Creators

Renting in Amsterdam on creator income: the documents you need

Updated: 2026-08-17 Holdwise editorial team

Landlords in Amsterdam want payslips. As a creator, you can supply them when your own company pays you a salary. In Amsterdam, forty other people may have booked a viewing for the same home. The landlord often checks three payslips and an employer's statement in one afternoon. Income paid directly by foreign platforms is harder for a landlord to assess. With a salary from your own company, you are an employee with complete paperwork. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date and change it when the rules change.

What the landlord asks for

The landlord usually asks for recent payslips, an employer's statement, a copy of your identity document and a bank statement. The bank statement shows that the salary is paid each month. Letting agents usually ask for a monthly income of about three to four times the monthly rent. They want to see a steady monthly income that they can check.

Payslips from your own BV (besloten vennootschap, the Dutch private limited company)

When you work through a BV (a Dutch private limited company), you are on its payroll. You are then the DGA (the director who also owns the company). The company issues real payslips through a payroll administration. The company is your employer, so it can also issue the employer's statement about your position and salary. The company receives the platform payouts. A weak quarter or a change in exchange rates affects the company, and your salary stays the same. The landlord sees a fixed monthly amount.

The salary you choose affects both your tax and your rental application. A lower customary salary is allowed if comparable work pays less, or for up to three years while a new BV is still unable to pay the full salary. A prior consultation with the tax authority gives you certainty in advance. The lower salary is what saves tax. At €36,000 compared with €58,000, you keep about €7,100 a year more. After a later dividend, about €2,800 of that remains. The loan gives you access to money, but your tax stays the same. Calculate it with your own figures. The letting agent sees the same salary that you set for tax reasons. Choose the amount with both in mind. You can read the calculation in paying yourself.

Tenant protections

Most homes get points for size, energy label, facilities and location. For homes below the free-sector threshold, the maximum legal rent depends on these points. If the rent is higher than that maximum, you can ask for a review.
The deposit is limited to a small multiple of the monthly rent. You get it back after the final inspection.
As a resident, you have the right to register at the address with the municipality. You need this registration for the BSN (the Dutch citizen service number), a bank account and health cover.

Practical sequence

Set the salary and run the payroll for at least three months. Keep the payslips and bank statements in order.
Assemble one PDF: payslips, employer's statement, identity page, bank statement.
Make a budget for the whole month with the figures in cost of living in Amsterdam. Open the bank account first, as described in banking in Amsterdam.
Compare renting and buying later, when the company has existed for a year. See buying a home or investing for that comparison.

Free advice

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We help creators with their income, their company and their tax. Tell us where you stand or what you are planning. You get free advice on your next step.

Part of Doing Business in the Netherlands, the complete 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent in Amsterdam with income from my own company? +

Yes. As the DGA, you are on the payroll of your own company. The company issues payslips and an employer's statement. These are the documents that letting agents ask for.

How much income do landlords want to see? +

Usually a gross monthly income of three to four times the monthly rent. You show this with three recent payslips and a bank statement that matches them.

Does the rent have a legal ceiling? +

Yes, for homes below the free-sector threshold. The maximum rent depends on points for size, energy label, facilities and location. A tenant can ask for a review of the rent.