Can a foreigner buy property in the Netherlands?

Foreigners may buy on much the same terms as citizens

The Netherlands places no nationality limit on buying property. A foreigner buys through a notary and the sale is entered in the public land register.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Foreigners may own land.

Houses and flats

Houses and apartments can be bought on the same legal terms as by Dutch citizens.

Buying through a company

A foreign buyer may buy through a company.

Limits and closed zones

Planning and zoning rules apply to every buyer.

What to watch for

A notary completes the transfer. Many sales have a short period in which the buyer may withdraw, so read the contract.

Understand the legal system first

The Netherlands belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Netherlands legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Netherlands with another country →

Official sources

Kadaster: the Dutch land registry

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.