The Dutch housing market is extremely competitive at the moment, nowhere more so than in Amsterdam, where limited supply and high demand continue to drive up prices across the city. This can lead to houses selling for way over their value, and rental prices soaring. 

In fact, the situation has gotten so dire that one house on the Herengracht has won the title of the most expensive rental property in Amsterdam. Just one month’s rent for this 475 square-metre house will set you back 16.000 euros!

An overpriced Amsterdam pied-a-terre?

The listing for the property went online at the start of November and has been viewed over 69.000 times. The central location means it’s only a stone’s throw away from Dam Square and the charming nine streets, famous for their independent shops and cute cafes. 

The historic building is certainly beautiful and charming, dating back all the way to 1642. It’s also pretty generous in size, especially for the city centre, with four floors plus a basement and four bedrooms. Offering beautiful views of the Amsterdam canals, this property comes fully stocked with all the luxuries that modern living can offer, including a gym and a private roof terrace. 

Recently renovated to a high spec, the basement serves as an isolated granny flat kitted out with a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, which the listing notes would be “perfect for staff, studying children, nanny or own office.” One thing not included in the rental price, however, is a parking spot. 

House prices in the Dutch capital continue to skyrocket

“This one is the most expensive, I've been doing this for 14 years and have never seen anything like it before,” real estate agent Manuela Uijtdewilligen told Het Parool. “These buildings are sometimes sold, but it almost never happens that an entire canal house is for rent.” She points out that the tenant will likely be a CEO of a large multinational company who is only looking to make Amsterdam their home for one or two years.

Only a few years ago, the rental record in Amsterdam was 15.000 euros a month for a house on the Prinsengracht. But the past few years have seen property prices rise across the Netherlands, and while the coronavirus pandemic helped to stabilise the market for a few months, experts say the return of expats to the Dutch capital has driven up prices.