The Hague housing market in autumn 2026 & what the figures say

Oct 9, 2026

The Hague housing market in autumn 2026 & what the figures say

Q: Are house prices falling in The Hague?

No, not yet. According to CBS, prices of existing homes in The Hague rose by 4.5% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier. Nationally, price growth is slowing and more sellers are cutting their asking price. Whether that reaches The Hague will become clearer when CBS publishes new figures on 22 October 2026.

Prices in The Hague are still rising, but more slowly. What the figures say, and what it means for international buyers this autumn.

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House prices in The Hague are not falling, despite what you might hear from others. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), prices of existing owner-occupied homes in the second quarter of 2026 were 4.5% higher than a year earlier, the largest increase of the four biggest Dutch cities. Nationally, however, price growth is slowing down at this moment, and more and more sellers are lowering their asking price. Both trends are actually true at the same time.

For international buyers, that combination of effects on the market matters. The statistics measure sale prices of homes that have already changed hands, while Funda shows today's asking prices. Below we set out the figures, with their sources, and what they mean if you are buying in The Hague this autumn. For the buying process itself, see our guide for foreign buyers in the Netherlands.

The figures for The Hague

In the second quarter of 2026, 2,080 existing homes were sold in The Hague, 3.5% more than a year earlier, at an average price of €481,504. The price index was 4.5% above its level a year earlier. For comparison, CBS reported 0.8% for Amsterdam, 2.2% for Utrecht and 3.2% for Rotterdam, against 4.2% for the Netherlands as a whole.

An average sale price says little about how prices develop, CBS itself warns. The average moves with the mix of homes sold: a quarter with many small apartments gives a lower average than a quarter with many family homes. To follow prices, look at the price index, which compares each sale price with the WOZ value of the same home, the valuation the municipality sets each year.

Nationally, growth has been slowing for almost two years

Nationally, price growth has slowed sharply since late 2024. In November 2024, prices were 11.9% higher than a year earlier; in August 2026 the figure was 3.3%. Compared with July, prices in August fell by 0.1%, CBS reported. That is not an annual decline, but the pace of growth is clearly lower than it was.

Mortgage rates play a part. They rose quickly in September 2026. According to mortgage adviser Van Bruggen, the average rate for a ten-year fixed mortgage with NHG, the Dutch national mortgage guarantee, went from 4.22% to 4.38% in a single week. Higher rates mean buyers can borrow less, and so have less room to bid above the asking price.

Why Funda runs ahead of the statistics

CBS and the Land Registry (Kadaster) count a sale when the notary registers the deed of transfer. On average, that happens two to three months after the purchase agreement is signed. The August figures therefore mostly reflect prices that buyers and sellers agreed in spring or early summer, before rates rose in September.

On Funda you see the market as it is now: asking prices, price cuts and how long homes stay online. According to property platform Huispedia, 13.5% of the homes listed in the second quarter later had their asking price reduced, the highest share in two and a half years. Such signals run ahead of the price index, but they are still asking prices, not sale prices.

HAYMAN agent walking along Koningin Emmakade in The Hague, carrying a for-sale sign

What international buyers experience differently

If you are buying your first home in the Netherlands, you compete with existing owners who sell their current home and can put its equity, known as overwaarde, into the next purchase. That gives them extra room when bidding. Your own budget is set by Dutch rules: by law you can borrow at most 100% of a home's value, or 106% if you also finance energy-saving measures.

Purchase costs such as transfer tax and notary fees therefore usually come from your own savings. Transfer tax is 2% if you will live in the home yourself. Buyers under 35 pay no transfer tax in 2026 on a home of up to €555,000 that they will live in, if they have not used this exemption before. Our guide explains the other costs on top of the purchase price.

Expect to move on in a few years? Then check the rules on renting out. According to the municipality, if you buy a home in The Hague with a WOZ value of up to €470,000(2026 threshold), you may not rent it out without a permit. There are exceptions, such as renting to close family, or letting it for at most one year after living in it yourself for at least a year. A home you do not live in yourself is taxed at 8% transfer tax.

What this means if you are buying now

Buyers have a little more room this autumn. Slightly fewer homes sell above the asking price, and for homes that have been on the market for a while or have had a price cut, negotiating in price is becoming normal again. At the same time, higher rates weigh on budgets. With a buyer's agent who checks the numbers with you, you can test an asking price against recent sales before you bid.

To see what comparable homes actually sold for, you can order Koopsominformatie from the Kadaster for €3.70. It lists the sale prices of homes with the same postcode, with house number and date of sale. Funda only shows the last asking price of a sold home, so it does not tell you what the buyer paid. If you are still choosing an area, read which neighbourhood suits you and your children's school.

When will new figures be published?

CBS publishes its third-quarter figures by region and type of home on 22nd of October 2026. They will show whether the summer slowdown has reached The Hague, or whether the city keeps its lead over the other big cities.

How we can help you in your search

Buying in The Hague as an international means a new market, new rules and often a new language. We specialise in guiding international buyers. With our purchase guidance you receive market insights, advisory reports, bidding advice, and checks of the contract and the home’s technical condition. You can plan a conversation at our office on Anna Paulownaplein in The Hague, or by video call.

Selling a home in The Hague, for example because you are relocating? Then the same figures shape your asking price, and the timing of your move matters as much as the price. A realistic asking price based on recent sales nearby helps you sell within your timeline. Read more about our support when you sell your home, or ask us how the current market affects your plans.

HAYMAN buyer’s agent looking up at a building in a leafy street in The Hague

Frequently asked questions

Are house prices falling in The Hague?

No, not yet. According to CBS, prices of existing homes in The Hague rose by 4.5% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier. Nationally, price growth is slowing and more sellers are cutting their asking price. Whether that reaches The Hague will become clearer when CBS publishes new figures on the 22nd of October 2026.

What is the average house price in The Hague?

In the second quarter of 2026, existing homes in The Hague sold for an average of €481,504, according to CBS. That average depends heavily on which homes were sold. For a specific home, recent sales of comparable homes in the same street or neighbourhood say much more than an average for the whole city.

How much can I borrow to buy a home in the Netherlands?

By law, at most 100% of the home's value, or 106% if you also finance energy-saving measures. How much you can borrow in practice also depends on your income, the interest rate and your lender. Purchase costs such as transfer tax and notary fees usually have to come from your own savings, so plan for them early.

Can I rent out a home I buy in The Hague?

Not freely. If you buy a home in The Hague with a WOZ value of up to €470,000, you may not rent it out without a permit, according to the municipality. Exceptions include renting to close family, or letting it for at most one year after living in it yourself for at least a year. Your mortgage lender may also need to agree. Buying a home you will not live in also means 8% transfer tax.

Sources

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