Ridderkerk Real Estate: Houses South-East of Rotterdam

Ridderkerk's neighbours include Barendrecht, Zwijndrecht, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Alblasserdam, Krimpen aan den IJssel and Capelle aan den IJssel, all within about 15 minutes. The town has large greenhouse and nursery areas and rail is not available locally, so buses and the Waterbus are useful. Rotterdam gives access to the port, hospitals and the airport. Because the island is low-lying, check the dikes and drainage, and the foundation condition of older houses.

The island location puts the Hollandse IJssel and Noord rivers nearby, with bike paths and polders for recreation. The Rotterdam port economy supports many local jobs, and the region's housing shortage helps keep demand firm.

Foreigners can buy freely. Transfer tax is 2% if you will live in the property and 8% for other homes. A notary completes the transaction, and your offer typically includes conditions for finance and survey. Because competition is strong in the Rotterdam region, expect to bid close to or above asking. Mortgage lenders can be strict with non-residents. See our Netherlands consultation guide, the financing page and the Netherlands overview.