Internet included in your rent in the Netherlands: service costs, collective Wi-Fi and your rights
Door Marthijn de VriesBijgewerkt op 7 min lezen
In most Dutch rentals you arrange internet yourself. When the landlord provides it, it is charged as service costs (servicekosten): only the actual costs, with an annual statement before 1 July. You usually can't opt out alone; changing a building-wide package needs 70% of tenants. What changes on 1 January 2027 and how to check if you're overpaying.
Short answer
As of 29 September 2026: in an ordinary Dutch rental home you arrange internet yourself, in your own name. Internet is included mainly in student rooms, rooms in shared houses and buildings with a collective network. In that case the landlord may charge it as service costs (servicekosten) under "signal delivery", but only the actual costs, and must send an annual statement of those costs before 1 July (Huurcommissie, Huurcommissie). You generally can't opt out of a collective package on your own: a change for the whole building binds everyone once at least 70% of tenants agree (article 7:261 Dutch Civil Code). For new contracts from 1 January 2027, internet remains one of eight permitted types of service costs (Huurcommissie).
Who arranges internet when you rent in the Netherlands?
Usually you do. In an unfurnished or furnished apartment the landlord provides the connection in the wall (a cable socket, a fibre box or a phone socket), and you choose and pay a provider. Internet is typically included only in these situations:
| Type of housing | Internet usually | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment or house (unfurnished or furnished) | Arranged by you | Which connection is active: fibre box, cable socket or phone socket |
| Student room from a housing provider | Often included | Speed, Wi-Fi in your room, amount in the service costs |
| Room in a shared house | Varies: via the landlord or one housemate's contract | Whose name the contract is in and how costs are split |
| Short-stay or serviced apartment | Often included in an all-in price | Speed and whether you can add your own line |
Student housing is the most common case. At DUWO, for example, Ziggo supplies internet and TV in a large share of the complexes; elsewhere another party supplies it or you arrange it yourself (DUWO). If you need to arrange it yourself, the step-by-step guide is how to get internet in the Netherlands as an expat; for a temporary stay, see internet for a short stay.
What may a landlord charge for internet?
Only the actual costs, shared between the tenants, plus a limited administration fee. The Huurcommissie (Rent Tribunal) lists internet under signal delivery and says the costs of connecting and of the subscription for radio, TV and internet may be passed on to tenants (Huurcommissie, service costs policy book). The main rules:
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Actual costs | The landlord must be able to show the costs with invoices; no profit on internet |
| Administration fee | At most 5% on the other cost items, minimum €7.50 and maximum €75 per statement per home |
| Annual statement | Before 1 July, covering the previous year, with advance payments and actual costs |
| No statement received | Ask for it; after three weeks you can go to the Huurcommissie |
| Changing the package for the whole building | Binding once at least 70% of tenants agree (article 7:261 Civil Code) |
| New contracts from 1 January 2027 | Eight fixed types of service costs; signal delivery (TV, internet) is one of them |
Sources: Huurcommissie policy book, Huurcommissie on service costs and the annual statement, article 7:261 Civil Code, new rules from 1 January 2027. The 2027 rules apply to rental contracts signed from that date; existing contracts only switch with the tenant's consent. The Huurcommissie's pages are mostly in Dutch; the Dutch deep-dive is internet via your landlord in the service costs (in Dutch).
Can you cancel collective internet and get your own?
Usually not on your own. Service costs are part of your rental agreement. For a service that can only be supplied to all tenants together, such as a building network, a change binds everyone once at least 70% of tenants agree (article 7:261 Civil Code). To get rid of collective internet you'll need your neighbours or your landlord on board.
You can usually take your own subscription alongside it, if there is a connection and the landlord doesn't object. You then pay twice, which can still be worth it if the shared network is slow and you work from home or game. Installing a new connection, such as fibre, may need the landlord's permission; see fibre in a rental home (in Dutch). Sharing one contract with housemates instead? sharing internet with housemates (in Dutch) covers splitting costs and whose name goes on the contract.
Are you paying too much for internet through your landlord?
Compare the monthly amount for internet in your service cost overview with what your own subscription would cost. For internet without TV, new customers pay a median €34.28 a month in year one and a median standard price of €52.50 after the promotion (Kiesbeter Internet Price Index, 29 September 2026, n = 434; see how much internet costs). A landlord buying for a whole building can often get a lower price per connection. Then weigh what you actually get:
- Speed and stability you actually get, measured with a cable in your own room on different days; our speed test helps.
- What is included: your own Wi-Fi in your room, a wall socket, TV, or only a shared building network.
- The annual statement: did you get one before 1 July, and is the administration fee no more than 5%?
- If the internet is poor, record several speed tests and report them in writing to your landlord, who holds the contract with the provider.
- Collect reports from other tenants; together you have more leverage.
- If you doubt the amount, ask for the underlying invoices.
- If the annual statement is wrong or missing, follow the Huurcommissie's steps to have it assessed.
Veelgestelde vragen
Usually not in apartments and houses: you arrange it yourself. It is often included in student rooms, rooms in shared houses and short-stay housing, charged as service costs or in an all-in price.
Yes, as service costs under 'signal delivery', but only the actual costs plus at most 5% administration (minimum €7.50, maximum €75 per statement), with an annual statement before 1 July.
Usually not on your own. Changing a building-wide package binds all tenants once at least 70% agree. You can often add your own subscription, but then you pay twice.
For rental contracts signed from 1 January 2027 only eight types of service costs are allowed. Signal delivery (TV, internet) is one of them, so internet can still be charged.
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