What the law says
- At most two months' basic rent for a home (art. 7:261b(2) Dutch Civil Code).
- Back within 14 days after the tenancy ends (art. 7:261b(3)).
- Deductions only for proven costs. For damage or unpaid rent or service charges the landlord may set off what you owe; the rest is due within 30 days, with a written, full breakdown (art. 7:261b(3) and (4)).
Who has to prove the damage?
If no description of the home was made when you moved in, the law presumes you received it in the state you left it in (art. 7:224(2)), so the landlord has to show the damage arose during your tenancy. Courts regularly order the deposit returned when the landlord can't back that up, for example ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:7832 and ECLI:NL:RBGEL:2026:3194.
What you can do
- Ask the landlord in writing for the deposit, or for the breakdown of what he keeps, with a reasonable deadline.
- If he doesn't pay, you can give formal notice; statutory interest may be due on a late deposit.
- Then you can go to the subdistrict court (kantonrechter); you don't need a lawyer there.
For contracts from before 1 July 2023 things may differ. Lex looks at your contract and your dates.