How long does a home renovation take in the Netherlands? — 2026 timelines

Quick answer

A renovation in the Netherlands takes 3–18 months from first design to completion, depending on the project. A simple bathroom renovation: 2–3 months. A single-storey extension with permit: 6–12 months. A roof extension (extra storey): 8–15 months. The permit procedure (8–14 weeks) dominates the total timeline.

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Timeline by project type

| Project | Design | Permit | Build | Total | |---|---|---|---|---| | Bathroom / kitchen renovation | 2–4 wk | Not needed | 4–8 wk | 2–4 months | | Dormer (permit required) | 4–6 wk | 8–14 wk | 4–6 wk | 5–8 months | | Single-storey extension (30–50 m²) | 6–10 wk | 8–16 wk | 10–16 wk | 7–12 months | | Roof extension (extra storey) | 8–12 wk | 10–16 wk | 12–20 wk | 9–15 months | | Full renovation (pre-war house) | 8–12 wk | 8–16 wk | 16–26 wk | 10–16 months | | New build detached | 12–20 wk | 12–20 wk | 26–52 wk | 14–24 months |

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Phase breakdown

Phase 1: Design (4–12 weeks)

• Sketch design: 1–2 weeks (architect)
• Final design + construction drawings: 2–4 weeks
• BENG calculation + structural calculation: 2–4 weeks (parallel)
• Permit dossier compilation: 1–2 weeks

The design phase depends heavily on client decision speed (material choices, revisions). Each round of revisions adds 1–2 weeks.

Phase 2: Permit (8–20 weeks)

See our article How long does a building permit take? for the full breakdown. Including potential supplementary requests: 10–16 weeks is realistic.

Phase 3: Tendering and planning (4–8 weeks)

• Send tender documents to contractors
• Compare quotes and select contractor
• Contract and agree schedule
• Order materials (lead times can run to 8–16 weeks!)

Note: popular contractors may have a 3–6 month waiting list. Start tendering early.

Phase 4: Construction (6–26 weeks)

| Work | Build time | |---|---| | Dormer | 4–6 weeks | | Single-storey extension (30–50 m²) | 10–16 weeks | | Roof extension | 12–20 weeks | | Full renovation | 16–26 weeks |

Phase 5: Completion and handover (2–4 weeks)

• Snagging list
• Wkb documentation (Wet kwaliteitsborging voor het bouwen)
• Final energy label measurement (new build / extension)

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What causes delays?

• Permit waiting time (most significant): municipalities with backlog add 4–8 weeks
• Contractor waiting list: popular contractors booked 3–6 months ahead
• Objection period after permit: 6 weeks (occasionally extended)
• Material lead times: specialist materials / imported frames: 8–20 weeks
• Unforeseen structural issues: extra cost and time

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Conclusion

A renovation with permit in the Netherlands realistically takes 6–15 months from first meeting with an architect to completion. Start early so you don't lose a season or hit a contractor backlog.

archi.sulerr.com delivers the complete design and permit package in one commission — so you can start the permit phase quickly and use the waiting time productively.