The best cities in the Netherlands to live in: an overview of where to buy a property

What is premium housing? This is a question that cannot be answered in one sentence. It’s not just high ceilings and a secured area, but a complex of characteristics that create a new standard of living.

To understand what sets this segment apart from others, it is important to consider architecture, infrastructure, layouts, documentation, and real value beyond the external gloss. In this article, we will delve into what truly lies behind the word “premium” — from the facade to the last screw in the engineering system.

Architecture and Location: Tailored Suit for the City

In the premium segment, architecture is always individual. Projects are developed by renowned bureaus — ADM, SPEECH, Ginzburg Architects, which adapt the building to the historical, visual, and functional landscape of a specific area. Premium does not tolerate random facades — it requires a dialogue with the city. Form, materials, silhouette — everything is subordinated not to fashion, but to meaning.

Location is not just a point on the map, but a stage where the script of life unfolds. Housing in the center implies a different level of service, infrastructure, and building density compared to properties on the periphery. View characteristics, acoustics, the presence of private zones, neighboring buildings — all of this affects the perception and value of the space.

Space Without Compromises: Area and Layouts

Apartment size — starting from 100 m². Anything less is already business or comfort class. Layouts are designed with well-thought-out movement scenarios. A second bathroom, a walk-in closet, a separate kitchen or a kitchen-living room of at least 30 m² are mandatory.

What is premium housing? It’s about space where every square meter works. The space is not just large, but functional: master bedrooms with private bathrooms, hidden niches for appliances, balconies instead of birdhouse-like balconies. The developer thinks about the logic of life, not just the square footage.

Finishing and Standards

The characteristics of premium class establish finishing standards. The premium segment uses turnkey finishing from bureaus with portfolios. No typical solutions: natural stone, engineered flooring, Italian plumbing fixtures, curtains on electric cornices — by default.

The level of finishing determines the class. For example, marble on the floor of the elevator lobby, German windows with multifunctional glazing, sound-absorbing panels in the corridors. These nuances distinguish the project from the business segment. The difference between business and premium housing is not in slogans, but in finishing and details.

Infrastructure and Functions

What is premium housing? It’s when the building functions as a system. 24/7 concierge, digital dispatching, waiting area with soft furniture, backup generator, office-level video surveillance. Without this, it’s not premium.

An important criterion is infrastructure. Inside the project, fitness rooms, children’s rooms, meeting rooms, coworking spaces are often integrated. But the main thing is not the quantity, but the implementation. For example, a gym is not in the basement but on the 2nd floor with a view of the park. The children’s room has access to its own courtyard without cars.

Difference Between Premium and Elite Housing

The key difference between the segments is not in finishing, but in the level of privacy and uniqueness. The difference between premium and elite housing is like between business class and first class. Elite housing is exclusive, with 10–15 apartments in a building. Premium is larger but with the same standards.

Premium class vs elite class — a question of scale. In elite real estate, the developer creates a boutique building. In premium, it’s a block with infrastructure. The first is chosen like a gallery, the second like an interest club. The difference lies in the level of service, number of apartments, and location.

The Cost of Premium in the Netherlands: Figures and Parameters

Premium-class real estate in the Netherlands without specific cost analysis is incomplete.

By 2025, the average price per square meter in the premium segment in Amsterdam ranges from €10,000 to €14,000, in Rotterdam and The Hague from €7,500 to €10,000. In locations like Utrecht, Haarlem, or Eindhoven, prices range from €6,000 to €8,500, depending on the neighborhood, proximity to canals, and cultural infrastructure.

The final price is influenced not only by the area but also by window orientation, floor, type of glazing (e.g., full-height triple glazing). The presence of a terrace overlooking the water, private elevators, building energy class, and project status (e.g., BREEAM Outstanding or WELL-certified) can increase the price by 25–35% from the market base rate in the area.

Premium in the Netherlands is not just about comfort but a carefully considered architectural and ecological investment in lifestyle.

What is Premium Housing: Classification

Defining what premium housing is can be done without marketing clichés — it’s enough to analyze specific property parameters. The segment is formed not by words but by a combination of characteristics, each of which meets a specific standard.

How to distinguish premium from others:

1. Location — city center, waterfronts, quiet neighborhoods near business activity.
   
2. Architecture — original design with a unique concept.
   
3. Area — starting from 100 m², often with terraces or natural light.
   
4. Finishing — premium materials, designer implementation.
   
5. Parking — underground parking with a lift to the apartment.
   
6. Infrastructure — halls, coworking spaces, children’s areas, lounges.
   
7. Developer — experienced in the high-end segment, a well-known brand.
   
8. Documentation — transparent, with all permits and control points.
   
9. Project — comprehensive, considering all life scenarios.
   
10. Evaluation — based on independent standards and classifications, for example, engineering level or energy efficiency.
    

Even with visual similarities between buildings, only a complex set of features confirms belonging to the segment. Premium always proves its status through actions, not just a name.

Documentation and Project

What is premium housing? It’s not just a house but a properly executed project, accompanied by a complete legal dossier. Specialized developer lawyers work on the documentation, including in the contract not only the technical characteristics of the property but also detailed information about the management company, operation of common areas, rights to infrastructure.

Having all the documentation, including approvals for the facade, land plot, networks, ensures transaction transparency. In the premium segment, developers avoid schemes with apartments without housing status, focusing on full-fledged real estate that meets capital construction standards.

Who and Why Chooses Premium

The buyer of premium housing is not always an investor. More often, it’s a person addressing specific needs: moving to the center, expanding space, increasing comfort levels. Most transactions in this segment are for personal living. The audience’s age is 35+, professions include entrepreneurs, managers, and above-average income specialists.

Statistics show that 62% of transactions are in projects with underground parking and finished interiors. Nearly 70% of buyers choose homes with a closed territory and private infrastructure. Among the popular options are video surveillance, security services, intelligent management systems.

Where the Line Is Drawn: Distinguishing Premium from Other Classes

What is premium housing and how to distinguish it from others is a subtle question. The difference from comfort lies in scale and attention to detail. The difference from elite lies in the scale of the property and degree of uniqueness. Premium defines comfort not as an additional option but as a norm.

The difference from other classes is recorded in dozens of parameters: number of floors, level of engineering systems, developer brand, architectural expressiveness, degree of technological advancement. It’s the combination, not individual parameters, that determines the property’s belonging to the premium segment.

What is Premium Housing: Conclusions

Understanding what premium housing is requires specifics, not slogans: numbers, standards, architecture, legal clarity. Today, premium is not just square meters but an infrastructural-functional ecosystem that deeply and prospectively solves client tasks.

Buying a property in the Netherlands in 2025 requires accurate calculations and an understanding of the law. Superficial schemes and “willy-nilly” do not work here. Holland sets high standards for both properties and buyers. Most mistakes are made before the contract is signed – that’s when money, time and chances are lost.

Prices: figures that do not deceive

Buying property in the Netherlands starts with a sober look at prices. In 2025, the average cost of housing in Amsterdam reached €6,550 per m². In Utrecht it is €5,100 and in Rotterdam it is around €4,700. Houses in the countryside are cheaper, but they are also less liquid.

New objects are offered at fixed prices – without bidding, but with mandatory participation in lotteries and tenders. On the secondary market the situation is more tense. Here, owners raise the price by 5-10% of the market price, focusing on the demand from foreigners. This is especially strong in areas with tourist infrastructure.

Buying property in the Netherlands: conditions

Foreigners can buy any type of property – a house, a flat or a plot of land. But mortgages are granted only if you have a residence permit or EU income. The bank will ask for proof of employment, tax history, credit rating and a deposit of 20-30%.

The transaction is formalised by a notary – not a broker. He checks the documents, formalises the transfer of ownership and registers the transaction in the Kadaster register.

Transaction order: steps, no margin for error

Buying a property in the Netherlands follows a strict procedure. It includes:

1. Finding and verifying an object. A professional broker analyses the market offers, checks legal cleanliness, communications, status of land and building permits.
2. Signing a preliminary contract. The document fixes the price, terms and obligations of the parties. A deposit – 10% of the value.
3. Final signing at the notary’s office. The notary checks all documents, transfers the funds to the seller, formalises the transfer of ownership and sends the data to the registration chamber.
4. Property registration. Kadaster enters the new owner into the register. From this moment on, the status of owner is acquired.

All stages are strictly regulated and legally protected. This approach minimises risks and guarantees the transparency of the transaction at every step.

Taxes and expenses: count to the last euro

Buying a property in the Netherlands comes with several mandatory costs. One of the main ones is the transfer tax (Overdrachtsbelasting). In 2025, the rate is 2% for residential properties and 10.4% for non-residential properties.

Additionally:

• Notary services: €1,000-€2,000;
• registration and legal support: €800-€1,500;
• brokerage commission: 1-2% of the value.

Total costs can be as high as 5-8% of the value of the property.

What not to ignore when buying a property in the Netherlands

Buying a property in the Netherlands entails a number of responsibilities. The owner pays an annual property tax (Onroerendezaakbelasting – OZB) as well as utility and municipal fees.

The maintenance of the dwelling requires compliance with building and technical regulations. In case of redevelopment, it must be approved by the municipality. Fines of up to €25,000 are provided for violations.

Investments: calculation, not emotion

Property in the Netherlands brings a stable yield – on average 3.5-5% per annum, especially when renting in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Haarlem. Studios and “two-bedrooms” are in demand – they are quickly rented by students and young professionals.

Demand is consistently higher than supply, especially in areas with good transport and educational infrastructure. It is important to take into account: rent is strictly regulated, the contract is for at least one year, indexation is limited, and penalties for violations are possible.

Immigration and residence permit

Buying a property in the Netherlands does not entitle you to a residence permit. The law does not provide for benefits in the presence of property. Ownership status can be a plus when applying for a visa on other grounds: business, startup, work.

Immigration requires legal income, contract, health insurance and integration. Only after several years of legal residence does one become eligible for permanent residence.

How to buy property in the Netherlands

Buying a home is not a spontaneous process. It requires analysis, preparation, and consideration of dozens of factors. A simple list helps keep you focused:

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Determine budget and region.
2. Evaluate goals: living, renting, investing.
3. Contact a licensed broker.
4. Check the object: technical condition, documents.
5. Sign the preliminary contract.
6. To post bail.
7. To be notarised.
8. Complete your registration with Kadaster.
9. Calculate all taxes and fees.
10. To record the rights and obligations of the owner.

Buying property in the Netherlands: restrictions

Purchasing a home is open to non-EU citizens, but with a number of nuances. Many cities have an opkoopbescherming rule – a ban on renting for the first 4 years after purchase. This helps protect the market from speculation. In Amsterdam and Rotterdam new projects can include quotas for sale only to residents – without local registration the transaction cannot be carried out.

Foreigners are not eligible for subsidies and pay all taxes and services in full. At the same time, there are no restrictions on land acquisition: both building plots and fully owned agricultural land are available.

Object types

Buying property in the Netherlands covers a wide range of properties. The market includes:

1. Flats in apartment blocks are a common format in cities. The layout is standard, often without balconies. The average size is 65-85 m².
2. Tanhouses are two- and three-storey houses with a common wall, popular in suburbs. The price starts from €320,000.
3. Villas and detached houses are premium segment properties, often located outside of cities. Costs start from €650,000.
4. Building plots are a scarce commodity, especially near agglomerations. Municipalities sell such plots by agreement, with strict conditions for development.

The key to making the right choice is to match the purpose of the purchase with the location. A compact flat in the centre is suitable for renting. For living – a house in a quiet neighbourhood. For investment – a liquid object in a development zone.

Regional differences

The property market in the Netherlands differs significantly by region. Amsterdam is the most expensive and overheated: the price per m² exceeds €6,500, objects leave in 12 days. Utrecht and Haarlem are stable, but with less competition – €4,900-5,100/m². In Rotterdam and The Hague housing is more affordable, but there are rental restrictions and neighbourhoods with a high migration background.

Maastricht and Groningen offer stability and prices of up to €3,800/m², maintaining growth potential – both for living and investment for 5-7 years.

Leases and alternatives

Buying a property in the Netherlands is not always justified. Renting a flat costs €1,200-1,800/month, and the tenant does not have to pay for taxes, repairs, insurance and registration.

If the plan of residence – up to 3 years, renting is more favourable. If the term is 5 years or more, buying becomes reasonable, especially in view of rising prices and difficulties with mortgages.

Conclusion

Buying a property in the Netherlands in 2025 is an informed decision, not an emotion. The property must be fit for purpose: investment, residence or migration. With a clear strategy and proper design, the property becomes a stable asset rather than a burden.