In English
NHG mortgage guarantee explained
NHG (Nationale Hypotheek Garantie) is a Dutch guarantee scheme for mortgages. It can give you a lower interest rate and protection if you can no longer pay. Here is how it works in 2026.
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Short answer: NHG is a scheme of Stichting Waarborgfonds Eigen Woningen that guarantees your mortgage to the lender. In 2026 you can get NHG on a mortgage up to €470,000, or €498,200 with energy-saving measures. You pay a one-off fee of 0.4% of the loan. In return, lenders often offer a lower interest rate, and NHG can help if you get into payment problems through no fault of your own. Nationale Hypotheek is not affiliated with NHG.
NHG in 2026 at a glance
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Maximum mortgage with NHG | €470,000, including renovation costs |
| With energy-saving measures | €498,200 |
| Fee | 0.4% of the loan, paid once |
| Who runs it | Stichting Waarborgfonds Eigen Woningen |
Benefits of NHG
- Often a lower interest rate: because the lender runs less risk, many lenders offer a lower rate with NHG. See the current rates on our mortgage rates page (in Dutch).
- Help with payment problems: NHG can help with a temporary arrangement, a budget or job coach, or an adjustment of the loan.
- Waiver of a residual debt: if you have to sell your home and a debt remains, NHG can waive it for the NHG part, provided the problems were not your fault (for example divorce, disability, unemployment or the death of a partner) and you fully cooperated. There is no waiver after a voluntary sale.
What does NHG cost, and what does it save?
You pay the fee once, when you take out the mortgage. It is 0.4% of the loan and you can usually include it in the mortgage. In return, most lenders offer a lower interest rate for mortgages with NHG, because their risk is lower.
| Mortgage | NHG fee (0.4%, once) | Saving at 0.5% lower rate, first year (roughly) |
|---|---|---|
| €300,000 | €1,200 | about €1,500 |
| €400,000 | €1,600 | about €2,000 |
| €470,000 (the 2026 limit) | €1,880 | about €2,350 |
The size of the discount differs per lender and changes over time, so treat the right-hand column as an illustration, not a promise. An adviser compares the actual offers with and without NHG. The fee is tax-deductible as a financing cost in the year you pay it, under the same rules as other deductible mortgage costs.
How to get a mortgage with NHG
Check the limit
Your total mortgage must stay within €470,000 in 2026, or €498,200 if you finance energy-saving measures. The purchase price and renovation costs count together.
Check the conditions
The home must be your own main residence, you repay on an annuity or linear basis, and your income must be enough under the national lending standards. Holiday homes and homes you rent out do not qualify.
Apply through your lender
You do not apply to NHG yourself. Your adviser or lender arranges the guarantee as part of the mortgage application, and the fee is settled at the notary.
Good to know: NHG is not insurance for you personally and it does not pay your monthly costs. It is a guarantee to the lender, combined with help and, under conditions, a waiver of the remaining debt if you have to sell.
When is NHG not possible or not useful?
- Above the limit: a mortgage over €470,000 (or €498,200 with energy-saving measures) cannot have NHG.
- Not your main residence: second homes, holiday homes and buy-to-let are excluded.
- Interest-only above 50%: the repayment rules of the lending standards still apply.
- Large own savings: if you borrow far below the value of the home, some lenders already offer their lowest rate without NHG. Then the fee may not pay off.
Not sure which is better in your case? That is exactly the sum an independent adviser makes: the fee and the rate with NHG against the best offer without it.
NHG for expats: residence requirements
With a passport or identity card from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you meet the residence requirement. With a non-EU nationality, you need an IND document showing a permanent residence permit, EU long-term resident status, permanent residence or a permit for a non-temporary purpose. With a temporary-purpose permit, NHG is only possible if your income is not needed for the mortgage. Read more about a mortgage with a residence permit.
Frequently asked questions about NHG
What is the NHG limit in 2026?
€470,000, or €498,200 if you finance energy-saving measures.
What does NHG cost?
A one-off fee of 0.4% of the loan. On a mortgage of €400,000 that is €1,600.
Is NHG worth it?
Often, because the lower interest rate can outweigh the fee, and you get protection if you run into payment problems. An adviser compares the offers with and without NHG for you.
Is Nationale Hypotheek part of NHG?
No. Nationale Hypotheek is an independent, commercial platform and not affiliated with Nationale Hypotheek Garantie or Stichting Waarborgfonds Eigen Woningen. An adviser can apply for a mortgage with NHG for you if you qualify.
Related guides
Read about buying a house in the Netherlands, transfer tax and the mortgage interest deduction, or start at the expat mortgage guide. More detail in Dutch on our NHG page.
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