When is it worth refinancing my mortgage?

It mainly pays off when the market rate is well below your own, or when your fixed-rate period is almost up. Do watch the penalty interest and advice costs, as they eat into part of your gain. Our refinancing calculator shows in a few minutes whether it adds up.

What does a mortgage adviser cost?

A first orientation meeting with an independent adviser in your region costs you nothing and commits you to nothing. Only once you actually take advice and arrange a mortgage do you pay for it. You'll hear what that costs upfront, not afterwards.

How does releasing home equity work?

If your home is worth more than your outstanding mortgage debt, you have home equity. You free that money up by increasing or refinancing your mortgage, for instance for a renovation or a gift to the children. Our home equity tool works out how much there is for you.

What is the difference between annuity and linear?

With an annuity mortgage your gross monthly amount stays the same: first you pay mostly interest, later mostly repayment. With a linear mortgage you repay the same amount each month, so your monthly payments slowly fall. Linear is cheaper over the full term, but you start with higher payments.

Calculate your starter loan.

Just short of enough mortgage for your first home? See whether a Starter Loan can bridge the difference.

What is a Starter Loan?

The Starter Loan (Starterslening) is an extra loan on top of your regular mortgage, made specifically for first-time buyers on the housing market. It bridges the difference between the amount you can borrow at most from the bank and the purchase price of your first home. That way, a house that was just out of reach becomes achievable after all.

The Starter Loan is offered by municipalities through the Stimuleringsfonds Volkshuisvesting (SVn). Not every municipality takes part, and the conditions differ from one municipality to another. So it is important to check whether your municipality offers the scheme and which limits apply.

How does it work?

The Starter Loan is a second loan taken out alongside your main mortgage. What makes it special is the repayment: for the first three years you pay no interest and no repayment. After that period, it is assessed whether your income allows you to start paying. If your income is still too low, you can request a reassessment and the payment is (partly) postponed.

The interest rate is fixed for the first fifteen years. Because the Starter Loan is often taken out together with the National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG), you usually benefit from a favourable interest rate.

Conditions for the Starter Loan

Your municipality sets the exact conditions, but these are the most common starting points:

You are buying a home for the first time (you are a first-time buyer).
The home is located in a municipality that offers the Starter Loan.
The purchase price stays below the maximum purchase sum your municipality applies.
You take out the main mortgage with NHG.
The size of the Starter Loan is capped, often as a percentage of the purchase price.

How much extra can you borrow?

How much you can borrow through the Starter Loan depends on the difference between your maximum mortgage and the purchase price, and on the limits your municipality sets. With the calculator at the top of this page you quickly get a first indication of your options.

Keep in mind that the Starter Loan affects your total monthly costs once the interest-free period has ended. An independent adviser can calculate exactly what this means for you in the long term.

Is a Starter Loan right for you?

A Starter Loan is worth considering if you have a stable income that is expected to grow, and you just need that final push to be able to buy your first home. Because your costs are lower in the first years, you get the room to ease into owning a home.

Want to know whether the scheme is available in your municipality and what suits your situation best? Calculate your options above and then request advice with no obligation from an independent mortgage adviser.

How it works

Three steps to clarity

Enter your details

Your income, any partner, and your preferred fixed-rate period. No passport or BSN needed.

See your maximum amount

We calculate using the 2026 Nibud standards and the current rates of more than 40 providers.

Talk it through with an adviser

Want to dig deeper? We connect you, with no obligation, to an independent adviser near you.

What you get

A clear picture straight away

No sales talk, no obligations. Just the figures you need to move forward.

On a single screen you see

The full result of your calculation, clearly laid out and in plain English.

Your maximum mortgage amount
The matching gross and net monthly payments
An indication of the interest rate per fixed-rate period
Whether NHG is achievable for your situation

Frequently asked questions

Everything about calculating your mortgage

How much mortgage can I get in 2026?

That mainly depends on your gross annual income, the interest rate, your fixed costs and the mortgage type you pick. The maximum follows from the Nibud standards, which are set again every year. Work it out in two minutes with our mortgage calculator.

What is the current mortgage interest rate?

The rate changes by the day and varies by provider, fixed-rate period and mortgage type. So there is no single "the" mortgage rate. On our rates page you'll find the rates of more than 40 Dutch providers side by side.

Can I get a mortgage if I am self-employed?

Certainly. Often it's possible after just one year in business. Most providers look at your average profit over the past one to three years. Make sure your annual figures are in order and keep an accountant's statement with a forecast on hand if needed.

What is the NHG limit in 2026?

In 2026 the NHG limit sits at €470,000. Put money into energy-saving measures and it can rise to €498,200. NHG gives you extra security and usually a lower interest rate. Our calculator shows whether you fall under it.

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