Bid insurance for homebuyers in the Netherlands

Losing bidding wars because you need a financing clause? You are not alone. Sellers in the Netherlands almost always pick the offer without conditions — even when it's not the highest. Bid insurance lets you compete: bid without a financing clause, and if your mortgage falls through, the 10% penalty is covered. We'll tell you in a 20-minute call whether it's the right move for you.

How a bid certificate works?

We arrange a bid insurance certificate through Nationale Waarborg. This certificate lets you bid without a financing clause, with your 10% deposit fully protected.

  • We check your numbers together — income, savings, debts. One short call.

  • We review the value of the property — a valuation estimate confirms the home fits your borrowing limit.

  • Certificate issued — we request a certificate within one business day, stating your maximum bid amount.

  • You bid without a financing clause — your offer stands out to the seller.

  • We handle your mortgage — full application and bank guarantee arranged.

  • If the mortgage is rejected — the 10% penalty is covered. You owe nothing.

  • Bid safely, no financing clause
  • Certificate within 1 business day
  • Valid for 40 days

Placing a bid without a financial clause: why sellers prefer it?

  • When you make an offer on a house in the Netherlands, you can include a financing clause (voorbehoud van financiering) in the purchase agreement. This clause gives you time — usually 3 to 6 weeks — to arrange your mortgage. If the mortgage is not approved, you can walk away without penalty. This protects you as a buyer. But from the seller's perspective, it creates uncertainty. The deal could still fall through weeks after accepting your offer. Why do sellers prefer bids without a financial clause?

  • More certainty for the seller — without the clause, the seller knows the deal is far more likely to close. No waiting, no risk of starting over.

  • Faster process — the seller does not have to wait weeks for your mortgage approval before feeling confident about the sale.

  • Stronger position in a bidding war — when multiple buyers bid on the same property, sellers often choose the offer without conditions — even if it is not the highest bid.

Who is eligible?

Not sure if you qualify? Our mortgage advisors can check your eligibility in a free, no-obligation call.

Employed in the Netherlands or the EU

Resident of the Netherlands with a valid BSN

Non-EU expats need a residence permit and income in Euros

BKR assessment

Primary residence — the certificate is for existing homes you plan to live in

FAQ

What are the benefits of bid insurance?

Bid insurance lets you bid without a financing clause — making your offer significantly more attractive to sellers. If your mortgage is rejected, the 10% penalty is covered, so you take no financial risk. The certificate is issued within one business day and is valid for 40 days, giving you time to find the right home and bid with confidence.

What happens if my bid is not accepted?

You pay nothing. The certificate fee is only charged when the purchase is completed at the notary.

Can non-EU expats use this?

Yes, in most cases — with a valid residence permit and income in euros. Contact us for a free assessment.

Is bidding insurance the same as a bank guarantee?

No. A bank guarantee covers the deposit after your mortgage is approved. Bidding insurance protects you from the 10% penalty if your mortgage is rejected after bidding without a financing clause.

Our happy clients

We focus on delivering great results — and our clients' feedback tells the rest of the story.

Luc has been amazing at helping us navigate all the procedures regarding our mortgage. He is quick to respond and is always available over call. We had a great experience with him.

Balaaj

22-06-2026

Bart was an amazing advisor; especially, given my situation as an American expat. He made it clear on what the process would be, documentation, and even guided me through some portions to help me understand how to best approach the Dutch home buying process. Overall, I would recommend anyone to work with OHAO and Bart as he will take good care of you.

Isaac

04-06-2026

Working with Bart as our mortgage advisor was a great experience from start to finish. He took the time to understand our situation, explained everything clearly, and patiently answered all our questions along the way. Bart is knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely looks out for his clients' best interests. He turned what could have been a stressful process into a smooth one. Highly recommended!

Pouyan

10-05-2026

Luc Zwaan at OHAO provided top-tier service for our home purchase. He is knowledgeable, proactive, and very clear in his explanations of Dutch mortgage rules and tax benefits. Our mortgage was approved quickly and without any issues. If you want a mortgage advisor who is reliable and stays on top of every detail, Luc is the person to go to. 5 stars!

Mayur

26-03-2026

Toni was happy to help us out quickly and was able to secure a good deal for us. He helped us out regurarly with a bunch of questions. - From a happy customer and a first time home owner.

Gedeon

13-03-2026

Our mortgage application was quite complex and Tony helped us through it very well. He gave brilliant advice that really saved our mortgage and enabled us to buy a home.

Abdullah H

26-02-2026

Luc's advising is very professional, detailed, honest and tailored to what is the best for me. He covered all aspects that needs to be considered and explained everything thoroughly. He is also always very fast in responding and managed to get my mortgage approved within 3 working days. Definitely would highly recommend his services if you are looking for a reliable mortgage advisor.

Yinuo

18-02-2026

I had the pleasure of working with Luc to find a new mortgage, and refinance my existing one. His expertise made the process smooth and clear, answering all my questions promptly and securing a great rate. I highly recommend him for anyone navigating Dutch mortgages!

O.B

07-01-2026

I had a very pleasant experience with OHAO, especially with Bart. He is great and truly an expert in his field—always responsive, supportive, helpful, and quick to provide any required information. The mortgage approval process was fast and smooth. I highly recommend OHAO if you’re looking for a quick, professional, and trustworthy service.

Maryam

06-11-2025

Bart is very knowledgeable and very quick while helping us. He's already helped us with multiple mortgages and every time he knows exactly how to approach the process so that we get the highest chance for the bank to accept our request on the best possible terms. Highly recommended.

Alex

05-10-2025

Bart Kooijman was recommended to us and we had a great experience. He is a nice and friendly person and very easy to work with - available, proactive, friendly, and very good at explaining. He provided us with invaluable advice during the mortgage process.

EM

18-08-2025

I have really appreciate Luc service! Gentle, accurate, fast, responsive, immediate, and tailor driven - that's all makes my experience with Luc just amazing. We have found a good mortgage provider very fast, I think, we have spent only 2-3 weeks for the whole process from A to Z. Really recommend this company and Luc as an adviser!

Aleksandr

28-07-2025

Luc was very informative, he made sure to explain everything I needed to know as a first time buyer. He made sure to be available for all my questions and inquiries. The process went very smoothly, and approval was quite quick.

Reem

23-06-2025

Bart is such a great mortgage advisor. He is reliable, knowledgeable and explains every details to me with great patience. It is a very smooth process to get 2 mortgage applications approved!

Melanie

19-06-2025

He helped us through the whole proccess, always helping us with our doubts and questions

F.N.S

15-06-2025

Toni was always helpful and reachable. He was very patient with us, explaining every step. My husband and I were in our probation period, and he was the only person who agreed to give us the mortgage statement, which gave us peace of mind. Highly recommended!

Maryam

22-04-2025

Toni has helped us in every possible way to make us comfortable and well informed about the mortgage process which helped us a lot in taking big decisions. He helped us through out the journey from selecting a house till buying and getting the mortgage approved. We would highly recommend him for this purpose.

Satabdi Chatterjee

02-04-2025

Do you still have questions?

Book a free call and we will walk through your situation and explain how bid insurance work. ✔ Independent advisor with access to 40+ lenders ✔ Guidance in English from start to finish