Mortgages & insurances for expats
As an independent financial advisor, Thijs helps you make the right choices and protects you from the unexpected, with a personal approach, in clear English.
Bouvy Advies is an independent financial adviser in Naarden, in the Gooi region near Amsterdam, working in English with internationals across the Netherlands. We arrange mortgages, insurances and Dutch health insurance, compare more than 40 lenders and a wide range of insurers, and stay your single point of contact from the first question to the notary. We are not tied to any bank or insurer. For mortgage advice the first hour is free, and whatever comes after that we agree together beforehand, so you never receive an invoice you did not expect. AFM licence 12046005, KvK 72342137, Kifid 300.017.178. Clients rate us 4.7 out of 5 on Google.
Everything arranged, in one place
Whether you are buying a home or insuring your family and belongings: we compare independently and find what fits your situation.
Mortgages for expats
There is often more possible than you think. We guide you through the Dutch mortgage process from start to finish.
Expat mortgage →Insurances for expats
Arrange your cover in one go with the Expat Package Individual, you choose what you really need.
Expat insurances →Dutch health insurance
Liable for Dutch basic health insurance? Compare your options and apply directly, also without a BSN.
Compare health insurance →Buying a home in the Netherlands as an expat
Dutch lenders can and do finance internationals, but the file looks different from a Dutch one. A residence permit with an end date, income partly earned abroad, a short credit history here and the 30% ruling all change what a lender is willing to do. Some lenders handle that comfortably and others decline by default, which is why the choice of lender matters more for an expat than the interest rate does. We know which lenders accept which situations, and we prepare your file so the underwriter sees a clear picture instead of a list of question marks. Self-employed as well? Then read about a mortgage for self-employed expats.
Insurance when you move here
Moving country resets your insurance. Your liability cover, contents insurance and legal expenses cover from home usually stop at the border, and Dutch basic health insurance becomes compulsory for most people who live or work here. You can arrange it piece by piece, or take one package that travels with you. We map what you already have, what stops when you land and what you genuinely need, so you are neither uninsured nor paying twice. If you have a mortgage or a family that depends on your income, term life insurance in the Netherlands is often part of that picture. Looking for cover of € 1 million or more? See how large amounts work.
An independent advisor with a personal approach
Thijs is known for his personal approach, he believes that is key for any collaboration. Highly driven and focused, he does not accept ‘no’ for an answer; he always finds a way. Just like honey badgers, hence the logo, and the shield that stands for protection of you, your family and your business.
More about Thijs Bouvy and about Bouvy Advies.
Frequently asked
Can this be done entirely in English?+
Almost entirely. The advice itself is in English: meetings, calls, emails and the advice report. We have an English fact find for a mortgage and for income protection, and an English engagement letter for term life insurance and income protection. For a mortgage and for other insurance the engagement letter is in Dutch, and we go through it with you in English. What is often only in Dutch are documents from others: the offer and conditions of a lender, the policy conditions of an insurer and the documents of the notary. Some lenders and insurers offer English versions, many do not. We go through those documents with you in English, including the health declaration for life insurance, so you know what you sign. If you need to claim later, email us in English and we report it to the insurer.
What does your advice cost, and is the first meeting free?+
It depends on what you need. For a mortgage, the first hour is free. If we need more time after that, we agree together beforehand what it costs, so you never receive an invoice you did not expect. Our mortgage fees are set out on our mortgage advice fees page. For property, liability and business insurance, the insurer pays us a commission out of the premium, and you pay no separate advice fee. For term life insurance and income protection (AOV), a statutory commission ban applies: the insurer pays us nothing, and we agree a fee with you before any work starts.
Is there a safe way to upload my documents?+
Yes. For clients we can open a personal digital vault, where you upload your documents instead of sending them by email. You activate it yourself with the link we send you. How we handle your personal data is set out in our privacy statement (in Dutch).
I received the policy in Dutch. What do I need to know?+
Two parts matter most. The policy schedule (polisblad) shows who and what is insured and what you pay. The policy conditions (voorwaarden) set out what is covered and what is excluded (uitsluitingen). The excess, the part of a claim you pay yourself, is called eigen risico. Send the policy to us and we go through it with you in English.
Can expats get a mortgage in the Netherlands?+
Yes. A permanent residence permit is the simplest situation, but a temporary permit can work too if the lender is confident your stay will continue. What matters most is choosing a lender that accepts your income and residence situation, because they differ a great deal.
Does the 30% ruling affect how much I can borrow?+
It can, and not always downwards. Some lenders count the tax-free part at a higher gross amount for the years the ruling runs, on condition that the mortgage stays affordable once it ends; others accept it only after separate approval. We take that into account from the start, so you do not build a plan on a number that disappears.
Do I need Dutch health insurance?+
In most cases yes, if you live or work in the Netherlands. Students who do not work here are often the exception. See health insurance in the Netherlands for what the basic package covers and what it costs.
Advice in English on mortgages, insurance and income protection
Most of our other pages are in Dutch. Your browser can translate them, or simply tell us what you need and we will get back to you.
Prefer to talk it through in English?
Book a no-obligation intro call of up to one hour, or simply give us a ring. We compare independently and explain in plain English what fits your situation in the Netherlands.