housing-type

Anti-kraak (Anti-Squat Housing)

Understanding the Dutch rental term "Anti-kraak" and what it means for tenants in the Netherlands.

Definition

A temporary living arrangement where tenants occupy vacant properties (offices, schools, or residential buildings) to prevent squatting. Anti-kraak residents are classified as property guardians rather than tenants and have significantly fewer rights than regular renters. The arrangement can be terminated on short notice, usually within a few weeks.

When You'll Encounter This

You will encounter anti-kraak when looking for very affordable temporary accommodation, often through agencies like Camelot, Ad Hoc, or Alvast.

Example

You sign an anti-kraak agreement for a former school building in The Hague. You pay only €250 per month but receive just two weeks' notice when the building is sold for redevelopment.

Practical Tip

Anti-kraak is very cheap but offers minimal legal protection. Use it only as a temporary solution while you search for a regular rental. Keep searching actively because you may need to leave on very short notice.

Related Terms

Huurbescherming (Tenant Protection) The set of legal protections that prevent a landlord from arbitrarily terminating a tenancy or raising rent beyond legal limits. Tijdelijk Huurcontract (Temporary Rental Contract) A fixed-term rental contract that automatically ends on a specified date without the need for the landlord to go through the courts. Kamerverhuur (Room Rental) The rental of individual rooms within a larger property, where tenants typically share common areas such as the kitchen and bathroom.

Never miss a rental home in the Netherlands

Stop refreshing rental sites. RentBear watches 100+ of them and tells you the moment a matching home appears.

Get RentBear
Free to start · No credit card needed