building near Amstelveenseweg had served as a prison for over a century.
However, since 2021, it has been occupied by well-behaved children of wealthy expats from all over the globe.
Interestingly, former prisons have already proved their suitability not only for schools but also for higher education institutions.
Thus, the above-mentioned De Koepel in Haarlem also serves as a campus of SRH Haarlem University of Applied Sciences.
An immersive prison experience
Although many former prisons have undergone miraculous transformations, others strive to stay as close to the original as possible. One of the best examples is The National Prison Museum.
Opened in 2005 in the “prison village” of Veenhuizen, the museum takes visitors through the Dutch history of crime and punishment from 1600 to the present.
Highlights include an authentic prison bus that was used to transport prisoners between residential and working institutions — and now operates two days a week to entertain the museum visitors.
However, this industry seems to be thriving, turning not only separate cells but also entire buildings into immersive playgrounds.
Is the pendulum swinging back?
It would be great to see a moment when all the prisons in the Netherlands are transformed into something else. Unfortunately, some of them are still needed for their original purpose — moreover, there are no longer enough cells for convicted criminals.
But don’t panic! No one is going to turn hotels and coworking spaces back into prisons. Creative minds at the Dutch authorities have already come up with various other solutions.
