Furnished vs. Unfurnished in the Netherlands: What to Expect
When we found our first apartment listing in the Netherlands that said "unfurnished," we thought we knew what that meant. No couch, no bed, no table. We'd buy furniture. No big deal.
Then we walked in and discovered there were no light fixtures. No curtains. No flooring in some rooms. The kitchen had a countertop but no appliances.
"Unfurnished" in the Netherlands does not mean what Americans think it means.
If you're moving under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) and apartment hunting, understanding these terms will save you from a very expensive surprise.
The Three Dutch Rental Categories
Dutch rental listings use three terms, and they differ significantly from US conventions.
Kaal (Bare/Shell)
This is the most extreme option. "Kaal" literally means "bare," and they mean it.
What you get:
- Walls (maybe freshly painted, maybe not)
- A floor (usually just concrete or subfloor)
- Plumbing connections
- Electrical wiring
- That's it
What you don't get:
- Flooring
- Light fixtures
- Kitchen appliances (sometimes not even a counter)
- Curtains or blinds
- Nothing on the walls
Kaal apartments are less common in the rental market but worth knowing about. If you see one, expect to invest thousands of euros before it's livable.
Gestoffeerd (Upholstered/Semi-Furnished)
This is the most common rental category in the Netherlands, and it's the one that trips up Americans the most.
What you typically get:
- Flooring throughout
- Light fixtures
- Curtains or blinds
- Kitchen with appliances (oven, cooktop, usually a fridge)
- Bathroom fixtures
- Sometimes a washing machine hookup
What you don't get:
- No furniture at all (no bed, couch, table, chairs)
- No washing machine (usually)
- No dryer
"Gestoffeerd" translates roughly to "upholstered," which makes no sense in English. Think of it as "finished but empty." The apartment is move-in ready in terms of structure, but you need all your own furniture.
What We Wish We Knew: Most apartments in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht are listed as gestoffeerd. If a listing doesn't specify, assume this is what you're getting. Budget at least 2,000-5,000 euros for basic furniture.
Gemeubileerd (Furnished)
This is what Americans picture when they hear "furnished."
What you get:
- Everything in gestoffeerd, plus
- Bed and mattress
- Couch
- Dining table and chairs
- Basic kitchen supplies (sometimes)
- Washing machine (usually)
The catch:
- Furnished apartments cost significantly more (20-40% premium)
- They're less common in the long-term rental market
- The furniture may not be your style
- You're often restricted from changing things
Furnished rentals are most common on platforms like HousingAnywhere and in expat-focused listings. They're a good option for your first few months while you figure out your long-term plan.
What We Recommend for DAFT Arrivals
Short-Term: Furnished or Airbnb
For your first one to three months, go furnished. You have enough to deal with -- BSN appointments, bank accounts, business registration, and all the other post-arrival tasks. You don't need the added stress of buying a bed while jet-lagged.
Airbnbs work well for this period too. Many offer monthly discounts, and you get a fully equipped space while you search for a permanent home.
Long-Term: Gestoffeerd
Once you're settled and renting long-term, gestoffeerd is usually the best value. You'll spend some money upfront on furniture, but your monthly rent will be lower than a furnished equivalent.
Pro Tip: IKEA, Marktplaats.nl (Dutch Craigslist), and Facebook Marketplace are your best friends for furnishing a gestoffeerd apartment. We furnished our entire living room for under 800 euros using a mix of new and secondhand items.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
If you're renting a gestoffeerd apartment, here's what you'll need to buy that you might not expect:
Lighting: Budget 100-300 euros. You need light fixtures for every room. The apartment might have wiring but no fixtures. IKEA has affordable options.
Curtains: Budget 100-400 euros. Many apartments don't come with curtain rods either. In ground-floor apartments, you'll want these quickly -- the Dutch are famously relaxed about open curtains, but you might not be.
Washing machine: Budget 300-500 euros new, 100-200 used. Most gestoffeerd apartments have a hookup but no machine. Check Marktplaats for secondhand machines.
Kitchen extras: Budget 50-200 euros. Some kitchens come with an oven and cooktop but no microwave, no toaster, and no coffee maker. Check what's included before assuming.
Mattress: Budget 200-600 euros. If you need a bed frame too, add another 100-300.
Reality Check: All in, furnishing a gestoffeerd apartment from scratch costs most Americans between 3,000 and 7,000 euros. This is on top of your deposit (usually two months' rent) and first month's rent. Plan your budget accordingly.
Tips for Apartment Viewings
Ask specifically what's included. Don't assume. Ask about every appliance, every fixture. "Is the washing machine included?" "Are the curtains staying?" "Are the light fixtures part of the rental?"
Take photos of everything. Document what's in the apartment at viewing. Some landlords remove items between viewing and move-in.
Read the inventory list carefully. Good landlords provide a detailed inventory (inventarislijst) of everything included. If they don't, ask for one and create your own during the walkthrough.
Check the kitchen closely. Dutch kitchens vary wildly. Some have full appliances, others have a bare countertop with a cooktop. Never assume.
Understanding the difference between kaal, gestoffeerd, and gemeubileerd will save you from showing up to your new apartment with two suitcases and discovering you don't even have a place to plug in a lamp. We learned that one the hard way so you don't have to.
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We're not immigration lawyers -- just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.