Short answer: you request the division drawing (splitsingstekening) from the Dutch land registry, the Kadaster, but not on its own: you only get it together with the deed of division (splitsingsakte). A copy costs €19.85 as a PDF by email or €22.25 by post, and a current deed is sent within two working days. For deeds from before 1973, a drawing was not always registered. Looking for a floor plan with measurements? Then you need the building drawing (bouwtekening) from the municipality: that is a different document.
What is a division drawing?
Every division into apartment rights comes with a drawing. The law requires it to be attached to the deed of division and to show the boundaries of the parts of the building and land intended for separate use (article 5:109 of the Dutch Civil Code). Legally, the drawing is part of the deed: where the law speaks of the deed of division, the drawing counts too.
The drawing shows:
- the floor plans of the building, per floor;
- a number for each apartment right, the apartment index (appartementsindex). Together with the Kadaster's complex designation (for example 1234-A), it forms the cadastral designation of your apartment, such as 1234-A-5;
- which storage rooms, parking spaces, gardens or roof terraces belong to which apartment. They often carry the same number as the apartment, even when they are elsewhere in the building.
What isn't drawn with a number is usually shared: the stairwell, corridors, the foundations and often the roof too.
How to request it
- Ask the seller or the estate agent first. The drawing is often at the back of the deed of division among the sale documents.
- Not there? Then order the deed of division through Splitsingsakte opvragen on kadaster.nl (in Dutch). The drawing comes with it; ordering it separately isn't possible.
- Was the division changed later? Then an amending deed may come with a new drawing. Not every amendment has one, but a change in layout does. So ask for the latest deed, not just the original.
If the Kadaster first has to search for the right deed, €60 in research costs is added, even if nothing is found. More on ordering in Requesting the deed of division: how it works and what it costs.
Division drawing or building drawing?
| Division drawing | Building drawing | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Kadaster, with the deed of division | The municipality's building archive |
| What it shows | Which parts belong to which apartment | How the building was designed, with measurements |
| Cost | €19.85 (PDF), together with the deed | Varies per municipality, viewing is often free |
| Legal weight | Determines what you own | None, for your ownership |
The division drawing isn't a measured plan: you can't reliably derive the floor area from it. That's what the measurement report or the building drawing is for.
What to look for as a buyer
- Does the drawing match what you see? Has an attic, storage room or garden been added to the apartment that isn't drawn with your number? Then it may not legally be yours, even if the seller has used it for years.
- Storage room and parking space. Is the storage room drawn with the apartment's number, or is it a separate apartment right? A separate right has its own cadastral designation and must be in the purchase deed.
- Balcony and roof terrace. A balcony or roof terrace can be private, or shared with an exclusive right of use. That determines who pays for maintenance and whether you may build on it.
- Old deed without a drawing. If a deed from before 1973 has no drawing, the description in the deed itself has to make clear what belongs to your apartment. Have that checked carefully.
If the drawing doesn't match reality, only an amendment of the deed of division can put it right, through a notary and with a decision of the owners' meeting. What that costs is explained in Deed of division costs: requesting, reviewing and amending.
Get the deed of division and the drawing reviewed before you sign, so you know exactly what you are buying.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request the division drawing separately?
No. The Kadaster only supplies the division drawing together with the deed of division. So you pay €19.85 (PDF) or €22.25 (post) for the deed, with the drawing included.
What if there is no division drawing?
For deeds registered before 1973, a drawing was not always registered with them. When you order, the Kadaster checks whether there is one and sends it along if there is. If not, the description in the deed determines what belongs to your apartment.
Does the division drawing show the measurements of my apartment?
Usually not reliably. The division drawing shows the boundaries between the apartment rights, not the exact dimensions. For measurements, request the building drawing from the municipality or have the apartment measured.
What does the number on the division drawing mean?
That is the apartment index. Together with the complex designation it forms the cadastral designation of the apartment right, for example 1234-A-5. A storage room with the same number belongs to that apartment.
Sources
- Kadaster: Splitsingsakte opvragen (in Dutch, consulted 25 October 2026)
- Kadaster: Particuliere tarieven (in Dutch, consulted 25 October 2026)
- Dutch Civil Code Book 5, article 109 (in Dutch, consulted 25 October 2026)