If you rent in the Netherlands on a modest income, there’s a decent chance the government will pay part of your rent, and many newcomers never claim it simply because the form is in Dutch. It’s called huurtoeslag (rent benefit). Here is how it works in 2026 and how to apply.
What huurtoeslag is
Huurtoeslag is a monthly contribution from the government toward your rent, paid if your rent, income and situation qualify. As Dienst Toeslagen explains the 2026 changes, the rules loosened from 1 January 2026, so more people now qualify, worth re-checking even if you didn’t before.
The 2026 conditions
The main gates, per the government on who can get huurtoeslag:
| Condition | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Max rent (huurgrens) | ~932,93 euros/month (498,20 for under-21s) |
| Income | no fixed cap, depends on rent, age, household |
| Assets (vermogen) | under ~38.479 euros (76.958 with a partner) |
| Home | must be self-contained (zelfstandige woning) |
A nice detail for 2026: it’s now based on the kale huur (base rent), service costs no longer count toward the limit. One more condition that catches expats: you generally need to be ingeschreven (registered) at the address with the gemeente, and everyone living there counts as a medebewoner whose income and assets can affect the calculation, so a flatmate or partner is not invisible to the sum.
How to apply
The process, per Dienst Toeslagen on whether you can get it:
- Do a proefberekening (test calculation) on the Toeslagen site, it tells you if you qualify and roughly how much.
- Apply via Mijn toeslagen with DigiD.
- It’s paid monthly, in advance, then settled later against your actual income.
Because it’s settled afterwards, report changes in income, rent or household promptly, otherwise you may have to pay some back.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de huurtoeslag | rent benefit |
| de huurgrens | rent ceiling |
| de kale huur | base rent (excl. service costs) |
| het vermogen | assets/savings |
| de toeslagpartner | benefit partner |
| de proefberekening | test calculation |
Where it connects
Huurtoeslag is one piece of the Dutch renting-and-money picture, alongside your rights before the Huurcommissie, renter’s terms like subletting and registering, and the other side of the ledger, bills like waterschapsbelasting and submitting your meterstanden.
The bottom line
Huurtoeslag can put real money back in your pocket each month if your rent is under the huurgrens (~932,93 euros in 2026), your vermogen is under the limit, and you rent a self-contained home, and the 2026 rules let more people qualify. Do a proefberekening, apply via Mijn toeslagen with DigiD, and report changes. Learn huurtoeslag, huurgrens and proefberekening, and don’t leave the benefit unclaimed just because the form looked daunting.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the benefits Dutch these applications use, huurtoeslag, huurgrens, proefberekening, toeslagpartner by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can claim what you’re entitled to instead of missing out because the form is in Dutch.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get huurtoeslag in the Netherlands in 2026?
Renters whose rent, income, age and household fall within the limits. For 2026 the rules changed so more people qualify. The rent must be below the huurgrens (about 932.93 euros a month; 498.20 for under-21s), and you must rent a self-contained home (zelfstandige woning). There’s no single income cap, it’s calculated from your rent, age and household, but your assets (vermogen) can’t exceed about 38,479 euros (76,958 with a toeslagpartner).
How much rent can I have and still get huurtoeslag?
For 2026 the maximum rent (huurgrens) is around 932.93 euros per month; if your rent is higher, you generally can’t get huurtoeslag. For people under 21, rent must be above 498.20 euros to claim (and there are lower ceilings). It’s based on the kale huur (base rent), from 2026 service costs no longer count toward it. Do a proefberekening (test calculation) on the Toeslagen site to see your situation.
How do I apply for huurtoeslag?
Online through Mijn toeslagen on the Belastingdienst/Dienst Toeslagen website, logging in with DigiD. First do a proefberekening (test calculation) to check whether you qualify and roughly how much you’d get. You apply for the current year, and the toeslag is paid monthly, usually in advance, then settled later against your actual income, so report changes in income, rent or household promptly.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for benefits and toeslagen?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the benefits Dutch these applications use, huurtoeslag, huurgrens, proefberekening, toeslagpartner, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can claim what you’re entitled to instead of missing out because the form is in Dutch.
