Rental Websites in the Netherlands: What to Trust (and What to Avoid) in 2026

✅ Checklist: How to Spot a Reliable Rental Website in 2026

1. Is the website registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK)?

Search the KvK register to confirm the company is legally registered in the Netherlands. No KvK registration means no legal foundation in the country, which is a significant red flag. This single check rules out many international platforms that operate in the Netherlands without any local accountability.

2. Run it through an independent scam checker

Use a tool like Scamadviser to get an automated trust score based on dozens of signals: domain age, hosting location, user reports, and more. Scores below 40 should give you serious pause. Scores above 80 are generally a positive indicator, though they're not a guarantee on their own.

3. Does the site use HTTPS?

Look for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar. Reputable websites always use HTTPS encryption. Without it, any information you submit (name, email, payment details) could be intercepted. That said, even scam sites now use HTTPS, so treat this as a baseline requirement, not a seal of approval.

4. Is there clear, findable contact information?

A trustworthy platform makes it easy to reach a real person. Look for a visible phone number, email address, or live chat rather than just a buried contact form. If the only way to get help is through an automated bot with no human escalation path, consider that a warning sign.

5. Is there a hidden paywall or misleading trial pricing?

Some sites lure you in with a €1 trial, then automatically renew at €30-40/month with no clear cancellation path. Always read the small print before entering your payment details. If you've already found a listing elsewhere, use Stekkies' free Property Checker to verify whether the property is available before paying anyone anything.

6. Are there independent reviews on Trustpilot or Google?

Look beyond the star rating and read the content of the reviews. Scam-adjacent sites often have reviews that are suspiciously generic, or a pattern of complaints about impossible cancellations and unexpected charges. Fewer than 500 reviews on a platform that claims to be widely used is itself a signal worth noting.

7. Does the site focus on the Netherlands, or does it operate in 30+ countries?

The Dutch rental market has its own rules, platforms, housing corporations, and quirks. A site that lists rentals in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, and New Zealand simultaneously is very unlikely to offer the depth, verification, or local expertise you need. Dutch-focused platforms like Funda, Pararius, and Stekkies are built specifically for this market.

8. Has the website been covered in credible Dutch media?

Media coverage in outlets like Het Parool, De Telegraaf, Nu.nl, or consumer programmes like Radar is a strong signal of legitimacy. It means journalists have investigated and written about the platform, which is something scam operations cannot typically survive.

9. Do you know someone who has used it successfully?

Word of mouth is still one of the most reliable signals. Ask friends, colleagues, or expat communities. Reddit's r/NetherlandsHousing is particularly active and useful for firsthand accounts of which platforms genuinely work.

10. Is the language on the site professional and consistent?

Poor grammar, inconsistent translations, or pages that mix Dutch and English haphazardly are signs the site was either built quickly or maintained carelessly, both of which should lower your confidence.

11. Is the business model clearly explained?

You should always be able to understand exactly what you're paying for and why. If a site charges a subscription but won't explain what that subscription unlocks, or hides its pricing behind a sign-up wall, treat that opacity as a warning.

🔍 Example: Why Stekkies Is a Trusted Rental Platform in 2026

Stekkies

Here's how Stekkies scores against every item on the checklist above:

✅ Dutch entity, KvK registered in Amsterdam, active since 2020
✅ Scamadviser Trust Score: 100/100 (check it yourself)
✅ Fully HTTPS secured: https://stekkies.com
✅ Reachable by WhatsApp, email, and social media; real people respond
✅ No hidden paywalls; pricing clearly communicated upfront
✅ 2,455+ verified Trustpilot reviews, average 4.6/5 (rated #1 rental app on Trustpilot, February 2026)
✅ Exclusively focused on the Dutch rental market
✅ Featured in Het Parool, De Telegraaf, Nu.nl, Radar, and Consumentenbond
✅ Transparent pricing with a 14-day money-back guarantee
✅ Clear explanation of how it works on every page

What Stekkies actually does: Rather than being a listing platform where anyone can post, Stekkies aggregates verified listings from over 1,000 trusted sources (housing corporations, registered letting agents, and established platforms) and sends you real-time alerts the moment something matching your criteria goes live. No fake listings, no waiting around, no endlessly refreshing multiple websites.

⚠️ Unreliable Sites: Why You Should Be Careful with Rentola and Rentumo

As highlighted by consumer programme Radar in their piece "How to Spot a Shady Rental Site", certain platforms consistently fall short, or worse. Here's how two of the most commonly encountered ones measure up.

Rentola

❌ No Dutch KvK registration
❌ Scamadviser Trust Score: extremely low (flagged as high risk)
❌ Active in dozens of countries, with no meaningful local focus
❌ Trustpilot average: 2.1/5 across over 1,200 reviews; complaints centre on impossible cancellations, continued billing after unsubscribing, and listings that don't exist
❌ Business model relies on a low-cost trial (typically €1) that auto-renews at €39.99/month without clear notice
❌ No way to remove payment card details from account once entered
✅ HTTPS secured (basic minimum only)

Rentumo

❌ No Dutch KvK registration; Danish company based in Copenhagen
❌ Scamadviser Trust Score: 41/100 (caution recommended)
❌ Operates across many countries with little local expertise
❌ Contact is difficult; reachable by email only
❌ Hidden paywall: €4 trial that silently renews at €39.99/month
❌ Numerous complaints about poor customer service and listings that are already let
✅ HTTPS secured

The pattern with both platforms is the same: a low-cost entry point designed to capture payment details, followed by automatic billing that's intentionally difficult to cancel. If you encounter either of these sites in your search, we recommend steering clear.

🆕 New in 2026: Watch Out for These Platform Tactics

The problematic rental platform playbook has grown more sophisticated heading into 2026. Here are some newer tactics to be aware of:

Fake "verified listing" badges. Some platforms now label listings as "verified" with no real verification process behind them. The badge is a design element, not a guarantee. Always check what the verification actually means on any given platform.

AI-generated listing descriptions. Scam-adjacent platforms increasingly use AI to bulk-generate convincing property descriptions for listings that may be outdated, unavailable, or entirely fabricated. Polished copy is no longer a reliable signal of legitimacy.

Misleading free trials with pre-ticked auto-renewal boxes. Consumer protection bodies across Europe have flagged this practice, but it continues. Before entering payment details anywhere, scroll to the bottom of the checkout page and confirm whether auto-renewal is enabled by default.

Clone sites with near-identical URLs. Fraudulent sites sometimes mimic the design and branding of established platforms with very similar domain names. Always type the URL directly or bookmark trusted sites rather than clicking through from ads.