- Price
- €17.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- Next business dayusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Recipient's signature+ tracking and proof of posting
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 15:00on a working day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in Netherlands
Do you have to end a Dutch rental by registered mail?
The law names two forms: a registered letter or a bailiff's writ. A Dutch appeal court held in 2020 that notice which did arrive is not void just because that form was missing. But then you have to prove that it arrived, and when.
Email alone is risky, especially once you live abroad. With a registered letter the landlord signs for it and you have the date your notice period started.
How long is the notice period?
| You pay rent | Notice period | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | One month | Notice received on 20 March, rent paid on the 1st: the lease ends on 1 May |
| Weekly | One month (the minimum) | The lease ends on a weekly rent day, at least a month later |
| Quarterly | Three months | The lease ends on a quarterly rent day |
| Fixed-term lease | As above | As a tenant you may end it early |
The period starts when the letter reaches the landlord. Send it a few days before the rent day.
How to give notice from abroad
- Sign the noticeEveryone who rents the home signs.
- Upload the PDFWith the landlord's address in the window.
- We send it registeredPrinted in the Netherlands, PostNL delivers against a signature.
- Keep the proofTracking number and proof PDF with your copy of the notice.
Sample letter
In Dutch, the language of your lease.
Naam, adres van de woning
Onderwerp: opzegging huurovereenkomst [adres van de woning]
Geachte heer, mevrouw,
Hierbij zeg ik de huur van de woning aan [adres] op per [datum], of anders per de eerst mogelijke datum.
Ik verhuis naar het buitenland. Mijn nieuwe adres is [adres], mijn e-mailadres is [e-mailadres]. Graag plan ik een voorinspectie en een eindinspectie in. De waarborgsom kan worden terugbetaald op [IBAN].
Met vriendelijke groet,
[namen en handtekeningen van alle huurders]
What to watch
- If your spouse or registered partner is a co-tenant by law, your notice does not end the lease for them. If you both leave, both of you sign the letter.
- Ask for a pre-inspection a few weeks before you leave so you can still fix defects. If you are gone by the final inspection, authorise someone in writing to attend and sign.
- If the landlord deducts unpaid rent or damage, you get the rest of the deposit within 30 days, with a written breakdown. Other costs may not be withheld.
- For leases from 1 July 2023 the deposit is at most two months' basic rent.
- Deregister with your municipality if you leave for more than eight months in a year. Energy suppliers and health insurers ask for that proof.
Frequently asked questions
Can I end my Dutch rental by email?
The law names the registered letter or the bailiff's writ. Email can work if the landlord confirms it, but it is harder to prove.
Which notice period applies?
As long as your rent period, at least one month and at most three. The lease ends on a rent day.
Can I end a fixed-term lease early?
Yes. As a tenant you can end a fixed-term lease early, with the same notice period.
When must the landlord repay the deposit?
Within 14 days of the end of the lease, or within 30 days with a breakdown if something is deducted.
What if I have left before the final inspection?
Authorise someone in writing to attend the inspection and sign the report for you.
Does a registered letter prove the contents?
No. It records sending and delivery. Keep a copy of your notice.