Moving House in the Netherlands: What You Need to Arrange for Taxes and Toeslagen

Moving to a new place is exciting — until you realize you need to notify half a dozen Dutch government agencies. Miss a step, and you could lose out on benefits (toeslagen), overpay taxes, or face fines.

The good news? Most of it happens automatically through the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen — the municipal population register). But not everything. Some things you must report yourself, especially if you receive toeslagen like huurtoeslag, zorgtoeslag, or kindgebonden budget.

This guide walks you through exactly what to arrange when moving house in the Netherlands — for both renters and homeowners.

Step 1: Register Your Move with the Municipality (Gemeente)

This is the only mandatory step for everyone. When you move to a new address in the Netherlands, you must register with your new municipality within 5 days of moving.

How to do it:

• Visit the town hall (gemeentehuis) of your new municipality
• Bring valid ID (passport or Dutch ID card)
• Bring proof of residence (rental contract, property deed, or landlord declaration)
• Some municipalities allow online registration via their website

What happens next: The municipality updates your address in the BRP. Within 5 working days, they automatically notify:

• Belastingdienst (tax office)
• Dienst Toeslagen (benefits)
• UWV (employee insurance agency)
• DUO (student finance)
• Your health insurance company

Step 2: Check If You Need to Update Your Toeslagen

Even though the municipality notifies Belastingdienst automatically, some toeslagen require manual updates depending on what changed.

Huurtoeslag (Rent Allowance)

If you're moving to another rental property:

• Your huurtoeslag does not stop automatically — good news!
• But you must report your new rent amount via Mijn Toeslagen or the Toeslagen app
• Wait until your new address appears in Mijn Toeslagen (usually 1-5 working days after registering with the municipality)
• Your huurtoeslag will be recalculated based on the new rent

If you're moving to a property where you can't get huurtoeslag:

• For example: buying a house, moving abroad, or renting a property above the threshold
• Stop your huurtoeslag immediately via Mijn Toeslagen to avoid overpayment and later repayment demands

Important for 2026: As of 2026, there is no maximum rent threshold for huurtoeslag eligibility. Previously, your rent couldn't exceed €879.66/month (2025 threshold) to qualify. Now, the amount you receive depends on your income, household composition, and rent — but there's no upper rent limit.

Zorgtoeslag (Healthcare Allowance)

Zorgtoeslag continues automatically when you move within the Netherlands. No action needed — as long as you're still eligible based on income.

However, if you move abroad (outside the Netherlands), your zorgtoeslag stops. Report this via Mijn Toeslagen.

Kindgebonden Budget (Child-Related Budget)

Kindgebonden budget also continues automatically. The municipality notifies Belastingdienst of your address change, and payments continue to your bank account.

Exception: If your living situation changes (e.g., you move in with a new partner or split up), you may need to report this separately as it affects your toetsingsinkomen (assessment income).

Step 3: Homeowners — Update Your Tax Situation

If you're buying or selling a home, there's more to do tax-wise.

Eigenwoningforfait (Notional Rental Value)

When you own your home, you pay tax on the eigenwoningforfait — a notional rental value based on the WOZ value of your home.

In 2026, the eigenwoningforfait percentages are:

• WOZ value up to €1,310,000: 0.35%
• Portion above €1,310,000: 2.35%

When you move into a newly purchased home, the Belastingdienst automatically updates your eigenwoningforfait in your next tax return (aangifte inkomstenbelasting) based on the WOZ value.

You don't need to report the move separately — it's handled automatically via the BRP.

Hypotheekrenteaftrek (Mortgage Interest Deduction)

If you take out a mortgage to buy your new home, you can deduct the mortgage interest in your tax return.

Important rules:

• The deduction applies only to annuity or linear mortgages (aflossingsvrije hypotheken do not qualify for new mortgages since 2013)
• You can claim the deduction for up to 30 years after the mortgage starts
• In 2026, the maximum deduction rate is 37.56% (the rate is gradually decreasing towards the lowest tax bracket)

If you bought a home under construction: You can start deducting mortgage interest before you move in — but only if you expect to move within 3 years. If it takes longer, you can only start claiming from the year after you move in.

Selling Your Old Home

If you sell your previous home, you can keep treating it as your eigen woning (own home) for tax purposes for up to 3 years after you moved out — as long as it's actively for sale.

Example: You moved out on May 1, 2023. Your old home is listed for sale. You can continue to declare it as your eigen woning (and deduct mortgage interest) until December 31, 2026 at the latest.

After that, it becomes Box 3 property (investment/savings), and you'll pay vermogensrendementsheffing (wealth tax) on it instead.

Step 4: What You Don't Need to Report

Thanks to the BRP, you do not need to separately notify:

• Belastingdienst of your address change (unless you want post sent to a different address than your home address)
• Zorgtoeslag
• Kindgebonden budget (unless your household composition changed)
• Health insurance company (they get the update automatically)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

FAQ

Do I need to notify Belastingdienst when I move? No — as long as you register with your new municipality. They notify Belastingdienst within 5 working days. However, if you want mail sent to a different address (e.g., your parents' home), you must report that separately via Belastingdienst contact form.

What happens to my huurtoeslag if I move to a more expensive apartment? Your huurtoeslag will be recalculated. Depending on your income, it may decrease or even stop if your rent is too high relative to your income. Always report the change via Mijn Toeslagen.

Can I deduct mortgage interest on two homes at the same time? Yes — temporarily. If your old home is for sale and you've moved into a new home with a mortgage, you can deduct interest on both homes for up to 3 years after moving out of the old one.

I'm moving abroad. Do I need to do anything? Yes. You must:

• Deregister from the BRP at your current municipality
• Stop all toeslagen (huurtoeslag, zorgtoeslag, kindgebonden budget) via Mijn Toeslagen
• Notify your health insurance company (Dutch health insurance is mandatory only for Dutch residents)

How long does it take for my new address to appear in Mijn Toeslagen? Usually 1-5 working days after your municipality processes your address change. Once it appears, you can update your rent or other details.

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Moving in the Netherlands doesn't have to be stressful — as long as you know what to report and when. Register with your municipality on time, update your toeslagen if you're renting, and double-check your mortgage deductions if you're buying.

Need help calculating your huurtoeslag or filing your Dutch tax return? Bowie's tools make it simple:

• Rent Auditor — Check if your rent is legal and request a reduction
• Bowie Tax — File your Dutch income tax return with AI guidance