Renting out in Zaanstad

Zaanstad lies just above Amsterdam and shares in the high housing pressure of the metropolitan region. With more than 160,000 residents it is one of the larger municipalities in Noord-Holland, and it falls under the regional model ordinance. Renting out a room helps give housing seekers in the region a place sooner.

Hospita rental: exempt from a permit

There are two exemptions. With hospita rental you live in the property yourself and rent to one person. In addition, you may rent to two adults without a permit. In both cases no conversion permit is needed.

Renting to more people

Renting to three or four people requires a conversion permit; for five or more no permit is issued. One person per non-self-contained unit applies and at least 25 m² per person on average. For non-apartments, no other conversion permit may exist within a 100-metre radius; apartment complexes are capped at 10% of units. A livability test is carried out and parking norms apply. An earlier, stricter scheme was annulled by the court, but the 2025 housing ordinance reinstates the permit system.

Official info: gemeente Zaanstad: room rental (in Dutch). As of June 2026. Always check the current rules with your municipality.

For the national rules, see General rules for room rental. Also check the impact on your municipal taxes.