The Dutch presence in Spain’s housing market has shifted from a niche to a firmly established trend. People from the Netherlands are now a significant force among foreign buyers and tenants in Spain. idealista’s data show that they rank among the top five foreign nationalities searching for homes in around half of the country’s provinces.
The Netherlands climbs Spain’s foreign-buyer rankings
Official data from Spain’s property registrars show how far Dutch demand has come in a relatively short time.
- Foreign buyers in Spain accounted for around 13.5% of all home purchases in the fourth quarter of 2025. Within that group, the Netherlands has become one of the main countries of origin.
- In the same quarter, Dutch buyers represented 6.77% of all foreign purchases, placing them just behind British buyers and ahead of Germans, Moroccans, and Romanians.
A top-four coastal player for both buying and renting
Search data from idealista from the end of 2025 underline how strong Dutch appetite is for Spain’s coast, both for ownership and for renting.
- Dutch users were the 4th most active foreign group on the Spanish coasts, behind Germany, the UK and France.
- On the rental side, Dutch users are also firmly in the top tier. They generate 7.72% of all foreign views of coastal rental listings, again placing the Netherlands 4th place.
Where Dutch demand is strongest
Nowhere is the Dutch presence more visible than in the province of Alicante, home to much of the Costa Blanca. This stretch is also the most popular Spanish coast for foreign buyers overall.
- Roughly one in six foreign users looking at homes is Dutch, making them the single largest foreign group in the province’s online property market.
- For rentals, Javea ranks first among Dutch users, followed by Barcelona, Dénia and Benidorm.
Dutch hotspots: from Javea to Roses and Almuñécar
The Costa Blanca
Within Alicante, a clear pattern of “Dutch corridors” emerges. These towns combine established foreign communities, easy access to Alicante and Valencia airports and a wide choice of villas and apartments.
- Javea/Xàbia, on the northern Costa Blanca, is now the single most popular destination in Spain for Dutch users on idealista.
- Torrevieja stands out as a major Dutch hub, with a strong presence in and around the town, and Dutch interest spread along the coast in both directions.
- Moraira and Calpe, along the northern Costa Blanca, also show high levels of Dutch interest.
The pull of Catalonia’s north coast
Further north, in Catalonia, Dutch interest is concentrated in Girona province. Here, the Netherlands is the second-largest foreign nationality by share of property listing views, behind only France.
- Much of that demand is focused on Roses, a coastal town on the Costa Brava that offers driveable access from northern Europe as well as an existing Franco–Dutch–Belgian presence.
Costa del Sol and Murcia: new-builds and resort living
On the Costa del Sol, Dutch buyers are not just present; they are now at the front of the new-build market. According to idealista, reporting from late 2024, Dutch demand was roughly twice that of Belgian and British buyers for new-build homes.
- Within Málaga province, Dutch searches concentrate on Estepona and Marbella, both key resort and second-home destinations where new-build developments and gated communities are common.
- In the neighbouring Murcia region, Dutch interest is also notable in coastal municipalities such as Cartagena and Los Alcázares, which offer alternatives to better-known Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol resorts.
Granada and the Costa Tropical
On Spain’s southern coast, the Netherlands also features prominently in Granada province. The area’s milder winter climate and relatively lower prices compared with some parts of the Costa del Sol appear to be part of the attraction.
- Around half of Dutch property views in Granada are focused on Almuñécar and its surroundings on the so‑called Costa Tropical.
Stay in the know about living in Spain as a foreigner—get our weekly newsletter for the latest travel, legal, and lifestyle news.
For a taste of the high life, sign up for the monthly luxury market round-up.
