What listings say
Three situations come up in Dutch listings, and it pays to read them correctly:
- "Huisdieren niet toegestaan" or "no pets": animals are not accepted. No point insisting, move on to the next listing.
- "Huisdieren in overleg": pets may be possible, to be discussed with the landlord. This is where your application makes the difference.
- No mention at all: the most common case. Ask before the viewing, not after you have fallen for the place.
In apartment buildings, house rules may also cover animals in shared areas: ask for them if you are looking at a flat.
Winning over a landlord: the pet file
A hesitant landlord mainly fears three things: damage, noise and the neighbours. Your file should answer all three before they are even raised.
- Mention the pet in your very first message. Hiding it until signing is the surest way to lose the home, and the landlord's trust.
- Introduce it in a few lines: species, breed, age, size, vaccinations up to date, house-trained, habits (how many hours alone a day, who looks after it when you are away). A photo helps.
- Attach a letter from your current landlord confirming the pet has caused no problems. It is the strongest argument you have.
- Check your liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering): it usually covers damage your pet causes to third parties. See what it provides for damage in a rented home, and tell the landlord.
The rest of your application matters as much as ever: income, supporting documents, speed. Our guide to the rental application sets out what landlords expect.
Which home to target
Not all homes are equal with a pet, and the right choice also makes the landlord's yes easier.
- The ground floor with a garden (benedenwoning met tuin): every dog owner's dream, and the home where a landlord worries least.
- The steep stairs of old houses: a real issue for a large dog or an older animal. In new builds, a lift changes everything.
- The balcony, for a cat: plan for safety netting, and ask the landlord before fitting it.
- The towns around Amsterdam: houses with gardens and parks are easier to find than in central Amsterdam, in Amstelveen, Diemen, Zaandam or Haarlem.
Think about walks too: a park a few minutes away matters more than an extra room. The city's large parks and the Amsterdamse Bos have areas where dogs can run off the lead, signposted on site.
Bringing your pet to the Netherlands
For a dog or cat arriving from another European Union country, three conditions apply:
- A microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination or on the same day, otherwise the vaccination is not valid.
- A valid rabies vaccination: a first vaccination only becomes valid after 21 days, and the animal must be at least 12 weeks old when it receives it.
- An EU pet passport, issued by your vet, showing the chip number and the date it was implanted.
From outside the European Union, the requirements are heavier and depend on the country of departure: check the pages of the Dutch authority in charge, the NVWA, several months before you leave. By air, each airline also sets its own conditions for carrying animals.
After arrival: registering your dog
A dog arriving from abroad must be registered in the Netherlands within two weeks of arrival. Registration is done by a vet or an approved chipper, not by you.
You first need a UBN number from the government agency RVO. That application requires you to be registered in the Dutch population register, so to have an address where you can register: one more reason not to let the house hunt and your municipal registration drag on.
For cats, the government has announced a national chipping and registration requirement: check when it takes effect before you arrive. Either way, sign your pet up with a vet (dierenarts) near your home in the first few weeks.
Local taxes and rules
Some municipalities still levy a dog tax (hondenbelasting). Amsterdam does not, nor in 2026 do Diemen or Zaanstad, but Haarlem still does: €110.16 a year for a first dog in 2026. Check with the municipality you are moving to.
Walking rules are also set locally: areas where a lead is compulsory, spaces where dogs can run freely, picking up after your dog. The signs on site are what count.
Key takeaways
- Mention the pet in your first message, with an introduction and a reference letter.
- Target ground floors with gardens, new builds with lifts, or the towns around Amsterdam.
- Before leaving: microchip, valid rabies vaccination (21 days after a first injection) and an EU pet passport.
- For a dog: registration within two weeks of arrival, with a UBN number requested beforehand.
