When you buy a home in the Netherlands and sign a purchase agreement with the seller, you are legally given time to reconsider whether you want to proceed with the purchase. This period is called the cooling-off period.

A purchase agreement in the Netherlands is an agreement between the buyer and seller. You sign a purchase agreement if your bid on the property is accepted. The purchase agreement states:

1. The purchase price of the property.

2. The date of delivery of the property.

3. Termination clauses, such as the delivery being subject to financing or a technical inspection.

We advise contacting your real estate agent or notary in the Netherlands to assist you with drafting a purchase agreement.

After signing the purchase agreement, you have 3 days to change your mind. The cooling-off period starts on the day after receiving the purchase agreement. During this period, the buyer can still cancel the purchase of the property in the Netherlands. The buyer doesn’t have to give a reason and doesn’t have to pay a fee to the seller.

Please note the cancellation period can be longer if it’s on the weekend or a public holiday. If the cancellation happened on the weekend or a public holiday, then the cooling-off period lasts until the next working day.

The buyer could agree to a longer cooling-off period with the seller. This doesn’t happen too often though. A shorter period than the statutory period of 3 days is not allowed.

Contact us to receive a pre-approval on your financial possibilities to buy a home. See what you know and where you can improve your mortgage approach so you make an informed decision about the terms of your mortgage.