Renting business premises in the Netherlands and arranging internet
On a business park, good internet is not a given. This is how you check the internet before you rent business premises in the Netherlands, and how you arrange your connection in time.
Why internet matters so much for business premises
Business premises run more and more on the internet. The administration is in the cloud, the scanners in the warehouse use WiFi, the cameras and the gate are on the network and orders come in online. If the internet fails, work stops.
Yet on many Dutch business parks, fibre does not yet reach into the building. Installation can take a long time and cost money. And in a large hall or on the yard, WiFi often does not reach far. Finding that out after signing means months with a temporary solution.
Internet check for tenants
What internet do you need?
Answer a few short questions and get personal advice straight away: which connection suits you, what you need to arrange and what to check with the landlord.
Takes about a minute. You do not need to leave any details.
Your advice
Your internet profile:
This is what we recommend
https://www.it-label.com
This advice is a first indication based on your answers, not a measurement. Want certainty about the building? A Certified Partner inspects it on site with a pre-inspection.
What to look for in business premises
Fibre on the site
Ask whether fibre reaches into the building. If it is only in the street or not on the site yet, ask what installation costs and how long it takes.
WiFi in hall and warehouse
Racking, metal and large spaces block WiFi. Scanners and forklift systems need coverage in the whole hall.
Office and hall connected
Ask whether there is cabling between the office, the hall and any other buildings on the site.
Cameras and access
Security cameras, the barrier and the alarm are often on the network. Ask how they are connected and who manages them.
Fibre, cable, DSL or 4G/5G: what suits your business premises?
| Technology | What you should know |
|---|---|
| Fibre | The best choice: fast, stable and future-proof. On business parks it sometimes does not reach into the building yet, so ask about installation. |
| Cable (coax) | Not available on every business park. Where it is, often fast for downloads but slower for uploads. |
| DSL (phone line) | Often available, but usually too slow if you work a lot in the cloud or watch cameras remotely. |
| 4G/5G | Quick to arrange, even where there is no cable. Good as a backup or temporary solution until fibre arrives. |
Six questions for the landlord of your business premises
Ask these questions before you sign. The answers decide whether you can work from day one.
- Does fibre reach into the building? If not: what does installation cost, how long does it take and who pays?
- Can I choose my own provider? Or does the site work with one network?
- Is there cabling between the office and the hall? And to other buildings on the site?
- How is the WiFi in the hall and on the yard? Has the coverage ever been measured?
- How are cameras, alarm and access connected? And who manages them?
- Does the building have an IT-Label? Look it up in Find your IT-Label.
https://www.it-label.com/en/business-premises-internet-netherlands
Arranging internet
Arranging internet for your business premises in 7 steps
Ask what is already there
Ask the landlord which connection exists and with which provider. Also ask whether the previous tenant had a connection you can take over.
Check the exact address
Use the address check of several providers. On business parks, options can differ per plot.
Choose a business subscription
Look at the repair time in case of a failure (SLA), a fixed IP address, equal upload and download speeds and a fixed point of contact. That is the difference with a home subscription.
Apply in time
Start right after signing the lease. If fibre needs to be installed, it can take weeks to months, sometimes longer.
Get permission for installation
Digging on the site, drilling through the facade and a place for the equipment: agree in advance with the landlord what is allowed and who pays.
Match the contract term
Choose a contract term that fits your lease. Watch out for one-off installation costs that you do not get back when you leave.
Arrange a backup
Does your business stop without internet? Add a 4G/5G backup or a second connection that takes over during a failure.
Setting up internet in the Netherlands: what is different?
Check the exact address
Dutch providers check availability per postcode and house number. Two buildings on the same street can have different options, so always check the exact address of your unit.
Have your KVK number ready
For a business subscription, providers usually ask for your registration number at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK). Register your company in time.
Ask for English
Contracts, installation appointments and support are often in Dutch. Ask whether the provider can help you in English, or bring someone who reads Dutch.
Read the lease carefully
Many Dutch commercial leases follow a standard model (ROZ). Check what it says about the connection, cabling and who pays for installation work.
Tips and pitfalls for your business premises internet
Ask about installation costs
No fibre in the building yet? Ask for a price for installation in advance, and agree with the landlord who pays.
Speed is not everything
Upload speed, stability and the repair time for failures matter just as much as download speed.
WiFi is a separate matter
A fast subscription does not help if the WiFi does not reach the hall. Have the WiFi measured and designed for your space.
Bridge the gap with 4G/5G
Installation taking a long time? Start with a 4G/5G connection, so you can work from day one.
Secure it from day one
Put cameras and machines on a separate network and use a good firewall. Small Dutch businesses can get a subsidy for this: read about the MCZ subsidy.
Moving from another office?
Check the notice period of your current subscription, and ask whether you can keep your phone number. That way you do not pay twice.
How the IT-Label helps
The IT-Label is the independent standard for the digital quality of buildings in the Netherlands. It shows the connection, the cabling, the technical rooms, the WiFi and the building systems of business premises, at a level from IT1+ PREMIUM to IT5 SHELL. So before you sign, you know what is there and which investment is still yours.
Look up the building in Find your IT-Label. No IT-Label yet? With an IT-Label Pre-inspection, a Certified Partner inspects the building on site. More for tenants on the IT-Label for tenants.
Frequently asked questions about internet for business premises
Know what you rent
Have a Certified Partner check the internet and digital infrastructure of your new business premises before you sign.
Related information
Office space Netherlands: arranging business internet
Renting an office in the Netherlands? Check the internet before you sign and arrange business internet: 7 steps, tips and questions for your landlord.
Retail space Netherlands: internet for your shop
Renting a shop in the Netherlands? Check the internet for card payments before you sign and arrange internet for your retail space: 7 steps and tips.
The IT-Label for tenants
The IT-Label clarifies before signing which digital delivery level a building has and which investment is still yours to make.
What should you pay attention to?
What should you pay attention to when assessing a building's digital infrastructure? From connectivity and WiFi to Smart Building features.