Property Words and Phrases

A table of terms relevant to buying or renting a house or flat in the Netherlands...

When reading the property-related classified advertisements in Dutch newspapers and magazines, it can help to know some of the key jargon terms.

Dutch English explanation
Aansluiting tot stroom Connection to the power supply
Appartement te huur Apartment for rent
Appartementengebouwen Apartment blocks
Bad, badkamers, toiletten (WCs) Bath/bathrooms/toilets
Bad/tank Bath/tank
Badkamer Bathroom/facilities
Balkenplafond Ceiling with the beams showing/rafted ceiling
Betaling van rekeningen door periodieke overboeking Payment of bills by direct debit or standing order
Bidet Bidet
Bijkeuken Utility/laundry room
Gordijnen Curtains
Box Lock-up garage
Circa Approximately
Douche Shower
Elektricien Electrician
Entree Entrance hall
Flat, appartement Flat/apartment
Fornuis Stove (gas or electric cooking plate)
Functioneel, doelmatig Functional
Gang Corridor
Gas fles Bottled gas/cylinder
Gas tank Gas tank
Gasleiding (hoofdleiding) Mains gas
Gebouwen bestemd voor zakelijk of industriele Gebruik Buildings designed for business or industrial purposes
Gemeubileerd Furnished
Gevraagd-huur appartement Rental apartment wanted
Grond, landbezit Land/property with land
Houtbrandende kachel Wood burning oven
Houten parketvloer Wooden parquet flooring
Hypotheek/volledige hypotheek Mortgage/total mortgage
Inventoire Inventory
Kamers Rooms
Keuken Kitchen
Koop en verkoop van woonruimte Purchase and sale of residential property
Luxe Luxury
Makelaars Estate agents
Meter (water/electriciteit) Meter (water/electricity)
Ongemeubileerd Unfurnished
Openhaard Fireplace/hearth
Opzeggen To give notice/terminate (a contract)
Overschrijven van gas/telefoon abonnement Transfer of gas/telephone subscription
Parkeerplaats Parking area
Prive entree Private entrance
Prive verkoop Direct sale by owner (no agency)
Redelike huur Fair rent
Rekening Bill
Rolluiken Rolling shutter
Schoonmaak van trappenhal Stairway cleaning
Te huur To rent
Te huur gevraagd Rental wanted
Terracotta betegeld vloer Terracotta tiled flooring
Toilet, WC Toilet
Tuin Garden
Vakantiehuizen Holiday residences
Verhuurde woonruimte Rented residential property
Verwarming Heating
Volledig bedrag Total amount
Voorzieningen Home amenities
Waterkachel Water heater
Woonkamer Living room
Zwembad Swimming pool