Short answer: normally the deed of division (splitsingsakte) comes with the seller's documents. If it isn't there, the seller usually doesn't have it either. You then request it from the Dutch land registry, the Kadaster: online, a copy costs €19.85 as a PDF by email or €22.25 by post, including the floor plan of the division, and you usually have it within two working days. If you order our full report, we request it for you at no extra cost.
What is a deed of division?
With a deed of division, a notary divides a building into apartment rights (appartementsrechten). This is also what creates the owners' association (VvE). The deed sets out:
- which parts of the building are private and which are shared (balconies, window frames and pipes often come as a surprise);
- each apartment's share (breukdeel): your share of the costs and your voting weight in the meeting;
- the division rules (splitsingsreglement), covering use, letting, pets and renovations. Many deeds refer to a model set of rules from the Dutch notaries (1973, 1983, 1992, 2006 or 2017) and deviate from it on some points.
The deed comes with the division drawing (splitsingstekening): floor plans on which each apartment right is marked with a number.
How to request it from the Kadaster
The deed of division is in the Kadaster's public register. Anyone can request it, even if you don't own the apartment (yet). You order through the page Splitsingsakte opvragen on kadaster.nl (in Dutch). A copy costs €19.85 as a PDF by email or €22.25 by post. The division drawing is included and can't be ordered separately. A current deed is sent within two working days.
Watch out: there are often several deeds
Was the division changed later, or was an apartment right divided again (ondersplitsing)? Then each change is a separate deed, paid for separately. As a buyer, always ask for the latest version: an old deed may contain rules that no longer apply, or miss what was added later.
If the Kadaster first has to work out which deed you need, for example because the deed refers to another one, you pay €60 in research costs on top of the copy, even if nothing is found. For deeds from before 1973, the division drawing was not always registered with the deed.
What to look for as a buyer
- Permitted use: may the apartment only be lived in, or also used as a practice or office?
- Letting: is letting restricted or prohibited, or do you need the meeting's permission?
- Share: does your share of the costs match the size of the apartment?
- Private or shared: who pays for new window frames, the balcony floor or the pipes?
- Pets, renovations and solar panels: what is allowed without a decision of the meeting?
No deed of division among your documents?
Upload the VvE documents you do have for the free scan. If the deed of division is missing, you pick the apartment's address. If you order the full report, we request the deed of division and its drawing for you from the public register at no extra cost, take them into account when writing the report and send them along.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone request a deed of division?
Yes. The deed of division is in the Kadaster's public register. You don't need to be an owner to order a copy.
What does requesting a deed of division from the Kadaster cost?
€19.85 for a PDF by email and €22.25 by post, per deed. The division drawing is included. Each amending deed is a separate deed at the same price. If the Kadaster first has to find the right deed, €60 in research costs is added.
How quickly do I get the deed of division?
The Kadaster sends a copy of a current deed within two working days of your order. By post, add two to five working days.
Is the deed of division the same as the house rules?
No. The deed of division and its rules are set by the notary and can only be changed by a notarial deed. The house rules (huishoudelijk reglement) are set by the owners' meeting itself and cover day-to-day matters, such as the use of shared spaces. They may not conflict with the deed of division.
Sources
- Kadaster: Splitsingsakte opvragen (in Dutch, consulted 22 October 2026)
- Kadaster: Particuliere tarieven (in Dutch, consulted 22 October 2026)