Anti-kraak (literally "anti-squat") is one of the cheapest ways to live in the Netherlands - and one of the most misunderstood. It is a genuine option for the right person, with real strings attached.
What it is
Property owners with temporarily empty buildings (offices, schools, homes awaiting demolition or sale) hire vacancy-management companies (leegstandbeheer) to place caretakers in them. You pay a low monthly fee to live there and keep the building occupied, which deters squatters and vandalism.
Who it suits
- Students and young movers prioritising low cost over stability (see student housing in the Netherlands).
- People who can move at short notice and travel light.
The trade-offs (read these carefully)
- You are a caretaker, not a tenant. You typically sign a bruikleenovereenkomst (loan-for-use), so standard tenant protections largely do not apply.
- Short notice. You can be asked to leave with as little as a few weeks' notice.
- Rules. Limits on guests, pets, and sometimes how many nights you can be away.
- Variable quality. Some spaces are great; some are bare. Know the difference between furnished, gestoffeerd and kaal.
How to find it
Anti-kraak is offered by vacancy-management companies rather than normal rental portals. Apply directly and expect to register and pass a quick screening. As always, watch for scams, legitimate operators never ask for a deposit before you have seen the space.
For where anti-kraak fits in the bigger picture, see the complete guide to renting in the Netherlands.
Keep a normal rental on your radar too. Set a Houskey alert so that when an affordable long-term place appears, you are first to know.