I'm an American who signed a yearlong lease in the Netherlands, sight unseen
We moved to an apartment in the Netherlands without seeing it in person. As Americans, we've encountered lots of surprises and cultural differences.
Emily Pogue and her husband moved from the United States to the Netherlands without ever seeing their new apartment in person. They had visited the country several times and fell in love with the walkability and bike culture. After hiring a Dutch real estate agent, they found an apartment in Utrecht and signed a yearlong lease without physically visiting the property.
The application process was more extensive than what they were accustomed to in the US, requiring 12 months of bank statements, links to LinkedIn profiles, and a personal letter. Despite the challenges, they quickly fell in love with their apartment after viewing it through a video walkthrough. They were surprised by some details missing from the listing, such as a fully fenced-in back garden and a dishwasher.
Upon moving in, they discovered the apartment had a few quirks, including freezing temperatures, steep stairs, and no window screens. However, they grew to appreciate the neighborhood and Dutch customs like community WhatsApp groups and package deliveries requiring neighbors' involvement.
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