Getting a Dutch mortgage on a temporary contract
A Dutch mortgage without a permanent contract in 2026: declaration of intent, 3-year average, Labour Market Scan and Perspective Statement.
Why your contract matters
A lender wants to know your income will continue. With a permanent contract that is simple. Without one, there are several ways to establish your income, depending on your contract and how long you have worked. NHG describes the methods that apply to NHG mortgages. Lenders often use them for other mortgages too, but that is their own policy.
Declaration of intent
The employer's statement (werkgeversverklaring) asks whether your employer intends to extend your contract. According to NHG, your current income only counts for the full term of the loan if the employer ticks "Yes, for an indefinite period". An intention to extend for a fixed period, even of at least 12 months, is not enough.
The 3-year average
Have you worked for a while, but without a permanent contract or declaration of intent? Then the average income over the last three calendar years is often used. You show it with the employer's statement or the Inkomensbepaling Loondienst, an income check based on your UWV employment record. You can request it once you have been employed for at least 3 months.
Labour Market Scan
Employed without a permanent contract and less than three years of income history? The Arbeidsmarktscan (Labour Market Scan) may help. Based on factors such as age, occupation, education and region, it gives a score from 0 to 100. From 70 points your outlook counts as positive and your current income can be used. The scan does not account for future pay rises.
Perspective Statement (agency workers)
If you work through an employment agency, you can request a Perspectiefverklaring (Perspective Statement) once you have worked at least 6 months for the same agency and at least 12 of the last 14 months. With it, plus an employer's statement from the same agency, your current income is used.
Flex and self-employed
Different rules apply to the self-employed (zzp) and business owners: the lender looks at several years of business figures. Exact requirements differ by lender; we found no single official source and so name no periods or percentages. Ask an independent adviser which documents you need.
Worked example
A flex worker earned €40,000, €45,000 and €50,000 over the last three years. The employer gives no declaration of intent for an indefinite period.
- With the 3-year average, test income is €45,000. At 4.0%, fixed for 10 years, energy label E, our mortgage calculator gives about €177,500.
- If a Labour Market Scan (score 70 or more) lets him use his current €50,000, that becomes about €197,200.
The gap is over €19,000. These are indications; a lender may calculate differently.
Read more
- Mortgage calculator
- House prices by municipality on the map
- Guides: how much can I borrow, NHG mortgage explained, house-buying steps
Disclaimer
This guide is indicative and not financial advice. Your own situation may work out differently. Talk to an independent mortgage adviser.
This text was written with AI assistance. The editors checked the rules and figures against the sources below (as of 17 October 2026).
Sources
- NHG, Getting a mortgage without a permanent contract (Dutch): https://www.nhg.nl/het-krijgen-van-nhg/een-hypotheek-zonder-vast-contract
- NHG, What is a Perspective Statement (Dutch): https://www.nhg.nl/faq/inkomen/wat-is-een-perspectiefverklaring
- Temporary Mortgage Credit Regulation 2026 (Dutch): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0032503/2026-01-01/0
Not financial advice. This guide explains rules; your own situation may work out differently.