Thinking of working with a real estate agent or a property management company in the Netherlands? Here is what you need to know.
What is a real estate agent?
A real estate agent (known as a makelaar in the Netherlands) is a licensed professional who helps people buy or sell residential or commercial property. Real estate agents typically guide you through the entire property transaction process, from valuations and marketing to negotiations and legal documentation.
Real estate agents may specialise in different areas of real estate, such as:
- Property sales
- Property purchases
In both cases, they help people navigate the Dutch housing market more efficiently.
Buyer’s agents
A buyer's agent (ankoopmakelaar) acts on behalf of a property buyer. If you are buying a property, a buyer’s agent works exclusively for you, ensuring your interests are protected during the home-buying process. Their focus is on helping you find the right home at the right price.
As well as providing advice and guidance, buyer’s agents can:
- Help you find suitable properties that meet your requirements
- Give you exclusive access to listings that are not yet on the general market
- Provide you with data to help you understand what a fair asking price is
- Negotiate on your behalf when making an offer on a property, helping you to get a good price
- Assist you with legal and financial matters, to ensure the property purchase proceeds smoothly
Seller’s agents
As the name suggests, a seller’s agent (verkoopmakelaar) works on behalf of the property seller and to protect their interests. This means that their primary focus is on getting the highest possible price for the seller. A seller’s agent:
- Manages the sales process, including valuing the property and marketing it to potential buyers
- Organises viewings and show buyers around the property
- Negotiates with buyers who want to make an offer on the property
- Helps with closing matters, such as preparing legal paperwork and liaising with notaries on the property sale
If you are buying, the seller’s agent will be the person you get in touch with if you like a property and wish to make an offer (unless you’re working with a buyer’s agent, in which case they will make the offer on your behalf). If you are selling, the seller’s agent manages the property sale for you.
What is the NVM?
In the Netherlands, most real estate agents are members of recognised industry organisations. These organisations require their members to uphold professional standards and regularly update their training.
Some organisations you might come across include:
NVM
The NVM (Koninklijke Nederlandse Coöperatieve Vereniging van Makelaars en Taxateurs - Royal Dutch Association of Real Estate Brokers and Appraisers) is the largest real estate association in the Netherlands. Approximately 75 percent of all Dutch houses are sold by an NVM real estate agent. The NVM requires its agents to abide by a strict code of conduct and to update their professional knowledge every year. All agents also have professional indemnity insurance.
VastgoedNederland
Formed in 2009 from a merger of the LMV and the RVT, VastgoedNederland is another association of real estate agents, appraisers, building inspectors and rental agents. VBO also joined the association in 2025. VastgoedNederland focuses on supporting real estate agents through education, quality assurance and industry development.
Working with an agent affiliated with one of these organisations gives you peace of mind that they will provide a high-quality, professional service.
How much do real estate agents charge in the Netherlands?
Real estate agents make money by charging property buyers and sellers fees for their services. These are typically charged as a percentage of the property purchase price. This is known as commission.
Seller’s agent fees
If you sell your property with a real estate agent, you can expect to pay around 1-2% of the purchase price in fees. According to krib.nl, the average rate charged in 2024 was 1,16% of the sale price, equating to €5.849.
The rate charged by the estate agent typically goes down as the property price goes up. For instance, you might pay as much as 1,5% on a purchase price below €300.000, but around 0,9% on a property valued over €1 million.
Buyer’s agent fees
Buying agents typically work with fixed fees. According to krib.nl, the average buying agent fee in 2025 was €4.365. This equates to around 0,8% of the purchase price.
What does a property management company do?
A property management company (vastgoedbeheerder) manages rental or investment properties on behalf of property owners and landlords. Property management companies ensure properties remain well-maintained, legally compliant and financially efficient.
Typical services provided by a property management company include:
- Choosing and placing tenants in rental properties
- Managing rental contracts and utility bills
- Collecting rent
- Communicating with tenants when required
- Arranging repairs and property maintenance as required
- Inspecting properties when tenants move out
How much do property management companies charge in the Netherlands?
The amount you can expect to pay for property management in the Netherlands depends on the exact services provided, the property size, and the total number of rental properties being managed. Full-service property management companies typically charge somewhere between 5 and 10% of the monthly rental income.