Where are the Dutch buying?
Data shows us that the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol are firmly on the list of Dutch buyers’ favourite locations, as has been the case for a while. But we’re finding recently that a new wave of young, cosmopolitan Dutch buyers are heading for cities such as Alicante, Malaga and Valencia on the south west coast. In 2017 Dutch enquiries via Kyero.com increased by around 56% in Alicante and Valencia, and more than doubled in Malaga. This has paved the way for a resurgence in interest from the younger generations of Europe.
What kinds of properties are they buying?
While apartments are the most popular type of property purchased by the Dutch, the percentage demand for them is not as high as for other international groups. It is in fact villas that see more demand from the Dutch than other foreign nationals with c.35% of 2017 Dutch sales being villas compared to c.30% from other groups.
The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe, meaning that high density housing such as apartment blocks are a common feature. Could it perhaps be this that leads Dutch buyers to seek a different style of housing where it is available?
What should you know about Dutch buyers?
It is worth being aware of the geography of the Dutch buyers’ home country. Holland and the Netherlands are not one and the same. Holland is just one section of the Netherlands, namely the western coastal region. This includes Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Rotterdam, and the Hague. Other well-known Dutch cities such as Utrecht, Groningen, Maastricht and Leeuwarden are not in Holland. If you are unsure, when dealing with Dutch buyers it is safer to refer to their homeland as the Netherlands.
If you are concerned about a language barrier impacting your ability to close a Dutch sale, don’t be. The Dutch tend to speak extremely good English and often other languages very comprehensively too, so you should have no difficulties in communicating effectively.
Conclusion
By understanding a little about what buyers from the Netherlands are looking for, we hope you’ll be able to deal with Dutch nationals with confidence and help them to find their dream home in Spain.