Apartments for sale in Amsterdam, Netherlands - Buy Flats (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth buying property in Amsterdam? ›

If you're planning on staying in the Amsterdam region for three years or more, then one option may be to buy a property. Despite strong competition in the current economic climate, you'll find there are tax incentives and long-term benefits of owning your own home.

Amsterdam was the most expensive Dutch city to buy an apartment in, with the average square meter price at 7,900 euros in 2023. The price of an apartment in The Hague was significantly lower, at 5,000 euros per square meter.

The short answer is yes. The Netherlands does not place any restrictions on the purchase of property by foreigners, whether resident or non-resident.

For example, a fully equipped 1 bedroom apartment in Amsterdam's city center will set you back a minimum price of €2,500. Head a little further out of the city in its suburbs and you're looking at a monthly rental price of around €1,600 instead.

Preparing for the move

As a third-country national who does not possess EU, EEA, or Swiss nationality, you will need a residence permit to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. There are different types of visas, residence permits, and work permits depending on your employer and your specific case.

The median sale price of a home in Amsterdam was $135K last. The median sale price per square foot in Amsterdam is $103, up 28.6% since last year.…

Benefits of buying a home in the Netherlands

Buying is a cheaper solution for the long term. You build equity when you own a home. You can afford a bigger home when buying versus renting a home. Interest-tax deductions.

Summary of cost of living in Amsterdam, Netherlands: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,989.4$ (3,709.6€) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,142.7$ (1,062.5€) without rent. Amsterdam is 30.7% less expensive than New York (without rent).

In Amsterdam, there is limited supply and high demand, and this means that rental costs in the free sector are much higher than social housing. Being close to public transport, shopping and other amenities makes a big difference to the rent - and your everyday life. So you pay for the privilege of being well-connected.

Only one adult may live in each room, unless they are spouses or registered partners. Tenants must register with the municipality. As a consequence, the municipality can revoke room rental permits if fewer than 3 tenants live in a property. So be careful not to fall below the minimum of 3 tenants if you have a permit.

Can a US citizen retire in Amsterdam? ›

The Netherlands, like other European countries, is part of the Schengen Agreement, which means that American retirees are allowed visa-free entry into the Dutch country as tourists or for business purposes up to 90 days. If you plan on a longer residency, you will have to apply for a permit.

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, you may need a residence permit. In many cases you will also have to apply for a long-stay visa before you travel to the Netherlands. This visa is also called an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV).

After signing the preliminary purchase contract ('voorlopig koopcontract'), you'll need to pay the seller a deposit of 10% of the purchase price of the property. If you don't have enough savings, you can get a bank guarantee ('bankgarantie'). In general this will cost you 1% of the amount of the guarantee.

On average, you should expect your apartment search to take anywhere between 2 and 6 months. This is the average time it takes residents to find a long stay apartment or room in Amsterdam. You will be able to find apartments you can live in for a few months while you search for something more permanent however.

Although cost of living varies considerably due to each individual's personal preferences and situation, according to our estimations a single person would need a net salary of €1,900 to live comfortably in most Dutch cities while a family of four would typically require a net salary of at least €4,800 per month.

There is not enough student housing to accommodate everyone. That's why it's very important to arrange your housing as soon as possible. As it's not easy at all finding a good place, this is something you have to arrange before arriving in the Netherlands.

Moving to the Netherlands can be overwhelming. Luckily, living in Amsterdam can be a walk in the park. It's easy for newcomers and expats to settle in, given the city's cosmopolitan spirit, rich cultural life and large international community – combined with a compact size to make getting around a breeze.