Buying a House in the Netherlands: Complete Cost Breakdown 2026

Buying a house in the Netherlands involves more costs than just the purchase price. This complete breakdown covers every expense you'll encounter, helping you budget accurately for your Dutch property purchase.

Use our Dutch mortgage calculator to see your estimated costs based on your specific property value.

Cost Overview at a Glance

For a property purchase, you'll face two categories of costs:

1. The mortgage (up to 100% of property value)
2. Additional costs (~4-6% of property value, from your savings)

Transfer Tax (Overdrachtsbelasting)

Transfer tax is paid when property ownership transfers to you. See our complete guide ontransfer tax in the Netherlands.

Current rates (2026):

• 0% for first-time buyers aged 18-35 buying a home to live in, if the property value is €525,000 or less (2026 limit)
• 2% for all other residential property purchases where you'll live in the home
• 10.4% for investment properties (not living there yourself)

Example calculations:

Notary Costs (Notariskosten)

You'll need a notary for two legal documents:

• Transfer deed (leveringsakte): €800-€1,200
• Mortgage deed (hypotheekakte): €800-€1,200

Total notary costs typically range from €1,500-€2,500 depending on property value and notary.

Mortgage Advisor Fees (Hypotheekadvies)

While you can apply directly to banks, using a mortgage advisor is highly recommended, especially as an expat. Advisor fees typically range from:

• €2,000-€3,500 for standard advice
• €3,500-€4,500 for complex situations (self-employed, unique cases)

At Expat Mortgage Pro, our fees are competitive and transparent. We compare 100+ lenders to find your best option.

Valuation Report (Taxatierapport)

The bank requires an independent valuation of the property:

• €500-€800 for most properties
• Higher for complex or high-value properties

This must be done by a certified appraiser and follows standardized guidelines.

Bank Fees

Most banks charge fees for processing your mortgage:

• Handling fee: €0-€750
• NHG fee (if applicable): 0.6% of mortgage amount

Building Inspection (Optional but Recommended)

A building inspection (bouwkundige keuring) checks for structural issues:

• €300-€500 for a standard inspection
• €500-€800 for detailed inspection with cost estimates

Highly recommended for older properties or those without recent renovation.

Complete Cost Example

Let's look at a complete example for a €400,000 property:

Scenario 1: First-time buyer, age 32

Scenario 2: Buyer age 40

Ongoing Costs After Purchase

Don't forget about recurring costs once you own the property:

• Property tax (OZB): €200-€800/year depending on municipality
• Home insurance: €150-€400/year
• Ground rent (erfpacht): Varies, if applicable
• Service charges (VvE): €50-€300/month for apartments
• Maintenance reserve: 1-2% of property value annually

Summary: How Much to Save

Before buying a property in the Netherlands, you should have:

• First-time buyer under 35 (property ≤€510k): Save 3-5% of property value
• Other buyers: Save 5-7% of property value

For a €400,000 property, that's €12,000-€28,000 in savings depending on your situation.