Buy an apartment in the Netherlands in 2026: prices and taxes
The average home costs about $570,000, tax is 2% to live in and 8% to let, and there is no residence for buying. Prices, costs, letting rules and payment for Russians.
A foreigner can buy an apartment in the Netherlands without permits or restrictions based on citizenship. In 2026 the average existing apartment or house sells for about $570,000. Purchase tax is 2% if you live in the home yourself and 8% if you buy to let. Buying does not give a residence permit.
A detailed look at taxes, mortgages and letting rules is on the property in the Netherlands page. Here is the short answer: what it costs, what you pay and where the catch is.
How much a home in the Netherlands costs in 2026
The Dutch market is cooling but not getting cheaper. According to the national statistics office, existing homes cost 3.3% more than a year earlier, down from 3.9% growth a month before. The average deal price is about $570,000.
Buyers are not disappearing. In the first eight months of 2026 the land registry recorded 156,028 sales, 4% more than a year earlier. Popular apartments in large cities still attract several offers, and it is buyers, not the seller, who push the price up.
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in the Netherlands
Yes. The Netherlands does not restrict foreigners by citizenship, and no residence permit is needed for the deal. A notary handles the contract and the title is registered in the land registry.
Money is the harder part. EU sanctions rules restrict banks from accepting large deposits from Russian citizens without an EU residence permit, and the notary and bank must check the source of funds. Non-residents can get a mortgage, but on stricter terms. The payment route is planned before the deposit.
How much the paperwork costs
The main cost is transfer tax. Its rate depends not on the price but on who is buying and why.
| Buyer | Transfer tax |
|---|---|
| Buying to live in as a main home | 2% |
| First purchase for yourself aged 18-35, if the price is under the annual threshold | 0%, once |
| Buying to let or as a second home | 8% |
| Commercial property | 10.4% |
In total, for a $570,000 home, about $12,000 in tax if you buy to live in and about $46,000 if you buy to let. This excludes the notary, land registry registration, the agent, the valuation and Murblz support. A manager will calculate the support fee in chat.
2% or 8% tax, and a letting ban can wipe out the yield
The law does not stop you from buying an apartment in the Netherlands on your own. But mistakes cost more than the tax: a buy-to-let apartment in a city where it cannot be let without a permit for the first four years; a rent capped by law below your estimate; a deposit paid before the payment route accounts for banks' sanctions restrictions. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists find the property, check the municipality's rules, calculate tax and yield, set up the payment and run the deal with the notary. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on the city, the price and the purpose of the purchase; a manager will calculate it in chat.
How the purchase works
- Making an offer. Popular properties often draw competing buyers.
- Preliminary contract. A buyer purchasing a home to live in has three days to withdraw without consequences.
- Deposit or bank guarantee, usually 10% of the price.
- Financing. A mortgage or proof of own funds.
- Notarial deed, payment of the tax and registration in the land registry.
Letting, taxes and residence
Buying an apartment to let in the Netherlands is easier than actually letting it.
- Regulated rent. Since 2024 the Affordable Rent Act also caps rents in the mid segment: the maximum is set by a points system for housing quality.
- Buy-to-let protection. Many municipalities ban letting lower-priced homes in the first four years after purchase without a permit.
- Tourists. Short-term letting in large cities is capped by nights per year and requires registration.
- Owner taxes. Every year, municipal property tax and water board tax. Homes for letting and second homes are taxed as part of the tax on savings and investments, including for non-residents.
Other rates are on the taxes in the Netherlands page. The country closed its investor residence route to new applications on 17 April 2024. A move is arranged through work, business or study; see the Netherlands residence permit page.
A home in the Netherlands to live in or to let? Tell us which city, what budget and what the apartment is for. We will calculate the tax and yield under the municipality's rules, plan the payment and take the deal through.
FAQ
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in the Netherlands?
How much does an apartment in the Netherlands cost in 2026?
What is the tax on buying an apartment in the Netherlands?
Can you let an apartment you buy in the Netherlands?
Does buying an apartment in the Netherlands give a residence permit?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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