21/10/2023
HOME RENOVATIONS IN NL
If you have bought a new home in the Netherlands, it is unlikely that you walked through your front door for the first time and thought: âYup, precisely the way I wanted itâ. Typically, you will want to make a start on some substantial home renovations, as soon as you are handed the keys. Whether you want to redo your entire house, or you just want a few odd jobs taken care of, read on. We will take you through how to hire good contractors, handymen and designers in the Netherlands, in order to create the home you want.
CONTRACTORS IN NL
The Dutch word for contractor is âAannemerâ. As in other countries, if you want to redo your house in the Netherlands, this is the person you will need to hire. They will help you to make changes such as:
Putting up walls
Building new bathrooms or kitchens
Creating fireplaces
Hiring a Contractor in NL
So, how do you go about finding and hiring a good contractor in the Netherlands?
There are a lot of contractors to choose from in Holland, so it can be hard to decide who is right for the job
âBouwGarantâ is a great resource for finding reliable candidates
Contractors listed with BouwGarant are carefully vetted, and must meet strict requirements
Asking friends, family, colleagues and neighbors for their recommendations is also a good option
Be sure to talk to several contractors, and ask them for quotes, before you settle for one
It is important to do this, in part because prices can vary considerably
What is more, this person will probably be in your house for weeks, or even months! So, you need to ensure that you are compatible with one another
OVERSEEING A PROJECT IN NL
Your contractor will be responsible for overseeing your home renovations. They should manage and supervise your home improvement project in the following manner:
1. The Employees
The contractor could be a one-man or a one-woman operation. In this case he or she will, of course, only be responsible for turning up and getting the job done himself or herself!
However, if you are having quite a lot of work done, you might be using a contracting company
The Dutch call a contracting company a âbouwbedrijfâ
Dutch contracting companies range in size from two people to several dozen skilled employees
For substantial renovations a contractor might employ qualified plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc
Every member of the skilled personnel must be held accountable for completing his or her portion of the project thoroughly and on time
2. The Project Itself
The contractor is responsible for purchasing all the materials necessary for the renovations
These building supplies are referred to as the: âbouwmaterialenâ in the Netherlands
They must also oversee the installation of the project
Materials should be of a good quality, and all the work must meet current safety requirements
BUILDING PAPERWORK IN NL
It can be tempting to take responsibility for the paperwork involved in carrying out home renovations yourself. However, unless you are experienced in this area, you might save yourself some considerable stress by handing the reins over to your contractor. They should be skilled and experienced in:
Dealing with the bureaucracy that surrounds securing permission to have building work done
Making requests for building permits
Executing building plans and blueprints
ILLEGAL WORK IN NL
In order to have a guarantee on your renovation work, it is best to work âwit met een bonnetjeâ. This Dutch phrase translates as âwhite with a receiptâ in English. It means that the work carried out on your home is legal, and taxed.
âBlackâ Work in NL
Some Dutch tradesmen work black for the clients. Or, in Dutch âzwartâ. This means that they carry out a job without a receipt, and without adding the legally required 21% VAT or âBTWâ as it is referred to in Dutch.
Agreeing to have this kind of work done will reduce your bill
However, it is illegal and is considered to be tax fraud
By acceding to have black work carried out on your home, you forfeit your right to claim on shoddy workmanship, or incompletion of a project
Insurance companies will refuse to cover any claims resulting from damages incurred by, for example, leaking pipes or electrical fires
You will have no proof of the services you paid for, or the materials that were used
In short, you will be completely unprotected if you pay for illegal work that does not turn out to be up to scratch
HANDYMEN IN NL
You may well need to hire a handyman, at some point during your time in the Netherlands. In Dutch, a handyman is called a âklusjesmanâ.
Dutch handymen usually charge around âŹ30 per hour
They will usually charge you âex BTWâ. This means they will charge âŹ30 before VAT
Some handymen in the Netherlands will offer to work âblackâ
Again, this will mean that he or she will not be insured
So, any liability claims that could arise from accidents will not be covered, and a settlement will not be possible
YOUR NEW INTERIOR
Whilst your contractor is responsible for facilitating the project, it is up to you to make the decisions about what you want where! You will have to pick out:
Kitchen cabinets
Bathtubs
Closets
Tiles
Curtains
Carpeting
Faucets
Paint colors
And much more!
Interior Advice
For interior design enthusiasts, this is a sacred creative opportunity. For others, this is totally overwhelming. Help is available in the Netherlands:
You can employ an interior decorator to help you with your new interior
In Dutch, an interior designer is called a âbinnenhuisarchitectuurâ or a âinterieurontwerpersâ
Dutch Decorating Vocabulary
If you want to have complete control over your décor, there is some Dutch vocabulary it will be useful to know:
âDo it yourselfâ = âwoninginrichtingâ
Carpeting, curtains, beds and furniture all come under this title
âKitchensâ = âkeukensâ
âBathroomsâ = âsanitaire artikelenâ
âPaintâ = âverf en lakâ
Associate Companies
Often, your contractor will have reached an agreement with a local bathroom, kitchen or tile specialist. This might mean that you could get some good deals on deliveries and some guarantees of quality. You are, of course, not obligated to use your contractorâs associates. Still, it can be useful to see who he or she recommends.
