Some jobs need a tool you’ll use once, a floor sander, a tile cutter, a breaker. Buying it is daft; renting it is smart. Dutch bouwmarkten (DIY stores) rent heavy tools by the day, against a deposit and ID. Here is how the verhuur (rental) works and the vocabulary.
The verhuur service
As Hornbach describes its machine rental, stores like Hornbach, Gamma and Karwei rent machines and heavier gereedschap (tools) for occasional jobs. You rent by the day or weekend, far cheaper than buying for a one-off klus.
ID and the borg
The two things you bring. As Gamma’s rental info explains:
- A valid legitimatiebewijs (ID).
- A borg (deposit), the amount set per item (in the rental guide or online), plus the rental fee.
When you return the tool, the rental cost is settled against the borg and the rest refunded. Holders of a professional/business card sometimes pay no deposit.
Watch the extra costs
As the Consumentenbond’s guide to renting tools advises, beyond the daily rate and deposit there can be charges for brandstof (fuel), oil, sharpening, slijtage (wear) and transport.
Two habits that protect your deposit:
- Read the huurvoorwaarden (rental terms), and check the tool works and is complete before leaving.
- Note the return time, late can cost an extra day. Return it clean and on time.
Rent or buy? And reserving ahead
A quick rule of thumb: rent for a one-off (a behangafstomer/wallpaper steamer, a tegelsnijder/tile cutter, a schuurmachine/sander), buy for tools you’ll reuse. For popular machines, especially on a weekend or around holidays, reserveren (reserve) in advance, the one you need is often out. Also check whether the rental includes verbruiksmateriaal (consumables like discs or paper) or whether you buy those separately, and ask for a demonstratie if you’ve never used the machine: staff would much rather show you than have it returned broken.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| huren / de verhuur | to rent / the rental |
| de borg | deposit |
| het legitimatiebewijs | ID |
| de huurvoorwaarden | rental terms |
| het gereedschap | tools |
| per dag / weekend | per day / weekend |
Where it connects
Renting tools is part of the Dutch DIY world, alongside the bouwmarkt survival pack, getting wood cut to size at the Praxis, hiring the bigger jobs to an aannemer via an offerte, and your warranty rights when you buy gear instead. If you own a flat, big repairs may run through your VvE and a special contribution rather than your own toolbox.
The bottom line
Don’t buy a tool for one job, rent it: Dutch bouwmarkten run a verhuur service for machines by the day or weekend. Bring ID, pay a borg (refunded minus the rental on return), and watch for extras like brandstof and slijtage. Read the huurvoorwaarden, check the tool, and return it clean and on time. Learn huren, borg, legitimatiebewijs and huurvoorwaarden, and the right tool is a cheap day’s hire away.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the DIY-and-rental Dutch you need, huren, de borg, het legitimatiebewijs, de huurvoorwaarden by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can rent the right tool on clear terms instead of guessing at the desk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent tools at a Dutch DIY store?
Yes. Stores like Hornbach, Gamma and Karwei have a verhuur (rental) service for machines and heavier tools, a floor sander, tile cutter, breaker, pressure washer, that you’d only use occasionally. You rent by the day or weekend, which is far cheaper than buying. It’s ideal for a one-off klus (job) where owning the tool makes no sense.
What do I need to rent a tool, and what is the borg?
You need a valid legitimatiebewijs (ID), and you pay a borg (deposit) plus the rental fee. The deposit amount depends on the item (listed in the rental guide or online) and is there as security; when you return the tool, the rental cost is settled against the borg and the rest refunded. Holders of a professional/business card sometimes pay no deposit.
What extra costs should I watch for when renting tools?
Beyond the daily rental and the deposit, there can be charges for fuel (brandstof), oil, sharpening, wear and tear (slijtage) and transport. Always read the huurvoorwaarden (rental terms), check the tool works and is complete before leaving, and note the return time, late returns can cost an extra day. Returning it clean and on time keeps your full deposit coming back.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for DIY and renting equipment?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the DIY-and-rental Dutch you need, huren, de borg, het legitimatiebewijs, de huurvoorwaarden, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can rent the right tool on clear terms instead of guessing at the desk.
