Key terms in Dutch listings
- Kale huur — base rent, excluding service costs and utilities.
- Servicekosten — service costs (cleaning, shared areas, sometimes utilities).
- Gemeubileerd / gestoffeerd / kaal — furnished / floors and curtains only / bare (often no flooring).
- Borg — deposit, commonly one to two months' rent.
- Inschrijving mogelijk — you can register at the address (needed for your BSN).
- Inkomenseis 3x / 4x — gross monthly income must be 3 or 4 times the rent.
Before you reply
- Check the total monthly cost: rent + service costs + utilities + internet.
- Make sure registration is allowed if you still need a BSN.
- Have your employment contract or employer statement and recent payslips ready — but only share them once there's a real viewing or offer.
- Decide how long you want to stay; many contracts are temporary (e.g. up to 2 years).
Avoiding scams
- Never pay before you've viewed the place (in person or via a live video call you control) and have a written contract.
- Be cautious if the landlord is ‘abroad’ and wants to send keys by post.
- Share a watermarked copy of your passport, never an unprotected scan.
Writing a good English reply
Keep it short: who you are, your job and contract type, your move-in date, and why this place fits. Only mention income or references that are true. WoonReactie builds the draft from your own profile; you check it and send it yourself.