Ground lease in Amsterdam, simply explained

Ground lease raises questions for many buyers. Yet once explained, it is a great deal less complicated than it seems.

What is ground lease?

With ground lease, the land belongs to the municipality while you own the property. For the use of the land you pay a canon. In Amsterdam this applies to many homes.

There are different forms: temporary, perpetual and, since a few years, also permanent. Which form applies has a significant bearing on what it means for your monthly costs.

Ground lease is not a reason to walk away. It is a reason to look carefully at the terms.

What should you look out for?

Always ask about the ground lease situation and the prepaid period. Has the canon been bought off, and for how long? That difference can amount to thousands of euros per year. We are happy to walk you through it at your own pace.