In this guide
Eindhoven at a Glance
Photo: Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
- Population: 249,987 (municipality; Statistics Netherlands, end of August 2026)
- Main languages spoken: Dutch, with English widely used in the technology sector
- Key industries: semiconductor technology, electronics, industrial design, advanced manufacturing
- Getting around: a compact city where cycling covers most daily journeys
Eindhoven is the centre of the Brainport technology region in the south of the Netherlands. 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 the technology and design sector, the choice of employers is smaller than in the larger cities, so Eindhoven tends to work best when the job comes first.
Cost of Living
Rent is the largest and most variable cost, and we do not publish a rent average here because we have no measured statistic to base one on. Check current listings and compare neighbourhoods. The national costs, such as health insurance, are the same in every Dutch city. The city-specific numbers that can be checked line by line are the municipal and water authority charges, published in tax ordinances, and they are listed in full below.
If you are arriving before your household does, a room or studio is a practical first step while you look for a longer lease.
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Search rooms and studios on Kamernet →
Health insurance
In 2026 the average basic policy costs about €157 per month per adult (Rijksoverheid), and the statutory deductible (eigen risico) is €385 per year. The basic package is identical by law between insurers, so the variables are price and service.
Local charges: the one number that really is city-specific
Two separate annual bills reach a tenant in Eindhoven: one from the gemeente, 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 | Verordening watersysteemheffing De Dommel 2026 |
| Zuiveringsheffing (De Dommel, €78.48 per v.e.) | €78.48 | €235.44 | €235.44 | €235.44 | Verordening zuiveringsheffing De Dommel 2026 |
The waste levy is the tenant’s bill. It is charged per property and depends on the number of people using it: €229.46 for one person, €287.07 for two, €344.68 for three and €420.00 for four or more. The same ordinance charges extra for a second grey residual-waste container (EUR 120 for 140 litres, EUR 140 for 240 litres per year).
The sewerage charge is levied on the owner. 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.
The waterschap bill is separate from the gemeente bill. The watersysteemheffing for residents (€66.60) is a flat charge 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., a home used by more than one person as 3 v.e. That is why it is €78.48 for one person and €235.44 as soon as a second person is registered.
Combined, what a tenant in Eindhoven pays:
| Household | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Single | €374.54 | €31 |
| Couple | €589.11 | €49 |
| Family of four | €722.04 | €60 |
The arithmetic: 229.46 + 66.60 + 78.48 = 374.54; 287.07 + 66.60 + 235.44 = 589.11; 420.00 + 66.60 + 235.44 = 722.04.
Tariffs above are the 2026 rates as adopted in each body’s own tax ordinance, retrieved from lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl on 6 October 2026. Local rates are reset every year, so check your own assessment.
One-off costs matter too: the maximum rental deposit is two months of bare rent for contracts from 1 July 2023, and an unfurnished Dutch rental is often delivered without flooring or light fittings.
Model it with the Housing Budget Checker, the Cost of Living Calculator, the Salary Checker and the 30% Ruling Calculator. For the practical side of getting into a property, see Moving to Eindhoven: Full Guide 2026 and finding housing in the Netherlands.
Neighbourhoods
Strijp-S is a former Philips factory site that has been redeveloped into apartments, studios, creative workspaces and restaurants. Woensel-Zuid and Gestel are more residential, and the Centrum is built around Catharinaplein. Rents differ by neighbourhood, energy label and furnishing, so compare current listings.
Working in Eindhoven
The technology sector is the main engine of the regional economy. If you are recruited by a large employer in the region, ask your HR contact what relocation support is offered. For salary benchmarking use the Salary Checker. Use the 30% Ruling Calculator to see how much tax you could save. If you have a foreign degree, check recognition requirements with the Diploma Evaluator. See also Working in the Netherlands.
Getting Registered
Registration is handled by Gemeente Eindhoven, and you can book appointments through the municipality’s website. Typical documents are your passport and proof of your address; the municipality lists what it requires when you book. Your BSN is issued when you are registered in the BRP. Some employers use a regional welcome centre for registration support, so ask yours before you arrive.
Not sure which visa you need? Use the Visa Checker. Use the BSN Planner to prepare your documents. Planning your integration path? Use the Inburgering Route Planner.
Healthcare & Insurance
Hospitals in the area include Catharina Ziekenhuis in Eindhoven and Maxima Medisch Centrum in Veldhoven. Register with a GP soon after you arrive, and ask practices whether they accept new patients and consult in English.
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/month (Rijksoverheid), with a €385 eigen risico. Use the Health Insurance Wizard to compare policies. Compare Dutch and international expat insurance options with the Insurance Comparison.
Transport
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 journey times. For a full guide to OV travel in the Netherlands, see the OV-chipkaart guide for expats.
Getting Started in Eindhoven
Arrange payment details. A Dutch bank account is convenient for local payments, but a reachable SEPA account cannot simply be rejected because its IBAN is from another Member State. Wise gives verified customers EUR account details with a non-Dutch euro IBAN (Wise uses a Belgian BIC and address) rather than an NL IBAN. Open a Wise account → Use the Bank Account Comparison to find the right Dutch bank for your situation.
Get health insurance. Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) is mandatory. The basic package is the same at every insurer, so compare premium, policy type and supplementary cover. Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →
Consider expat insurance. If you are still settling in or working remotely, SafetyWing offers global coverage from USD 62.72 per 4 weeks (ages 18-39). Get SafetyWing coverage → If you live in the Netherlands you are in principle required to hold Dutch basic health insurance.
Plan your budget. Use our free cost of living calculator and housing budget checker.
Schools and Families
International schools exist in the Eindhoven region. Fees and waiting lists differ per school, so ask the schools directly and register early. Many Dutch primary schools also offer support for children who arrive without Dutch.
Housing Search: Practical Advice
Pararius and Funda are the main national rental platforms. Compare current listings, and ask whether a home falls under the Wet betaalbare huur rent cap, which has applied to new contracts since 1 July 2024. Student housing linked to the universities is normally reserved for students, so check listing terms carefully.
Settling In: The First Month
- Secure housing and confirm the landlord allows registration at the address.
- Book registration at Gemeente Eindhoven.
- Receive your BSN once you are registered.
- Open a bank account.
- Register for health insurance within the 4-month deadline.
- Find a GP.
- Apply for DigiD after your BSN.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the waste tax in Eindhoven in 2026?
The afvalstoffenheffing in Eindhoven for 2026 is EUR 229.46 a year 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 2026, tarieventabel 1.1). The bill goes to the household using the property, so as a tenant it is yours to pay. A second grey waste container carries an extra charge under the same ordinance.
Do tenants pay rioolheffing in Eindhoven?
Normally not. The owner share of the rioolheffing is EUR 202.00 a year for 2026 and is levied on the owner. The ordinance also has a user share of EUR 280 per full 500 m3 of water, which only applies once a user's water use reaches a full unit of 500 m3, and a normal household uses far less.
Which water authority covers Eindhoven and what does it charge?
Eindhoven falls under Waterschap De Dommel. For 2026 it charges EUR 66.60 watersysteemheffing per home and EUR 78.48 per pollution unit (v.e.) for the zuiveringsheffing. A home used by one person counts as 1 v.e. and a home used by more than one person counts as 3 v.e., so the zuiveringsheffing is EUR 78.48 for one person and EUR 235.44 for a larger household.
What do the local charges add up to for a tenant in Eindhoven?
EUR 374.54 a year (about EUR 31 a month) for a single person, EUR 589.11 (about EUR 49) for a couple and EUR 722.04 (about EUR 60) for a family of four, counting the waste levy, the watersysteemheffing and the zuiveringsheffing for 2026.
When must I take out Dutch health insurance in Eindhoven?
As soon as possible and no later than 4 months after you arrive in the Netherlands. Cover applies from the day you arrived (Government.nl).