Bathroom Renovation in Amsterdam — Refresh or Rebuild?

Refresh vs. full renovation — the only decision that matters

A full bathroom renovation means demolition, new tiling throughout, pipe rerouting, and a contractor team coordinating across multiple trades. It's the right call when the layout itself is the problem — fixtures in the wrong place, pipes that need moving, walls that need opening. Costs start around €4,500 for a small bathroom and go well past €25,000 for larger or higher-spec projects. Timeline: 5 to 15 working days minimum.

A refresh works within what's already there. No demolition, no structural changes, no building permit required. New fixtures, faucet repair or replacement, resealing, repainting, a feature wall, lighting. One person, one visit, 1 to 3 days. From €300 excl. BTW.

One example: a client bought a replacement faucet because theirs seemed broken. The real problem was the handle, bonded with the wrong adhesive. Right epoxy, twenty minutes, fixed. The instinct to replace before diagnosing is expensive — and usually unnecessary.

Do you need a building permit?

For most bathroom refresh work — fixture replacement, resealing, and painting — no permit is required. Like-for-like replacements within the existing layout fall outside permit requirements entirely.

You need a permit when:

• Structural or load-bearing walls are involved
• The property is a listed monument
• Pipes need rerouting in ways that affect shared building infrastructure

For apartment owners, check with your VvE before any work that touches shared pipes. Their approval process adds time — factor that in before you book anyone.

Permit applications go through Omgevingsloket. Processing runs up to 8 weeks, then 6 weeks for neighbours to object. For refresh-scope work, none of this applies.

What it actually costs

Full renovation: €4,500 to €25,000 and up, depending on size, spec, and whether pipes need rerouting. Labour alone runs €7,000 to €15,000 for a standard job. If the project involves layout changes, add architect fees on top.

Bathroom refresh: from €300 excl. BTW, fixed price before anything starts. That number is the number you pay.

The comparison that matters: three separate contractors — a plumber, painter, and electrician — each apply a minimum call-out. That's €150 each before anyone picks up a tool. One person across all three trades in a single visit changes that maths entirely.

Minimum visit is €150 excl. BTW. Worth combining jobs — a bathroom refresh alongside a hallway repaint or a lighting change in the next room makes the most of the day.

What makes Amsterdam bathrooms complicated

Older buildings have their own logic. Canal houses run narrow, sit on wood-beam structures, and often carry outdated lead pipes that need replacing before anything else. Ground floors deal with higher humidity — materials and sealants need to account for that.

New-builds have different problems. Compact layouts, aerated concrete walls, plasterboard partitions. Fixing to these walls for towel rails, cabinet brackets, and mirror mounts requires the right fixings — not whatever comes in the packet.

Knowing what you're dealing with before anything gets drilled or tiled saves money and return visits.

What we handle

Painting, plumbing, and electrical in the same visit. New fixtures, resealed shower, feature wall, lighting — quoted at a fixed price, completed in 1 to 3 days.

For certified work like major pipe jobs or boiler connections, the right specialist comes in from the network. One point of contact, one invoice, no coordinating three separate people yourself.