Renting New-Build Apartments in the Netherlands (2026)

Renting a new-build home is becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands. With an energy label of A or higher, modern finishes, and lower energy bills, new-build rentals offer clear advantages — but where do you find them and what do they cost? This guide covers everything about new-build rental homes in the Netherlands in 2026. Updated April 2026.

What is a new-build rental and why is it popular?

The popularity of new-build rentals is rising for several reasons. Higher energy prices make the low energy costs of new builds more attractive. Tenants also want certainty: in a newly delivered home, there are rarely immediate maintenance issues. With the introduction of the Wet betaalbare huur (Affordable Rent Act), tenants in the mid-market segment have clearer expectations about rent protection.

Housing corporations and major institutional investors are actively investing in new-build rental housing to reduce the shortage of affordable rentals. The Dutch government has set a target of 900,000 new homes to meet growing demand (Rijksoverheid.nl).

Advantages of renting a new-build home

A new-build rental offers several concrete advantages over an older property:

1. Energy label A or higher — New-build homes meet the current BENG (Nearly Energy-Neutral Buildings) standards. This results in significantly lower energy costs than older homes.
2. Modern amenities — Built-in appliances, underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation, and high-quality bathrooms are standard.
3. Superior insulation — Roof, floor, walls, and windows are insulated to the latest standards, saving hundreds of euros per year on energy bills.
4. Fewer maintenance problems — Because everything is new, there are rarely major maintenance costs or breakdowns in the first years.
5. Guarantees — New-build homes often come with a construction guarantee (Woningborg or SWK), providing extra peace of mind.

For context on what you can expect to pay, see our guide on average rental prices in the Netherlands by city.

Where are the most new-build rental homes being built?

The distribution of new-build rental homes is uneven across the country. In 2025, housing corporations delivered a total of 21,500 new rental homes — the highest number recorded since tracking began in 2012, and 2,000 more than in 2024. In the first half of 2025 alone, over 9,100 new corporation rental homes were delivered (compared to 8,200 in the first half of 2024).

Cities with the largest numbers of new corporation homes delivered in 2025:

City	New corporation homes delivered (2025)
Amsterdam	Nearly 2,900
Utrecht	500+
Haarlemmermeer	500+
Breda	500+

In strongly urban municipalities, as many as 37% of new builds are owned by housing corporations. In rural areas, this share is considerably lower.

Looking for a new-build rental in a specific city?

Amsterdam → Utrecht → Den Haag → Rotterdam → Eindhoven →

What does renting a new-build cost in 2026?

New-build rentals fall into three segments:

Social new-build rentals (up to €932.93/month) Built by housing corporations for households with income up to €51,537 (single-person household). Waiting times are long — especially in Amsterdam and Utrecht. Read more about registering for social housing.

Mid-market rent (€932.93 – €1,228.07/month) This segment falls under the Wet betaalbare huur (Affordable Rent Act), which came into force on July 1, 2024. The act caps rents for homes with up to 186 WWS (housing valuation) points. Because this reduces profitability for developers, some investors have delayed or cancelled new-build projects in this segment — limiting supply.

Free-sector new builds (above €1,228.07/month) Offered by institutional investors and private developers. No rent cap applies, but annual rent increase protections do. See our guide on tenant rights for rent increases in 2026.

How to find a new-build rental home

Finding a new-build rental requires an active approach. Use these strategies:

1. Housing corporation platforms — Register with WoningNet or the regional equivalent and respond immediately when a new home is listed. New-build homes are sometimes allocated directly to the longest-registered applicants.
2. Developers and investors — Follow the websites of major institutional investors for their new-build projects under construction or approaching completion.
3. Estate agent networks — Sign up for new-build mailing lists with local agents. Popular projects are sometimes rented out even before completion.
4. Aggregated search platforms — On the RentBuzz platform you can find rental homes from 1000+ sources in one place. Set up a search profile with your preferred city and price range and receive an instant alert when a matching home becomes available.

Combining multiple channels significantly increases your chances. New-build homes are popular and typically rented quickly — especially in cities with high demand.

Groningen →