A burst pipe, a dead boiler, a rewire, you call a vakman (tradesperson), they mutter a number over the phone, and weeks later the bill is double. The fix is one word: offerte. Here is how to ask a Dutch plumber or electrician for a proper written quote, what it must contain, and the cost vocabulary.
Demand an offerte, not a richtprijs
A casual richtprijs (ballpark figure) is not a commitment. An offerte (written quotation) is. As guides to plumber costs advise, always request multiple offertes from tradespeople in your area, it reveals the going rate and shows who’s transparent about extra costs.
Get it in writing before any work starts.
What a good offerte spells out
The price basis first:
- vaste prijs (fixed price), best for a clearly defined job, it prevents surprises; or
- uurtarief (hourly rate), for open-ended work.
As overviews of plumber rates note, a Dutch plumber’s labour is commonly around 45 to 85 euros/hour excl. VAT. Then the extras the offerte must list:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de voorrijkosten | call-out / travel fee (often 20 to 40 euros) |
| de materiaalkosten | materials (usually billed separately) |
| de BTW (21%) | VAT |
As cost guides stress, the uurtarief usually covers labour only, materials and special tools are extra, so a quote that bundles everything clearly is the trustworthy one.
How to ask
A simple, effective request:
“Kunt u mij een offerte sturen met een vaste prijs of uurtarief, inclusief voorrijkosten, materiaal en BTW?”
Then compare two or three, prefer a vaste prijs for defined work, and confirm in writing what’s included before they start.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de offerte | written quotation |
| de richtprijs | ballpark estimate |
| de vaste prijs | fixed price |
| het uurtarief | hourly rate |
| de voorrijkosten | call-out fee |
| de vakman | tradesperson |
Where it connects
Getting a clear quote is essential whenever you hire help, alongside working with an aannemer (contractor), pulling an omgevingsvergunning for the work, buying parts at the bouwmarkt, and explaining sizes to a Dutch contractor. The same “get the begroting first” logic applies to a dentist’s quote.
The bottom line
Never accept a vague richtprijs, insist on a written offerte that states a vaste prijs or uurtarief (a plumber is commonly 45 to 85 euros/hour excl. VAT) plus voorrijkosten, materiaalkosten and 21% BTW. Get two or three and compare, prefer a fixed price for defined work, and confirm what’s included before anyone starts. Learn offerte, vaste prijs and voorrijkosten, and a home repair stays the price you agreed.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the home-services Dutch you need, offerte, vaste prijs, uurtarief, voorrijkosten by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can commission work on clear terms instead of accepting a vague estimate and a nasty bill.
Frequently asked questions
What is an offerte and why insist on one?
An offerte is a written quotation for a job. Insisting on one (rather than a vague verbal richtprijs, a ballpark) protects you: it pins down the scope, the price basis and what’s included, so you don’t get an inflated bill afterwards. A proper offerte states whether the price is fixed or hourly and lists extra costs like call-out fees and materials. Always get it in writing before work begins.
What should a tradesperson’s quote include?
Whether it’s a vaste prijs (fixed price) or an uurtarief (hourly rate), and then the extras: voorrijkosten (call-out/travel fee, often 20 to 40 euros), materiaalkosten (materials, usually billed separately from labour), and 21% BTW (VAT). A Dutch plumber’s hourly labour is commonly around 45 to 85 euros excluding VAT. The clearer the offerte spells these out, the more trustworthy the tradesperson.
How do I avoid being overcharged by a Dutch vakman?
Get two or three offertes and compare them, that reveals the going rate and shows who’s transparent about extra costs. Prefer a vaste prijs for a clearly defined job (it prevents surprises), and for open-ended work, agree the uurtarief and an estimate up front. Confirm in writing what’s included, and ask before any extra work is done. A reputable vakman is happy to put it all in an offerte.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for home repairs and tradespeople?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the home-services Dutch you need, offerte, vaste prijs, uurtarief, voorrijkosten, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can commission work on clear terms instead of accepting a vague estimate and a nasty bill.
