Housing in the Netherlands

Types of Housing

Finding Housing

• Makelaar (real estate agent) — helps you buy a house
• Woningcorporatie (housing association) — register here as a housing seeker (woningzoekende)
• The more years you're registered, the better your chances for social housing

Statiegeld (Deposit on Bottles/Cans)

Return bottles and cans with statiegeld to the supermarket (supermarkt) — not to the gemeente or apotheek.

Utilities and Energy

Energy Contract

• You must arrange your own energy contract when moving
• Not arranged by gemeente or woningcorporatie

Meter Reading (Meterstanden)

• Report your meter readings to your energy company
• Gas meter (gasmeter): read the black numbers before the decimal point
• Example: If meter shows 03164,789 → report 03164
• The red numbers after the decimal are not reported

Gas Problems

• No gas? Call the Nationaal Storingsnummer
• Not the brandweer (fire department) or gemeente