An owner shows a young couple her Amsterdam canal house, in a quiet street full of spring green.
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Rent a home in the Netherlands, directly from the owner

Looking for a house or apartment to rent in Amsterdam, Almere or elsewhere in the Netherlands? On VrijVerkocht you rent a whole home straight from a private owner, with no agency in between. You see who the owner is, you reply and chat on the platform, and you sign a fair rental contract for an indefinite period, as Dutch law requires.

See homes for rent Free for tenants. Listings, replies and messages in English. Lees deze pagina in het Nederlands

How renting through VrijVerkocht works

  1. Find a home for rentSwitch to Rent (Huren) and browse apartments and family homes from private owners in Almere, Amsterdam and the area around it, and beyond. No account needed to look.
  2. See how the owner choosesEvery listing shows the selection criteria up front, such as the income the owner asks for and whether pets are welcome. So you know straight away if a home suits you.
  3. Reply with a short introductionTell the owner who you are, in your own language; they read a translation. You do not need to send payslips or a copy of your passport before you are invited.
  4. View the homeIf the owner invites you, you pick a time for the viewing. All messages go through the platform, so everything is on record.
  5. Sign the rental contract onlineThe contract is for an indefinite period, without penalties or extra costs; whatever the contract does not cover, Dutch law does. You only pay the first rent and the deposit to the owner after signing.

Rent safely and avoid rental scams

  • Ownership checked.Before a home for rent goes online, our team checks proof of ownership to make sure the owner really owns it.
  • You see who the owner is.The listing shows the owner's name or company name, so you can look them up. Their contact details stay hidden, and so do yours until the contract.
  • Never pay up front.Never pay anything before you have seen the home and signed the contract. If someone asks you to, report it to us.
  • Proof for later.You can download an overview of your reply, the listing as it was, the invitation and all messages.

Your rights as a tenant in the Netherlands

Landlords must follow Dutch tenancy law and the Good Landlordship Act (Wet goed verhuurderschap). A few rules worth knowing:

  • Deposit of at most two months' basic rent.After the tenancy ends, you get it back within 14 days, or within 30 days if damage is deducted (Dutch Civil Code, article 7:261b).
  • A permanent contract is the norm.Since 1 July 2024, a rental contract is in principle for an indefinite period. There is no such thing as a "trial period".
  • No agency fees for tenants.An agent working for the landlord may not charge the tenant (Dutch Civil Code, article 7:417). VrijVerkocht never charges you either.
  • Fair selection.The owner chooses with criteria that are known in advance and the same for everyone. If you are not chosen, you may ask why, with the "Why not?" button.
  • Information in writing.With the contract, you receive written information about your rights, the deposit, service charges and your municipality's reporting point.
  • Registering at your address.Everyone living in the Netherlands must register at their home address with the municipality (BRP). A landlord may not forbid this.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay anything to VrijVerkocht as a tenant?

No. The owner pays us a fixed fee. You only pay the rent, any service charges and the deposit, directly to the owner and only after signing the contract.

I just moved to the Netherlands. Can I still apply?

Yes. Listings, the reply form and messages are available in English, and your introduction can be in your own language. We do not ask about your residence status.

Is the contract in English?

The contract is in Dutch. Everything else for tenants on VrijVerkocht is in English, and you can always ask the owner a question about the contract through the platform before you sign.

How do I know a listing is real?

Every home for rent goes online only after our team has checked the ownership. If something still looks wrong, use the report link ("Meld het") below the listing.

What kind of homes are for rent?

Whole homes only, no rooms, for an indefinite period. The number of homes is growing; if there is nothing for you yet, check back later.

Do you own a home you want to rent out?

List it yourself, choose your own tenant and pay a fixed fee, never a percentage: putting it online is free, and you pay € 250 ex VAT only once a rental contract has been signed. Rent out your home.

Good to know: under Dutch law, a rental contract for a whole home is in principle for an indefinite period, without a trial period. Your security comes up front, because you choose your own tenant.

Rent directly from the owner.

No agency, a fair contract, and everything on record.

See homes for rent