Covered Parking

Protection from the Dutch Weather

Covered parking refers to any parking space that is sheltered from the elements. This broad category can include a private garage or carport, but for the majority of tenants in urban areas, it has a very specific meaning: a designated space in a large, shared underground or ground-level parking garage (parkeergarage) associated with an apartment complex. This feature is most common in modern residential developments built from the 1990s onwards, as municipalities began requiring developers to include integrated parking solutions to relieve pressure on public streets. The primary benefit is protecting a vehicle from the notoriously wet Dutch weather, as well as offering a greater degree of security compared to on-street parking.

A Separate, and Not Always Convenient, Transaction

A prospective tenant should be skeptical when a listing advertises 'covered parking' and assume it is not included in the primary rent unless explicitly stated. In almost all cases, the parking space is treated as a separate legal and financial entity. This means the tenant must sign a separate lease for the parking spot, paying an additional amount that can range from €100 to over €400 per month in a city like Amsterdam. Furthermore, the convenience can be questionable. The assigned spot might be located on a lower level of the garage, far from the elevator or stairs leading to the tenant's apartment. The spaces themselves are often built to tight European specifications, making them a challenge for larger vehicles. The advertised 'covered parking' is a utility that comes at a significant extra cost and may have practical drawbacks that are not apparent until you try to use it every day.