In this guide
Quick answer: Eindhoven is the centre of the Brainport technology region in the south of the Netherlands. This guide covers what you can check: the local charges a tenant pays, how registration and health insurance work, and where to find current information on rents, schools and travel times.
Why expats choose Eindhoven
The city has 249,987 inhabitants (municipality; Statistics Netherlands, end of August 2026). It is the centre of the Brainport technology region. Technology employers in the region include ASML, NXP and Philips, and the High Tech Campus Eindhoven hosts many research and technology companies. If your job is outside technology and design, the choice of employers is smaller than in the larger cities, so Eindhoven tends to work best when the job comes first.
Rents, neighbourhood prices, schools and travel times change often and differ per listing, so check current listings and the websites of the providers for those.
What a tenant pays in local charges
Two separate annual bills reach a tenant in Eindhoven: one from the gemeente and one from Waterschap De Dommel.
| Charge 2026 | 1 person | 2 persons | 3 persons | 4+ persons | Ordinance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afvalstoffenheffing (waste levy) | €229.46 | €287.07 | €344.68 | €420.00 | Verordening afvalstoffenheffing en reinigingsrechten 2026, tarieventabel 1.1 |
| Rioolheffing, owner share | €202.00 | €202.00 | €202.00 | €202.00 | Verordening rioolheffing 2026 |
| Rioolheffing, tenant | €0 | €0 | €0 | €0 | as above |
| Watersysteemheffing ingezetenen (De Dommel) | €66.60 | €66.60 | €66.60 | €66.60 | De Dommel 2026 |
| Zuiveringsheffing (De Dommel, €78.48 per v.e.) | €78.48 | €235.44 | €235.44 | €235.44 | De Dommel 2026 |
Waste levy. It depends on the number of people using the property. The same ordinance charges extra for a second grey residual-waste container (EUR 120 for 140 litres and EUR 140 for 240 litres per year).
Sewerage. The owner share is €202.00 a year for 2026. The ordinance also has a user share of €280 per full 500 m3 of water, which a normal household does not reach.
Water board. The watersysteemheffing for residents is a flat €66.60 per home. The zuiveringsheffing is charged per pollution unit (vervuilingseenheid, v.e.). A home used by one person according to the BRP counts as 1 v.e. and a home used by more than one person counts as 3 v.e., which is why it is €78.48 for one person and €235.44 as soon as a second person is registered.
| Household | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Single | €374.54 | about €31 |
| Couple | €589.11 | about €49 |
| Family of four | €722.04 | about €60 |
Calculation: 229.46 + 66.60 + 78.48 = 374.54; 287.07 + 66.60 + 235.44 = 589.11; 420.00 + 66.60 + 235.44 = 722.04. Rates are the 2026 rates in the ordinances above. Local rates are reset every year, so check your own assessment.
The maximum rental deposit is two months of bare rent for contracts from 1 July 2023. Model your budget with the Housing Budget Checker and the Cost of Living Calculator. For the practical side, see Moving to Eindhoven: Full Guide 2026 and the Eindhoven city guide.
Health insurance
Dutch health insurance is mandatory. Take it out as soon as you can and no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrived (Government.nl). The average basic premium in 2026 is €157 per month (Rijksoverheid), and the mandatory deductible (eigen risico) is €385. The basic package is the same at every insurer, so compare price and service. Use the Health Insurance Wizard to compare policies.
Hospitals in the area include Catharina Ziekenhuis in Eindhoven and Maxima Medisch Centrum in Veldhoven. Ask GP practices whether they accept new patients and consult in English.
Registration, BSN and the 30% ruling
If you stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register with the municipality within 5 days of arrival, and you receive your BSN at registration (Government.nl). Gemeente Eindhoven handles registration, and you can book an appointment through the municipality’s website, which lists the documents it requires. Some employers offer support through a regional welcome centre, so ask yours before you arrive. For the full walkthrough, see the expat BSN application guide for 2026.
If you qualify for the 30% ruling, you complete the application form together with your employer, and the Belastingdienst informs you within 8 weeks (Belastingdienst). Ask your HR contact to start early. Use the 30% Ruling Calculator to see what it could mean for your pay.
For the first weeks after arrival, the moving to the Netherlands checklist goes through the steps in order.
Getting around
Eindhoven is compact enough that cycling covers most daily journeys. Eindhoven Airport offers European routes, and the city has intercity train connections to the Randstad. Check the NS journey planner for current routes and times. Our Dutch trains guide for expats explains tickets and subscriptions, and cycling in the Netherlands: insurance and theft covers bike insurance.
Comparing cities
If you are still weighing cities, read Eindhoven vs Utrecht for expats and the cost of living Amsterdam vs Rotterdam breakdown.
Money and insurance when you arrive
Wise gives verified customers EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address), which can be useful before your Dutch bank account is ready. Open a Wise account → This page contains an affiliate link: if you use it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are local charges for a tenant in Eindhoven in 2026?
With the 2026 rates, EUR 374.54 a year for a single person, EUR 589.11 for a couple and EUR 722.04 for a family of four, which is about EUR 31, EUR 49 and EUR 60 a month. That covers the waste levy, the watersysteemheffing and the zuiveringsheffing of Waterschap De Dommel. The owner pays the sewerage charge.
What is the waste levy in Eindhoven in 2026?
It depends on the number of people using the property: EUR 229.46 for one person, EUR 287.07 for two, EUR 344.68 for three and EUR 420.00 for four or more (Verordening afvalstoffenheffing en reinigingsrechten Eindhoven 2026, tarieventabel 1.1).
Do I register at the municipality when I move to Eindhoven?
Yes. If you stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register with the municipality within 5 days of arrival, and you receive your BSN at registration (Government.nl). Gemeente Eindhoven handles registration.
When do I need Dutch health insurance after moving to Eindhoven?
As soon as possible and no later than 4 months after arriving. Cover applies from the day you arrived (Government.nl). The average basic premium in 2026 is EUR 157 a month (Rijksoverheid).