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Glossary

Dutch Rental Contract Types Explained

Understanding your tenancy agreement is crucial when renting in the Netherlands. From fixed-term leases to indefinite contracts, campus agreements, and short-stay options, each type comes with specific rights and obligations. Here we break down the most common Dutch rental contracts, what to watch for, and how to protect yourself before signing.

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Showing 1–24 of 73 rental terms

Diplomat's Clause

A special termination clause in a temporary lease that allows the landlord or tenant to end the contract early if they need to relocate for work.

Contract Types

Graduated Rent Lease

A type of lease with pre-agreed rent changes at specific future dates, which is rare in the Dutch residential market and legally complex.

Contract Types

Furnished Lease

A rental agreement that includes furniture and other movables, which allows for higher rent but introduces complexities regarding cost breakdowns and maintenance.

Contract Types

Caretaker Lease

A 'caretaker lease' ('dienstwoning') is tied to an employment contract, and tenant protection is waived if living in the house is essential for the job.

Contract Types

Mobile Home Lease

A lease for a traditional mobile home ('woonwagen') and its designated pitch is fully protected under Dutch rental law, similar to a standard apartment or house.

Contract Types

Caravan Lease

A lease for a static caravan ('stacaravan') intended for permanent residence offers a degree of tenant protection, which is not the case for recreational use.

Contract Types

Cottage Lease

A 'cottage lease' in the Netherlands is almost always a short-term holiday rental agreement, which is exempt from standard tenant protection laws.

Contract Types

Rent Escalation Lease

A 'rent escalation lease' describes a contract where the rent increases over time, a process that is strictly controlled by Dutch law for both regulated and free-sector properties.

Contract Types

Unfurnished Lease

An 'unfurnished' lease in the Netherlands can mean either a bare shell ('kaal') or semi-furnished ('gestoffeerd'), a critical distinction tenants must clarify.

Contract Types

Semi-furnished Lease

A 'semi-furnished' lease is the standard for the Dutch private rental market, known as 'gestoffeerd', which includes floors and window coverings but no movable furniture.

Contract Types

Seasonal Lease

A 'seasonal lease' is a contract for a non-permanent stay, such as in a vacation home, and is exempt from the standard tenant protection laws.

Contract Types

Automatic Renewal Lease

'Automatic renewal' does not lead to another fixed term in the Netherlands; it legally converts a temporary lease into a secure, indefinite one.

Contract Types

Renewable Lease

The concept of a 'renewable lease' is misleading in the Netherlands, as the law automatically converts a second lease into a secure, indefinite contract.

Contract Types

Long-term Lease

A 'long-term lease' in the Netherlands is an indefinite contract ('onbepaalde tijd'), which provides the highest level of housing security for a tenant.

Contract Types

Short-term Lease

A 'short-term lease' can refer to a fixed-term residential lease (up to 2 years) or a holiday rental, the latter of which has no tenant protection.

Contract Types

Yearly Lease

A 'yearly lease' in the Netherlands is a fixed-term contract for one year, which legally transforms into an indefinite lease if it is renewed.

Contract Types

Month-to-month Lease

A 'month-to-month' situation describes the flexibility a tenant has under an indefinite Dutch lease, but a landlord does not have the same right to terminate.

Contract Types

Maintenance-inclusive Lease

This term is legally redundant in the Netherlands, as all standard residential leases are, by law, inclusive of all major maintenance by the landlord.

Contract Types

All-inclusive Lease

An 'all-inclusive' lease ('all-in huur') is a rental contract with a single price for rent and all other costs, a structure that is legally problematic and disadvantageous for tenants.

Contract Types

Townhouse Lease

A townhouse lease in the Netherlands is a standard residential contract for renting an entire house, from a grand 'herenhuis' to a common 'rijtjeshuis'.

Contract Types

Duplex Lease

The Dutch equivalent of a duplex is a 'maisonnette', an apartment spanning two or more floors, which is rented using a standard residential lease.

Contract Types

Condominium Lease

Leasing a condominium means renting a privately owned apartment where the tenant must also abide by the rules of the building's Owners' Association (VvE).

Contract Types

Apartment Lease

An apartment lease is the most common type of residential rental agreement in the Netherlands, providing strong tenant protection under the law.

Contract Types

Penthouse Lease

A penthouse lease is a standard residential rental agreement for a luxury apartment on the top floor of a building, always falling within the 'free sector' with no rent control.

Contract Types