How to Avoid Rental Scams in Amsterdam as an Expat

We almost lost $2,100 to a rental scam in Amsterdam.

The apartment was beautiful. The price was reasonable. The "landlord" seemed legitimate.

Then we asked for a video tour. He made excuses. Stopped responding. The listing disappeared.

We dodged a bullet.

Why Scams Are Rampant

Housing shortage creates desperation
Expats don't know local norms
People try to secure apartments remotely
Scammers know desperate people make bad decisions

If you're apartment hunting in Amsterdam, you WILL encounter scams.

For complete apartment hunting strategies, see our finding an apartment in Amsterdam guide.

Get the full DAFT planning toolkit$199

Common Scam Tactics

"I'm Out of the Country"

"I can't show you the apartment, but I'll mail the keys after you send the deposit."

Never send money without viewing in person.

Too Good to Be True

2-bedroom in Jordaan for €1,200/month? Scam. Check real Amsterdam rent prices.

If price is 30%+ below market rate, it's fake.

Pressure to Decide

"I have 10 other people interested. Send deposit today."

Legitimate landlords don't do this.

Application Fees

"€50 processing fee to reserve the apartment."

Application fees don't exist in the Dutch rental market. Never pay them.

Wrong Payment Methods

Western Union, PayPal, cash, or crypto.

Legitimate deposits go through bank transfers with proper contracts.

Book a 1-Hour Consultation$299

Red Flags

Walk away immediately if:

Landlord can't meet in person or do live video tour
Price is 30%+ below market rate
Wants money before viewing
Requests unusual payment methods
Can't provide proof of ownership
Pressures you to decide immediately
Story keeps changing
Uses Gmail/Hotmail (not professional email)

How to Verify

Before viewing:

Google the address
Check Google Street View
Do reverse image search on photos

At viewing:

Ask for proof of ownership
Verify their ID matches ownership documents
Check Kadaster (land registry) for €3

Before paying:

Sign proper rental contract
Bank transfer only
Verify bank account matches landlord's name

Get the full DAFT planning toolkit$199

Safe vs Risky Platforms

Safer:

Funda.nl - Most legitimate
Pararius.com - Professional listings

Riskier:

Facebook groups - Many scams
Craigslist - Lots of scams

Even on safe platforms, always verify.

If You've Been Scammed

Contact your bank immediately to reverse the transfer
Report to police
Report to the platform
Warn others in expat groups

Getting money back is difficult. Prevention is your best protection.

The Rules

Never send money without viewing in person
Never pay application or reservation fees
Always verify ownership
Bank transfer with proper contract only
Trust your gut—if it feels wrong, walk away

Every American we know who moved here encountered at least one scam. The ones who didn't lose money verified everything.

For more on planning your move, see our complete moving to Netherlands guide and learn about Amsterdam neighborhoods ranked.