For internationals moving to the Netherlands

Find your new home in Amsterdam, without the stress.

We are independent apartment hunters in Amsterdam, working for tenants and never for landlords. We handle the search, the viewings and the negotiation with Dutch agencies, so you arrive with the keys in hand, whatever your nationality.

Let's talk about your move How we work

A flat fee agreed before we start, part of it only due when you sign the lease. Brochure, packages and prices by email straight away, no commitment.

  • 🇬🇧 Everything in English, start to finish
  • 🤝 A trusted local network
  • 💶 A flat fee, not a month's rent
+50clients helped
4–6 wksto find a home
< 24 hto get a first reply
FR / ENlanguages spoken
An apartment in Amsterdam
Who we are

Hi, we're Amsterdam Relocation 👋

Based in Amsterdam, we know the local rental market well: high demand, demanding application files, processes in Dutch, and sometimes questionable listings.

We help internationals of every nationality settle in the Netherlands: shortlisting suitable properties, organising viewings, dealing with agencies and landlords, and supporting you through to the lease signature.

Our approach: a human, transparent and personalised service. We're not an agency: we're your local allies, the ones who answer your messages in the evening, visits flats on your behalf, and keeps you away from the pitfalls.

💬
Always in a language you master

You understand every step, every clause and every conversation, in plain English.

🤝
A relationship of trust

We work with a limited number of clients at a time, so we stay available and fully invested.

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Local know-how

Neighbourhoods, transport, schools, young-professional or family life: we guide you the way a local friend would.

How we help

A tailor-made service, at every step

Whether you're moving on your own, as a couple, with your family, into a flat-share, for a new job or for your studies, we adapt to your situation, your budget and your vision for life in the Netherlands.

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Watching the market

We monitor the listing platforms and our own network every day, weed out the dubious ads and send you a shortlist with our comments.

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Your rental application

Built to Dutch standards and complete from the very first submission, which is often what separates two otherwise equal candidates.

🎥

Viewings, on your behalf

On site or by video call, with a detailed report, including what a listing never shows: the noise, the damp, the building opposite.

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The negotiation

We deal with agencies and landlords in English, we apply within the hour, and we defend your interests, not theirs.

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Reading the lease

Clause by clause: term, notice, indexation, service charges, deposit. And a check of every fee you are asked to pay.

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Settling in

After signing, we stay available for your first steps: city registration, BSN, energy, internet, insurance.

Let's talk about your move

Hiring from abroad? Our guide for employers and HR covers the timeline, the budget and who handles what in a move to Amsterdam.

How it works

Our method in 5 clear steps

A structured, transparent process, so you always know where we stand.

  1. 1

    The discovery call

    15 minutes on the phone, free and with no commitment. We get to know each other, you tell us about your project, and we explain how we can help.

  2. 2

    The detailed brief

    We dive into your criteria: budget, neighbourhood, type of home, flat-share or whole place… we also share our insights on the current Amsterdam market.

  3. 3

    The active hunt

    We scan the market every day, activate our network of agents and landlords, shortlist the best options and visit them for you (with video and debrief).

  4. 4

    All the way to signing

    Once we find the right home, we put you in touch with the landlord or agency and support you through to the lease signature. We review the lease with you, clause by clause, in English, so nothing goes unnoticed.

  5. 5

    The handover

    If you wish, we can pick up the keys for you. The inventory check normally stays in your hands, unless you specifically ask for our presence. We then remain available in the days and weeks that follow to answer any questions about settling in.

Why entrust us with your search

Amsterdam's market is unique. So is our approach.

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Reactivity

In Amsterdam, a good apartment is gone within 24–48 hours. We're on the ground, ready to visit the same day.

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Safety

Scams with fake landlords are common. We verify every listing and every contact before you commit to anything.

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Local expertise

Jordaan, De Pijp, Oud-Zuid, Amstelveen… Each neighbourhood has its own vibe. We guide you to the one that fits your life.

Find my neighbourhood →

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No language barrier

With you, we work in English. With Amsterdam's agencies and landlords, we work in English too, and we take care of the Dutch paperwork, so nothing gets lost in translation.

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Human approach

We take on a limited number of clients at a time. You're not a file, you're a person we're assisting.

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Full transparency

Clear pricing, no hidden commission. You always know where you stand in the process.

Let's talk budget, plainly

Your move-in budget, no surprises

On signing you will be asked for the first month's rent and a deposit. That is the core of it. Everything else depends on the property, and we price it with you before the first viewing, so you always know what you are committing to.

  • The deposit is the main line. In practice one to two months' base rent, paid on signing and returned at the end of the lease. With the first month's rent, plan for two to three months' cash when you move in.
  • Agency fees are sometimes added on top. They are not automatic. Whenever a sum is asked of you, we check what it covers and who that agency works for before you sign anything.
  • Our own fee: a flat fee, not a month's rent. The amount is set in the quote and does not move, and part of it is only due when you sign the lease. An intermediary paid a percentage of the rent has a built-in interest in you signing an expensive lease.
Read the full explanation Open the calculator

Want to price a specific home? Our real-cost calculator adds utilities, local taxes, insurance and move-in costs to the advertised rent.

Two free tools

Price your move before you start looking

Two sums our clients always redo at the start: what a home really costs once every line is added, and which neighbourhood fits their life. No sign-up, no email asked for.

What a home really costs

The advertised rent never tells the whole story. Add utilities, local taxes, insurance, the deposit and furnishing: you get the monthly budget, the cash you need on signing day, and the income you will have to show.

Open the calculator

Which neighbourhood suits you

Thirteen neighbourhoods weighed against your budget, your household and where you work. The ranking updates as you move the sliders.

Open the matcher
Cover of the guide “Finding a home in Amsterdam”
Free guide · 6-page PDF

Finding a home in Amsterdam: the steps, in order

  • Timeline and real budget
  • Neighbourhoods, towns and rental websites
  • Your application, traps and paperwork

By requesting the guide, you will also receive three emails with tips over three weeks. Unsubscribe in one click. Privacy

They trusted us

What our clients say

“We contacted Amsterdam Relocation from Paris when our long-distance search was getting discouraging. They quickly found us a beautiful 3-room apartment in the Jordaan, within our budget. A rare gem.”
Camille & Pierre Family of 4 · Paris → Amsterdam
“I arrived in Amsterdam for a new job, not speaking a word of Dutch. Amsterdam Relocation handled everything: video viewings, negotiation, lease reviewed line by line. I couldn't have wished for better.”
Léa Solo expat · Bordeaux → Amsterdam
“Professional and warm service. They know Amsterdam inside out and pointed us towards Amstelveen, a neighbourhood we'd never have looked at on our own. Perfect for the kids.”
Sophie & Thomas Family of 5 · Toulouse → Amstelveen

Testimonials collected directly from clients we assisted; they are not verified by a third party.

Tips & guides

The blog to land your move smoothly

Guide

How to find a home in Amsterdam: the complete 2026 guide

Read the article → Guide

How much does a home cost in Amsterdam? Rents, utilities and income

Read the article → Safety

Rental scams in Amsterdam: 8 traps to avoid

Read the article →
See all articles
Your questions

The questions we get most often

Can't find your answer? Drop us a line and we reply within 24h.

How long does it take to find a home in Amsterdam?

On average, our clients find their home in 4 to 6 weeks. It depends on your criteria, your flexibility and the market at that moment. We give you a realistic estimate from our very first call.

Can we run the search from abroad, remotely?

Yes, absolutely! Most of our clients start the search from outside the Netherlands. We visit places for you, send detailed videos, and it's completely possible to sign the lease remotely.

What are your fees?

We work on a flat fee, never on a commission indexed to the rent: you know what you are paying before we start. What each of the three packages covers, and what it costs, is set out in our brochure, sent free of charge by email as soon as you describe your project. A personalised quote follows the discovery call.

Do you only work in Amsterdam?

Our core expertise is Amsterdam and its surroundings (Amstelveen, Haarlem, Zaandam, Diemen…). For other Dutch cities, get in touch: we can either help directly or refer you to a trusted colleague.

What if you don't find us a home?

Part of our fee is tied to the actual lease signing. You only pay the full service once you have the keys. Transparency is at the heart of how we work.

How do you handle the Dutch language?

In Amsterdam, English is the working language of every letting agency and most landlords: the market is highly international. We deal with them in English, and we speak with you in English. For the rare official documents drafted in Dutch, we rely on professional translation and on our local network to make sure you know exactly what you are signing.

Do you work with every expat profile?

Yes. We work with employees relocating or hired by a Dutch company, couples settling in together, families looking for a home near schools, freelancers and self-employed people whose application needs more explaining, as well as students and flat-sharers. Each profile comes with its own constraints (required income, lease length, guarantees, neighbourhood), and that is exactly what changes the search strategy.

Do you need a Dutch employment contract to rent?

No, but you need a file that answers the question before it is asked. An offer letter with start date and salary often works as well as payslips. For the self-employed, tax returns and bank statements are what count; for a student, a parental guarantee; for a couple, incomes are generally combined. If you come from outside the EU, add proof of your right to reside.

Do you search outside Amsterdam as well?

Yes. Amstelveen, Diemen, Haarlem, Zaandam, Hoofddorp, Almere: these towns are 12 to 25 minutes from the centre and rent for 20-40% less, usually with more space. We compare the rent saved, the real cost of the commute and the time it takes. That trade-off unblocks many searches.

Your brochure, right away

Let's talk about your project in the Netherlands

Tell us about your search in a few lines: you will receive our full brochure by email straight away, with the three packages, what they cover and what they cost. We then get back to you personally within one working day, with no commitment.

  • What each of the three packages covers, and what it costs
  • Every service included, point by point
  • A comparison table to choose at a glance
  • The full budget: deposit, first month's rent and agency fees

Tell us about your search

Sent by email immediately. Personal reply within one working day.