Blog
Renovating your house? Check for subsidy
In a lot of blogs, I mentioned that you can apply for subsidies. But what kind of subsidy is available when renovating your house? It is time for a new blog. Why would the Dutch government give you a subsidy? Most of us agree that climate change is a problem. And,...
Turning your house into a zero-emission house?
Fairy tail or future? What do you think? Is a zero-emission house the future, or just a fairy tail? Something you can never for your house in your situation? Some people already started 40 years ago. In the newspaper, I saw today that there was a couple, who started...
Let’s use colours in your house! 5 steps
Why is colour important? Imagine, you work in a grey room the whole day. How would you feel at the end of the day? Yes, this example is a bit extreme. But how are you feeling when you walk through nature? So, let's use some colours in your house in this grey period of...
Housing in NL
Upgrade the energy label of your flat
Last week, I got this question: I want to update the energy label of my flat from D to A. What does it cost? My answer: I will write a blog about this, because updating an energy label is already a challenge, let alone when you are a flat owner. Owners association...
Owning a monumental house in the Netherlands
You start reading this blog because you probably love old monumental houses. Perhaps, you are thinking of buying or owning an old house, or just like the old houses in the Netherlands. And, love the history and cherish the details of old buildings. When I was still a...
What you need to know about energy contracts
Last winter, energy prices were incredibly high. A fixed contract for energy was out of reach, and many people asked for help to reduce the use of energy in their house. Fixed energy contracts The good news is, the prices of gas and electricity have decreased a lot in...
8 red flags when you buy a house
One interesting question from a house buyer Last week, I had a conversation with a future client of mine. I haven't asked what his nationality was, but he came up with a very interesting question: What would be red flags for picking a house when you want to buy a...
What you need to know about your house foundation
I grew up in an area where houses are built 7 meters beneath sea level. You may guess where this is. This is near the world heritage Kinderdijk, where you can visit the windmills. As a young child, it was so normal to live there with dikes surrounding us. This to...
Why are there so many row houses in NL?
Some fun facts about row houses - In the Netherlands, there are around 3.4 million row houses. That's 42% of the total amount of houses. That's more than any other country in the world (1). - Most row houses are built in the 1960s-1980s (1). - One of the oldest known...
How to take care of the exterior of your house
It's raining outside, and I wonder when I can get out again and visit some new places. I love the appearance of old buildings. When I walk through a city, I always estimate how old the buildings are. The funny thing is, that the exterior can be changed over the...
How to find second-hand furniture?
A new wardrobe? In 2018, I had the "brilliant" plan to buy a wardrobe on Marktplaats. This is an online platform where people can sell a lot of second-hand stuff like furniture. When we got married, we didn't have enough money to buy a bed and a new wardrobe fitting...
Painting the interior of a house, what does it cost?
"Outsource painting is so expensive, and all the Dutch do it themselves. It looks so easy, however, I don't know where to start. And, I just want to have it done". That's what my client M. said. What is difficult for you? I asked. She replied: "I just get lost in all...
What to expect when becoming a house owner in the Netherlands?
"You should write a blog about what it is to be a house owner in the Netherlands." An Indian man said. That was a comment during an information evening about renovating your house in the Netherlands, I organized. "Because I would have loved to know on forehand how...
Costs for a house owner in the Netherlands
Every year, around February, I expect a bill is coming to our house. It's not a surprise any more, but every year I think: which amount would it be this year. And then, in May, the next one is coming. Of course, it is easy to complain about this, but I choose to be...
Renovating your house? Check for subsidy
In a lot of blogs, I mentioned that you can apply for subsidies. But what kind of subsidy is available when renovating your house? It is time for a new blog. Why would the Dutch government give you a subsidy? Most of us agree that climate change is a problem. And,...
11 questions to ask your real estate agent
Let's start with a story. A few years back, we were planning to buy a house. In the third house we visited, we were thinking to start bidding. The house was within our budget, everything looked nice. But before, we had a second viewing planned. And it was time to ask...
Buying a house in Eindhoven? 9 things to consider
What if the perfect house exists? You only don't know where and when you get to see it. In your mind, it is already existing. Or, it is just a vague idea. Buying a house in or around Eindhoven always begins with a thought or a dream. In this blog, some ideas to start...
Water in the Netherlands? There is always enough or not?
Water in the Netherlands. As a little girl, it was so normal to have water everywhere around our house. In the village, I grew up every street had its own ditch. And we lived closed to a large river, called "de Lek". As the seasons went there was always water,...
Increase the value of your house? Make it sustainable.
Do you have too much spare money? Invest in making your house in the Netherlands sustainable. The advantages are: 1. You will pay less money on energy and gas. 2. Comfort. When it's cold, you don't feel the cold rushing through your house. 3. Making your house more...
What says the energy label about your house?
An energy label for your house in the Netherlands? What is the difference between a B-label and a D-label? That was what somebody asked me this week. Good subject for a blog. A house is not a car or electrical device. But they have in common that they all have an...
Tiny house in the Netherlands in 5 steps
Why this blog? A few weeks ago, I saw a post on Facebook. An international couple was asking for help because they dreamed of a tiny house in the Netherlands. They read already some things, but it was complicated to oversee the process. Everything was written in...
8 Villages around Eindhoven to live in
Houses are so expensive in Eindhoven. What about the villages around Eindhoven? It is a sentence I heard a lot last year, followed by a sigh. Do you recognize this? Read on. In the Netherlands, we had a lockdown in spring 2020. In this time, the kids were of course...
8 ways: heating your house in the winter
What do you need to know about maintaining your house in the Netherlands?
Our own experiences
How to maintain a house in the Netherlands?
You buy a new house, so you don't have to do much to maintain. May I tell you a story? It has been 3 years since we moved into our newly built house. And we received a binder full of information on how to maintain the house. After half a year they advised to clean the...
Safe house in the Netherlands? Keep burglars out!
As a student, I lived for half a year in a caravan. One weekend, I was visiting my parents, and I received a phone call. The caravan was a ravage. The cause: burglars. I never felt so unsafe in my life. That's the reason why I write this blog. So let's start to make...
Handyman, construction company or architect?
When you just bought a house, your house is too small, or you just want to adjust your house, this blog is written for you. Because who do you need in which case? What does a handyman, construction company or architect in the Netherlands? In general, you can say: a...
Solar panels on a Dutch house – worth investing?
Solar panels on a Dutch house, what a difficult subject. When we bought our new house, we knew that the next step to make our house more sustainable would be placing solar panels on the roof. At that moment we hesitated. Why? One of the neighbours had a lot of trouble...
After moving – part 1 maintaining a house
What do you need to know about maintaining your house in the Netherlands?
Making my house a home – part 3 settling down
Settle down in my new house Of course, it took a while before I settled in my new house in Eindhoven, more specifically Meerhoven. (You can read about the previous phase here). What really helped was finishing the rooms one by one and just being together as a...
Making my house a home – part 2 implementation
Handover day The day we got the keys, I was nervous. We had only been able to visit the house in Eindhoven on three previous occasions. I was well aware that building projects of this nature being what they are, mistakes were bound to have been made, but it takes a...
Making my house a home – part 1 preparation
A new house, a new start After two years of waiting, we received the keys to our newly built house in Eindhoven. As is normal here in the Netherlands, it even smelled new. No floors had been laid; no kitchen had been installed. The walls were bare and there were no...
Practical blogs
9 things you want to know about bathroom renovation
After a few years of living in your house, it's time for a bathroom renovation. The former owners did it 15 years ago. Or, you just bought a house, but the bathroom isn't your style. 1. Where to buy a bathroom in the Netherlands? You can buy a bathroom in several...
Single, double or triple glass?
Is it worth investing in other glass panes? I have now old double glass panes, and it's not comfortable in the living room. This is what a few clients asked me last month. It took me some research to draw up a conclusion. History of glass Have you ever thought about...
How to take care of the exterior of your house
It's raining outside, and I wonder when I can get out again and visit some new places. I love the appearance of old buildings. When I walk through a city, I always estimate how old the buildings are. The funny thing is, that the exterior can be changed over the...
How to find second-hand furniture?
A new wardrobe? In 2018, I had the "brilliant" plan to buy a wardrobe on Marktplaats. This is an online platform where people can sell a lot of second-hand stuff like furniture. When we got married, we didn't have enough money to buy a bed and a new wardrobe fitting...
How to paint a wooden stair
The secret of painting a wooden stair. Last week I noticed something: in a lot of houses where I have been, the wooden stairs are not painted for at least 1 year after moving. It's a job that many people dread. And, when you are home with your family, you use the...
What you need to know about undeclared work in the Netherlands
Not a fancy subject this time: undeclared work or working black in the Netherlands. However, an important one. If you are thinking about renovating your house, you may phase this question: Do you want the work done partly undeclared or not? Why this blog? The answer...
What’s your energy and water consumption?
Energy and water consumption is a hot item these last months. It is a life necessity, which we take for granted in the west. A year ago, the market for energy was stable, now the market is out of control due to the war. And, most of us will think: what can I do to...
How to clean your Dutch house?
Like in many families, in my family some stories are told over and over again. And, one is about the way of cleaning which was normal in my grandmothers' young years. When she was running her family, people judged her by how clean her house and wash was. If I think of...
Reading a Dutch quotation from a company
Every holiday, I make a list of what needs to be done in the house. Odd things like cleaning the ventilation system or painting the stairs. As a result, the last one is now on my list, and it takes good planning with a family who walks the stairs daily! Next time I...
Heat pump in the Netherlands
High energy prices Our house is heated by district heating. This way of heating is getting more common in the Netherlands. There is no connection with gas in our house. Although wood is used to heat our house, the prices in 2022 went up. For me, the energy prices are...
11 easy ways to reduce energy use this winter
When I was a teenager, I studied behind my desk in my bedroom. Sometimes it was so cold, that I used a little electrical heater. Especially warm feet helped. Saving money on your energy bill is difficult? The prices for gas and electricity increased a lot last months....
Maintenance calendar for a Dutch house
On Dutch television, there is a programme which is called "Wie is de mol?". A favourite of many people. In this programme, the attendees are doing a lot of games. One attendee is sabotaging the whole game in secret. And you need to guess who that is. However, that is...
Turning your house into a zero-emission house?
Fairy tail or future? What do you think? Is a zero-emission house the future, or just a fairy tail? Something you can never for your house in your situation? Some people already started 40 years ago. In the newspaper, I saw today that there was a couple, who started...
What to do with asbestos in the roof, wall or flooring?
Imagine, you find the house of your dreams. You investigate the condition of the house and see that there is asbestos in the roof. What to do? This situation may sound weird, because asbestos is not something to worry about in the country you grew up. Or you panic,...
Wallpaper, the endless possibilities
Heavy and hot. That's what I remember of a summer job in a paint shop. The buckets full of paint, the books full of wallpaper. But I also remember the endless possibilities of wallpaper, paint and curtains together. Why would you choose wallpaper? For me, wallpaper...
Which flooring do you choose? Laminate, tiles or …?
Many ex-pats are surprised when they notice that many Dutch houses are sold unfurnished. And, even when you rent a house, you probably need to think about curtains, flooring and furniture. In this blog, more information about flooring in the Netherlands and the costs...
Insulating your house in 6 steps
When I was a student, I lived in a house that is built in the 1920s. In the winter, the heating was full-on, and I always wore a thick jumper. But still I didn't feel comfortable. In the summer, I studied in the living room because it was too hot. For many of you,...
Why a technical inspection when you buy a house in the Netherlands?
When you buy a car, you normally look at the state of that car. Right? Or ask someone to come with you with some knowledge. But when you buy a house? Are you planning a technical inspection for your new house in the Netherlands? In this blog, you will read more about...
10 things ex-pats forget when moving house in NL
Have you ever received a letter because you forgot to inform the electricity company about your move? Well, I did. And it was a few hundred euros. Moving is one of the busiest times of your life. And to help you as an ex-pat, here is a list of 10 things not to forget...
Finding a good contractor in the Netherlands
Your house is too small. Or you need one more room because you work at home. Maybe you think about insulating your old house. Buying another house is too expensive. You can think about a lot more reasons, but you require a good Dutch contractor. A capable one. But how...
About the writer
Well, I am Marijke. I lived in several places in the Netherlands and now already for 14 years in Eindhoven. This is the city I love because all the green places and international identity.
At the age of 10 I drew a notebook full of houses at school, because I was so bored. Later on I became fascinated with old houses and the finishing of them. This made me decide that it was time to study further on this subject. And still, the technical and historical aspect of housing is very interesting to me. Combined with the love for other cultures and humans, makes that I love to write blogs. In blogging investigating, storytelling and helping others come together. I hope this will be pleasant to read and helps you further in the housing process. Feel free to contact me with suggestions for blogs or other questions. I love to hear from you!
