Stay as Long as You Need. Leave When You're Ready.
Published • Thu, Jun 4, 2026
No fixed end dates, no penalty clauses, no locked-in minimums. City Retreat contracts are built around the reality of corporate assignments, international relocations, and plans that change — because they always do.
Start with as little as two months
Check live availability — contracts flex around your timeline, not the other way round.
Exactly How Our Flexible Contract Works
Most Amsterdam rental contracts lock you in for 12 months with a three-month notice period. City Retreat works differently — here are the exact terms, clearly stated.
Contract Length
Our minimum stay is two months. Beyond that, there's no fixed end date — your contract runs on a rolling monthly basis until you decide to leave.
Giving Notice to Leave
Give us one calendar month's written notice on any date — your end date is calculated as one calendar month from that day.
Extending Your Stay
If your assignment runs long or you haven't found somewhere permanent yet — extending is straightforward at any point during your stay.
Cancelling Before Move-In
You have a free cancellation window. Outside of that, a cancellation fee applies — but terms are clearly defined from the outset.
If you're unsure how long you'll need, book a longer stay upfront — then use the one-month notice clause to leave whenever you're ready. Many corporate tenants book three to six months and leave after two or three.
A Notice Period Walkthrough
Here's exactly what happens from the moment you decide to leave, so there are no surprises.
You decide you want to leave
Assignment ended, found a permanent home, or plans changed. You don't need a reason — that's the point of a flexible contract.
Send one email to give notice
Email bookings@cityretreat.com with your intention to leave. One calendar month from that email is your confirmed departure date.
Takes about 2 minutesWe confirm your end date in writing
We'll confirm your departure date by email along with the check-out process — key return and final inspection details.
Confirmed within 24 hoursContinue living normally
Nothing changes during your notice period. Weekly cleaning continues, utilities included, full access until your departure date.
Check out and deposit returned
Return keys, we do a condition check, and your deposit is returned — typically within 14 days — subject to the apartment being left in its original condition.
Deposit returned within 14 daysFlexible Contracts vs. The Amsterdam Rental Market
Flexibility is one of the most significant practical differences between a City Retreat tenancy and a standard Amsterdam private rental.
What You're Normally Dealing With
How City Retreat Works
When a Flexible Contract Makes the Difference
Flexibility matters most when your circumstances are genuinely uncertain.
Corporate Assignments
Project might run three months or eight. Book for six, give notice when the end comes into view. No renegotiation, no penalty.
Searching for a Permanent Home
Amsterdam's rental market can take months. One-month exit means you move the moment you find somewhere — without double rent.
International Relocations
Visa, partner's job, children's school year — international moves have more variables. Flexible contracts absorb that uncertainty.
Between Properties
Renovation overran, completion delayed, sale fell through. One month's notice means you leave the moment your situation resolves.
HR & Relocation Managers
One-month notice protects against the common situation where a hire's timeline shifts after booking.
Academic Placements
Fellowship extensions, grant renewals — academic timelines are fluid. A rolling monthly contract moves with you.
Questions About Contracts and Flexibility
Yes — two months is our minimum and a perfectly normal booking length. You can extend at any point if the apartment is available. Many tenants start with two or three months and extend one or more times.
The two-month minimum is a contractual commitment. If you need to leave before it ends, we handle this on a case-by-case basis — but the standard position is that the minimum term rent is owed. In practice, early exits within the minimum period are rare.
One calendar month from the date notice is given. Notice on 12 April means end date 12 May. You can give notice on any date — no requirement to give notice at the start of a month.
Yes. If your company is the contracting party, they can manage extensions, notice periods, and billing directly. For corporate accounts coordinating multiple employees, we can set up a single point of contact. Email bookings@cityretreat.com to set this up.
We'll do our best to offer a comparable alternative. We can't always guarantee the same apartment — which is why some tenants book a longer stay upfront and use the one-month notice clause when ready.
Extensions are typically at the same rate as your original contract. For significantly longer extensions beyond 12 months we'll discuss the rate in advance — no surprise increases mid-tenancy.
The City Retreat Four-Point Guarantee
Every City Retreat tenancy is backed by four commitments. This page covers the fourth.
Ready to Book on Your Terms?
Start with two months, stay as long as you need, leave with one month's notice.