Leerdam: Houses and Flats in the Dutch Glass Town

Leerdam is home to a long-running glass factory and the National Glass Museum, on the River Linge in the Vijfheerenlanden area. It has a historic centre, a railway station on the Utrecht to Den Bosch line and quick motorway access along the A2. Nearby towns include Gorinchem, Vianen, Culemborg, Zaltbommel, IJsselstein and Nieuwegein. The setting is quieter and cheaper than the Utrecht conurbation, which draws commuters and first-time buyers.

Dutch law lets anyone buy a home. In Leerdam the tax on a purchase is 2% when you will live there yourself and 8% when you will not, and the bill grows with notary fees, a valuation and mortgage advice. Foreign applicants usually have to show a steady income, and lenders often want a Dutch residence record too.

Further reading: our guide to buying in the Netherlands, Dutch mortgage options and the wider country page. The mortgage calculator estimates monthly costs.