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.
The whole model rests on one legal distinction: you are not a tenant. You are a caretaker living in an otherwise empty building to keep it occupied, and the paperwork you sign reflects that. Understanding what you gain (very low cost) and what you give up (most of the rights a normal renter takes for granted) is the difference between anti-kraak being a smart move or a stressful one.
What anti-kraak actually is
Property owners regularly end up with empty buildings: offices between tenants, schools that have closed, and homes waiting on demolition, sale or renovation. An empty building is a liability. It invites squatters, vandalism, leaks that go unnoticed, and rising insurance costs. Rather than leave it standing hollow, the owner hires a vacancy-management company (leegstandbeheer) to place caretakers inside.
That is where you come in. You pay a low monthly fee, usually a fraction of local market rent, in exchange for living there and keeping the place used and watched over. Your presence is the service. You report problems, you keep the building looking lived-in, and you deter anyone who might otherwise break in. In return you get a roof over your head at a price that is hard to beat anywhere else in the Dutch market.
Why it is cheap, and what you give up
The low fee is not a discount, it is compensation for a different legal arrangement. Instead of a rental contract, you sign a use agreement (bruikleenovereenkomst), which grants you permission to occupy the space rather than the protections of tenancy. The practical consequences are worth spelling out:
- Almost no tenant protection. The rent-control, security-of-tenure and eviction safeguards that shield normal renters in the Netherlands largely do not apply to you.
- Short notice to leave. When the owner needs the building back, for sale, demolition or redevelopment, you can be asked to leave with very little warning, often 2 to 4 weeks. You cannot count on staying past that point, whatever your plans.
- You must genuinely live there. The arrangement only works if the building is actually occupied, so most agreements require it to be your real home, not a place you visit occasionally.
- Strict house rules. Expect limits on subletting (usually banned outright), overnight guests, pets, and sometimes how many nights per month you are allowed to be away. Inspections with notice are common.
- Variable quality. Some anti-kraak spaces are bright and comfortable, others are bare and quirky, an old classroom or an office floor. Know the difference between furnished, gestoffeerd and kaal before you judge a place from photos.
Who it suits
Anti-kraak rewards flexibility and punishes anyone who needs certainty. It fits you well if:
- You prioritise low cost over stability and can treat your address as temporary (see student housing in the Netherlands).
- You can move at short notice and travel light, without a house full of furniture to shift.
- You do not need a fixed base for a job, a family, or a long lease you can rely on.
It suits it badly if you are settling down, have children in a nearby school, run a business from home, or simply cannot absorb the stress of a possible move on a few weeks' notice.
The types of company that arrange it
Anti-kraak is run by specialist vacancy-management firms, not the estate agents and portals you use for normal rentals. Some focus purely on caretaking placements in empty offices and institutional buildings, others also manage temporary tenancies under the Dutch Vacancy Act (Leegstandwet, the full text of which is public), which is a related but distinct arrangement with slightly more protection and a proper, if temporary, rental contract. It pays to ask which model a given placement uses, because your rights differ. Reputable operators are transparent about the agreement type, screen applicants properly, and maintain the buildings they manage.
How to find it, and stay safe
You apply directly to the vacancy-management company, register your details, and pass a quick screening, since they want reliable, low-drama caretakers. Because the sums are small and the demand is high, this is also a space where scammers operate. As always, watch for scams: legitimate operators never ask for a deposit before you have seen the space, and a real company has a verifiable address and track record.
For where anti-kraak fits in the bigger picture, see the complete guide to renting in the Netherlands.
How to decide if it is right for you
Ask yourself three questions. First, could you actually move within a month if asked, without it wrecking your job or your studies? Second, is the money you save worth the uncertainty, or would a slightly pricier but secure rental let you sleep better? Third, can you live within the house rules, no subletting, limited guests, real occupancy? If you answer yes to all three, anti-kraak can be one of the best-value ways to live in an expensive market. If any answer is no, treat it as a stopgap at most.
FAQ
Is anti-kraak legal? Yes. It is a legitimate, widely used arrangement in the Netherlands. You sign a real agreement, a bruikleenovereenkomst, with a vacancy-management company. It is simply a use agreement rather than a tenancy, which is why your rights differ from a normal renter's.
How much notice will I get to leave? Often very little, commonly 2 to 4 weeks, though it varies by contract. The owner can reclaim the building when they need it for sale, demolition or redevelopment, so you should never count on staying beyond the short notice period.
Can I have guests or pets in anti-kraak housing? Usually with restrictions. Many agreements limit overnight guests, ban pets, and forbid subletting entirely. Some even cap how many nights you can be away. Read the house rules before you sign, and ask directly about anything that matters to you.
Do I get tenant rights with anti-kraak? Largely no. The standard protections around rent control, security of tenure and eviction that cover normal Dutch tenants do not apply to a use agreement. That reduced protection is the reason the monthly fee is so low.
How is anti-kraak different from a Leegstandwet rental? A bruikleenovereenkomst (anti-kraak) is a caretaking use agreement with minimal rights. A Leegstandwet (Vacancy Act) rental is a genuine temporary tenancy with a proper contract and somewhat more protection, though still time-limited. Always confirm which one a placement uses.
Keep a normal rental on your radar too. Houskey tracks live listings across the market, so set a Houskey alert and when an affordable long-term place appears, you are first to know.