Good listings in the tight cities are gone within days, so the applicants who win are usually the ones whose paperwork was already assembled before the viewing. Knowing exactly what a private landlord or verhuurmakelaar (letting agent) expects to see turns a last-minute scramble into a folder that is simply ready to send.
You'll want a folder ready before you view anything, because decent listings move within days and hesitating to gather paperwork costs you the apartment. The standard ask from a private landlord or verhuurmakelaar: - valid ID or passport - your employment contract - your three most recent payslips - a werkgeversverklaring (a short employer letter confirming your role, salary, and contract type) - three months of bank statements - often a reference from a previous landlord If you're self-employed, swap payslips for your IB60 (tax assessment) and recent accounts. Some agencies also run a BKR credit check with your consent, and a few ask for proof of your last few addresses. None of this is negotiable in a tight market, so build the pack before you fall for a place rather than scrambling once you have.