The Dutch net-metering scheme is on its way out. For hundreds of thousands of solar panel owners, that changes the maths. Does investing in a home battery finally make sense, or is it still too early? For years, Dutch homeowners…

The Dutch government's ISDE subsidy (Investeringssubsidie Duurzame Energie en Energiebesparing) pays homeowners back for installing insulation, heat pumps, solar boilers, and heat network connections. The scheme has run since 2016 and is managed by RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland). It…

Your kitchen's been ripped out, the bathroom is a shell, and there's dust on everything you own. At some point during a major renovation, most Dutch homeowners reach the same conclusion: we can't live here. So what do you do…

Building on last year's Practical Guide to Renovating Your Dutch Home (published May 2025), where we covered the basics of planning and budgeting, this 2026 edition focuses on the strategic advantages of a total renovation in today's ultra-tight market. With…

Space is arguably the most precious commodity in the Netherlands. If you are lucky enough to own a home with a ground floor extension, you have probably spent a quiet Sunday morning gazing out of a first floor window, looking…

Picture a glossy magazine spread of a contemporary kitchen. The countertops are vast expanses of uninterrupted marble or sleek concrete. There is perhaps a single bowl of organic lemons resting next to a sculptural ceramic vase. It is serene, immaculate,…

And How to Keep the Water Where It Belongs Anyone who has ever rented or bought a traditional apartment in Amsterdam, Utrecht, or The Hague knows the particular architectural quirk of the classic Dutch bathroom. They are often, to put…

Step into almost any recently renovated property in Amsterdam and you will inevitably notice a distinct pattern beneath your feet. You will look down and see the familiar, rhythmic zig-zag of a visgraat floor. The herringbone floor Netherlands obsession is incredibly…

We’ve all been there. You walk into a beautifully renovated, modern living room. The herringbone floors are gleaming, the walls are freshly plastered, and the massive crittall-style windows let in glorious sheets of sunlight. It looks spectacular. But then someone…

There's a particular magic to a Dutch garden or terrace once the light fades. The long summer evenings stretch out, but by autumn the dark arrives quickly, turning a perfectly pleasant outdoor spot into something you hurry past. Good lighting…