Knowledge base
What buyers should know about the VvE
Dutch owners' associations explained for apartment buyers: reserve funds, maintenance plans, minutes and new rules, with what we see in real VvE dossiers.
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Buyer's agent in the Netherlands: what does it cost and what do you get?
A Dutch buyer's agent (aankoopmakelaar) usually costs € 2,500 to € 5,000, or a percentage of the price. What you get for it, when it's worth it, and when you can manage an apartment purchase yourself.
Published 28 October 2026without an agentfinancesBuying an apartment without a buyer's agent? Don't lose what you save on the VvE
Skipping a Dutch buyer's agent (aankoopmakelaar) easily saves € 2,500 to € 5,000. What an agent normally does for you, how to handle it yourself, and why you don't want to lose that money to the owners' association.
Published 28 October 2026without an agentbuyingChecking VvE documents yourself: a checklist for buyers without an agent
Which documents to ask the Dutch owners' association (VvE) for, what to look for in each, and which red flags mean you should ask more. A buyer's agent's work, laid out.
Published 28 October 2026without an agentmaintenancereserve fundQuestions to ask the seller's agent about the VvE
Buying without your own agent means asking the questions about the Dutch owners' association (VvE) yourself. Twelve questions about maintenance, money and decisions, and what a vague answer can mean.
Published 28 October 2026without an agentvve contributionReading an MJOP: how to spot expensive surprises coming
A Dutch long-term maintenance plan (MJOP) is often dozens of pages of tables. How to read it as a buyer in five steps, from the date and price level to the year the reserve fund runs short.
Published 28 October 2026maintenancereserve fundBuying an apartment in the Netherlands: the process step by step
From budget and offer to the keys at the notary. Every step of buying an apartment in the Netherlands, with the Dutch terms you'll meet, the cooling-off period, the VvE documents and the buyer's costs in 2026.
Documents for your mortgage and the notary when buying in the Netherlands
The bank wants to see your income, a valuation and the purchase agreement; the notary wants to know where your own money comes from. Which documents you provide when buying an apartment, why, and when.
Making an offer on an apartment in the Netherlands: the rules
Can the seller talk to others while the home is under offer? Must they take the highest bid? Is a verbal agreement binding? The rules for bidding on a Dutch home, with the NVM protocol in force since February 2026.
What is a VvE? The Dutch owners' association explained
Buy an apartment in the Netherlands and you automatically join the building's owners' association (VvE). What it does, who decides, what your monthly contribution pays for and what to check before you buy.
Published 27 October 2026buyingvve contributionreserve fundDeed of division (splitsingsakte) costs: requesting, reviewing and amending
A copy costs €19.85 from the Kadaster, an amendment through a notary quickly runs to several thousand euros. All costs of a splitsingsakte at a glance.
Published 25 October 2026deed of divisionfinanceslegalReading the deed of division (splitsingsakte): what to look for as a buyer
A deed of division is dozens of pages of legal text. How to read it in six steps, from the model regulations to your liability for unpaid contributions.
Published 25 October 2026deed of divisionlegalRequesting the division drawing (splitsingstekening): how to get it and how to read it
You only get the division drawing together with the deed of division from the Dutch land registry, for €19.85. What it shows, and what to look for as a buyer.
Published 25 October 2026deed of divisionRequesting the deed of division (splitsingsakte): how it works and what it costs
No splitsingsakte among the seller's documents? Then you request it from the Dutch land registry (Kadaster). What it costs, what you get and what to look for as a buyer.
Published 22 October 2026deed of divisionHow big should a VvE's reserve fund be?
Dutch law sets how much an owners' association (VvE) must save each year, not how big the fund must be. How to check as a buyer whether the reserve fund is enough for the planned maintenance.
Published 21 October 2026reserve fundmaintenancefinancesThe new Dutch VvE law: what changes for apartment buyers?
The Dutch government wants owners' associations (VvEs) to decide on maintenance and sustainability by simple majority and to plan maintenance 30 years ahead. What that means for you as a buyer.
Published 21 October 2026legalmaintenancesustainabilityVvE loans when buying an apartment: what do you take on?
Has the owners' association (VvE) borrowed money for maintenance or sustainability? Then you help pay it off as a buyer. What that means for your monthly costs, your mortgage and the Dutch transfer tax.
Published 21 October 2026buyingfinancestaxsustainabilityWhat is a normal VvE contribution in 2026?
Dutch apartment owners pay their owners' association (VvE) around € 270 a month on average, but buildings differ a lot. Why a low contribution isn't always cheap, and how to check it as a buyer.
Published 21 October 2026vve contributionreserve fundmaintenancefinances
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