How to Rent an Apartment with City Retreat
Live availability, transparent all-inclusive pricing, and a formal Dutch tenancy agreement — from your first search to your front door, we've built the process around you. Most tenants go from enquiry to confirmation within 24 hours.
Why Renting a Furnished Apartment in Amsterdam Is Often Harder Than It Should Be
The Amsterdam rental market has a well-earned reputation for being opaque. Adverts that say "available" but aren't. Prices that exclude utilities, service charges, and cleaning fees. Providers who take days to respond — or don't respond at all. Application processes that feel designed for someone already living in the Netherlands with Dutch payslips and a local reference.
City Retreat was built to remove all of that. Live availability means what it says. All-inclusive pricing means no surprises. A response within 24 hours means you can plan around it. And no Dutch payslip requirements means the process actually works for the people who need it most — professionals arriving internationally, often under time pressure, often without a Dutch employment contract yet.
You also know what you'll be signing before you start, because the agreement doesn't change from one apartment to the next. Every home is let on a residential tenancy agreement for an indefinite period. You can give one calendar month's notice once the initial period in your agreement has passed. When you move in, you register in the BRP at the address.
From Search to Move-In — How It Works
No estate agent chain and no fees revealed at the last step. Here's exactly what to expect.
Search by Date and Size
Enter your desired start date and number of bedrooms at cityretreat.com/house. You'll see only the apartments that are genuinely available from that date. No static lists with "contact us for availability" on everything.
✓ Live availability, no stale dataBrowse Apartments with Transparent Pricing
Each apartment shows photos, the neighbourhood and the all-inclusive monthly rent, with exactly what that rent covers: utilities, Wi-Fi, furnishings. The price shown is the price you pay.
✓ All-inclusive pricing shown upfrontSend a Rental Application
Found something that works? Send a rental application straight from the apartment page. The form asks who you are, why you're moving, where you work or study, when you'd like to start and who's moving in with you. Sending it doesn't commit you to anything yet.
✓ No credit check, no commitmentConfirmation Within 24 Hours
Every rental application is reviewed personally by our team. We respond within 24 hours — with a confirmation, or an alternative if your first choice has just gone. You're not waiting on an automated system.
✓ Human review — not automatedSign a Formal Dutch Tenancy Agreement
You sign digitally, usually the same day we confirm. It's a Dutch residential tenancy agreement, so you're protected under Dutch tenancy law from the start. You register in the BRP at the address within five days of moving in. We send you the instructions before your tenancy starts. Your BSN follows from registration. Our Amsterdam registration guide covers the appointment and the documents to bring.
✓ Protected under Dutch tenancy lawMove In — Everything Is Already Done
Fully furnished, connected and clean. Utilities are in our name. Wi-Fi is active. Our team meets you at the apartment for the key handover. Nothing to set up — you're home from day one.
✓ Move-in ready from day oneSix Things We've Built Into the Process
Renting a furnished apartment in Amsterdam has a reputation for being complicated — long waiting times, vague pricing, properties that aren't actually available. Here's what we've done about each one.
Live Availability
If an apartment appears in your search results, it's genuinely available from your start date. We update availability in real time and don't keep phantom adverts live to drive traffic.
All-Inclusive Pricing
Rent, all utilities and Wi-Fi. No admin fee, no service charge, no end-of-year energy reconciliation. The figure shown is what you pay — every month, without exception.
A Real Tenancy Agreement
A formal Dutch residential tenancy agreement. It's the document your employer, your bank and the Gemeente ask for, and the one they recognise.
Arranged From Abroad
Many of our tenants apply before they've set foot in Amsterdam. That works because the photos are current, the agreement is signed digitally, and we meet you at the apartment with the keys on the day you move in.
Human Review
Every application is reviewed by our team before confirmation. You're not just another platform entry — if your first choice has just gone, we come back with an alternative rather than a rejection.
BRP Registration
Your Dutch bank account, healthcare and payroll all wait for a BSN, and the BSN follows from BRP registration. You register at the apartment's address when you move in, so nothing is held up.
What You'll Pay — and What That Covers
Every City Retreat apartment is priced all-inclusive. One monthly figure covers rent, gas, electricity, water, high-speed Wi-Fi, full furnishings, kitchen equipment, bed linen and towels, with utilities included up to the usage allowance in your agreement. No setup costs, no separate bills, no surprises.
Two things bring that figure down. Agree a four-month initial period and your monthly rent is 10% lower for the whole tenancy. You choose that one yourself, with a tick box on the application. The other depends on the calendar. Tenancies starting between 1 November and 28 February have a 10% lower monthly rent for the whole tenancy. If both fit, both apply. The rent reductions page has them side by side.
Heard From People Who've Rented With Us
"Found an apartment on Tuesday, had confirmation Wednesday, was in by Friday. City Retreat handled the registration guidance and I had my BSN within six weeks of arriving."
"After three weeks trying the Amsterdam rental market normally, I found City Retreat. Live listings, a real price, someone who actually responded. The contract was exactly what my employer needed to start payroll."
Questions About the Rental Process
How quickly can I move in after sending an application?
In most cases, within a few days. We confirm within 24 hours, sign the tenancy agreement digitally — usually same day — and coordinate key handover around your move-in date. If you need to move within 24–48 hours, let us know upfront and we'll prioritise accordingly.
Can my company rent and pay on my behalf?
Yes. Corporate rentals are straightforward. The tenancy can be structured with the company as contracting party or with the individual tenant. We issue invoices suitable for business accounting. Contact us at hello@cityretreat.com for corporate accounts.
Are there any fees beyond the monthly rent?
No. The monthly rent is all-inclusive: rent, all utilities and high-speed Wi-Fi. There's no admin fee, no application fee and no service charge. You pay a deposit at signing. The deposit is one month's rent. It is returned within 14 days of the end of the tenancy. That leaves cleaning. City Retreat arranges a professional clean before you move in and at the end of the tenancy. Cleaning during the tenancy can be requested at extra cost with four days' notice.
Can I view the apartment before renting?
Viewings are available where logistically possible. Many tenants relocate from abroad and rent entirely remotely. Our photos are current and accurate, and we make an inspection report with photos at the start of every tenancy, so there are no surprises when you move in. If you're already in Amsterdam before your start date, contact us to arrange a viewing.
Do I need Dutch payslips or an employment contract?
No. Unlike private landlords in Amsterdam, who typically require Dutch payslips and a gross salary of at least three times the monthly rent, City Retreat doesn't apply those requirements. This makes our apartments accessible to expats on international contracts, pre-employment arrangements, or those arriving before Dutch payroll has started.
Ready to Find Your Amsterdam Apartment?
Search live availability, check pricing, and send an application in minutes. We respond within 24 hours.
The Four City Retreat Commitments
Every City Retreat tenancy is backed by four commitments. This page covers the first.