Knowledge base · 27 articles
What does the data say about a house?
Clear explanations of the public data in a Dutch property report: what it means, where it comes from and what it does not tell you.
Buying a home
- WOZ value and neighbourhood statistics explainedHow the WOZ value is set, where to look it up and what CBS neighbourhood figures such as the average WOZ value and share of owner-occupied homes tell you.1 min read
- Checklist: what to research before you buy a houseA practical checklist for buyers in the Netherlands: energy label, foundations, permits, ground lease, VvE and zoning plan, with links to official sources.3 min read
- Kosten koper: what extra costs do you pay when buying a house?Transfer tax, first-time buyer's exemption, notary, valuation and advice: which costs come on top of a house's purchase price, and what can't you finance?2 min read
- Buying an apartment: VvE, division deed and reserve fundWhat to look for when buying an apartment: the owners' association (VvE), the division deed, the long-term maintenance plan and the mandatory reserve fund.2 min read
- Looking up a house's sale price: what did a property sell for?Want to know what a house sold for? How to look up the sale price via the Kadaster (Land Registry) and use nearby sales to support your own offer.4 min read
- How much should you offer on a house? Setting a good offerHow much should you offer on a house? Comparable sales, WOZ value, valuation, overbidding and the rules of negotiating with the estate agent.5 min read
- House viewing checklist: what to look for and what to askChecklist for viewing a house in the Netherlands: what to check from roof to crawl space, what to ask the estate agent and what to research beforehand.4 min read
- Get-out clauses (ontbindende voorwaarden) when buying a houseWhat are ontbindende voorwaarden (get-out clauses)? The financing condition, building survey, deadlines and what happens if you dissolve the purchase.4 min read
- Purchase agreement and cooling-off period: what do you sign?When is a Dutch house purchase final? The written koopovereenkomst, the statutory three-day cooling-off period, registration and the deposit explained.4 min read
- Building survey: what is it and do you need one?What does a Dutch building survey check, when should you have one done, what is in the report and how do you use the findings in your offer or negotiation?4 min read
- Latent defects in a house: what are your rights?Found a defect after buying your home? The seller's duty to disclose, the buyer's duty to investigate, age clauses and how quickly you must notify the seller.4 min read
- Buying your first home: a step-by-step plan for first-time buyersBuying your first Dutch home in 2026? Step by step: what you can borrow, the starters' exemption, searching, viewing, offering, signing and the notary transfer.5 min read
Energy
Building
- What does the construction year tell you about a house?The construction year says a lot about a home's build, insulation and foundations. What does the BAG year mean and what to watch for in each period?1 min read
- What is the BAG and what does it say about your home?The BAG register holds every address and building in the Netherlands. What are a verblijfsobject, a pand and the usable floor area?1 min read
- Height, roof and volume of a home: the 3D BAGHow tall is a home, what kind of roof does it have and how many walls does it share with neighbours? About the 3D BAG and how reliable its data is.1 min read
- Foundation problems: what to look out forTimber piles, pile rot and subsidence: what you need to know about foundations, the warning signs and which public data helps your research.3 min read
- Asbestos in a home: how do you know if a property contains asbestos?Could the home you want to buy contain asbestos? Where it is found, which homes are at risk, what the asbestos clause means and what removal involves.3 min read
- Floor area of a home: usable floor area, measuring guidelines and the BAGIs the floor area in the listing correct? Usable floor area, NEN 2580, the estate agents' measuring guidelines and the floor area in the BAG explained.4 min read
Plot and ownership
- Cadastral parcel: designation, area and boundariesWhat is a cadastral parcel, how do you read its cadastral designation and how reliable are the boundaries on the Dutch cadastral map?1 min read
- Buying a house on erfpacht (ground lease): what it meansWith erfpacht you own the house but not the land. What is canon, what does buying it off mean, continuous or perpetual lease, and what should you check?2 min read
Permits and regulations
- How to look up the permits for a homeWhich permits have been granted for a home or in the street? How to search official public notices and request the building file from the municipality.1 min read
- Living in a listed building or protected townscapeWhat it means if your home is a national or municipal monument, or lies in a protected townscape or village view. Rules, permits and support.1 min read
- Can I add a dormer or extension after buying a house?Planning a dormer, extension or shed after buying? How to check in advance if you need a permit, what the zoning plan says and what a listed building means.2 min read
- Looking up the omgevingsplan: what can be built next to your home?What can be built next to the home you want to buy? How to look up the omgevingsplan (formerly the zoning plan) and building plans in the neighbourhood.4 min read
Surroundings
- Noise, air quality and climate around your homeHow to read noise maps (Lden), air quality (NO₂, particulates) and climate risks such as flooding and heat, and what they do and do not say about a home.1 min read
- Researching the neighbourhood before you buy a houseSchools, shops, public transport, noise, safety and future building plans: how to research a neighbourhood with public data before you make an offer.2 min read