How to choose a heating or HVAC installer in Amsterdam
Amsterdam housing runs from prewar canal houses to new-build apartments, and the right installatiebedrijf depends on which one you have. Ask directly whether the company handles a full switch from a CV-ketel to a warmtepomp, or only servicing and repairs.
If you are weighing a heat pump for the ISDE subsidy, ask the installer to write the exact meldcode for your model into the quotation before you sign, since RVO checks that code against your application. A quotation without one is a warning sign, not a formality.
A straightforward boiler swap is treated differently under Dutch building rules than a full replacement of the heat source, distribution network and radiators together, so ask which category your job falls into. If you have bought or are about to buy an older property, raise the heating system's age with the agent handling the sale - see our guide to Amsterdam Real Estate Agents - before signing anything.
Questions people ask
Is a heat pump mandatory in Amsterdam homes?
No national mandate forces existing homeowners to install a heat pump when a boiler fails; the previously discussed mandatory hybrid heat pump requirement for boiler replacements was reversed for 2026. New-build homes are a different case: gas connections are no longer standard, and BENG energy-efficiency rules push developers toward heat pumps or district heating instead.
How much subsidy can I get for a heat pump in the Netherlands?
The 2026 ISDE subsidy for an eligible heat pump starts at a minimum of €500, with the exact amount set by the appliance's own meldcode, its capacity and its energy label. RVO's own published example for a first 4 kW air-to-water heat pump with an A+++ label comes to €2,125; a second heat pump in the same home receives less, since it drops the starting amount and the label bonus. Check the meldcode for your exact model before signing, since a supplier's general estimate is not necessarily the figure RVO will pay.
What has to be true about my home to qualify for ISDE?
RVO's conditions include that the heat pump must be new, installed entirely by a professional installation company, and applied for within 24 months of installation; self-installation is not eligible. The home itself must have been built before 1 January 2019, or have had its environmental permit applied for before 1 July 2018.
Do I apply for the heat pump subsidy myself, or does the installer do it?
Private homeowners apply themselves through Mijn RVO after the heat pump is installed, logging in with DigiD. Keep the invoice, proof of payment, installation date and the installer's contact details on hand, since RVO asks for all of them in the application.
Is replacing just my boiler treated the same as a full heating system upgrade?
No. A routine boiler swap is treated differently under the Dutch building code (the Bbl) than a full renewal of the heat source, distribution network and radiators together, and only the latter can trigger extra technical requirements. Ask the installer which category your job falls into before work starts.
Do commercial buildings in Amsterdam face different heating rules?
Yes. Offices, hotels and other large public-facing buildings are under separate pressure from the EU's EPBD IV directive to cut emissions, which is steering owners toward heat pumps, hybrid setups and thermal storage during major renovations. A hospitality business listed in our Amsterdam Hotels directory renovating its heating system would fall under this commercial track, not the residential rules above.