Mold and damp Amsterdam

Damp is one of the subjects that comes up most often in our reports from Amsterdam. That is no coincidence. The city is old, many walls are solid brick, the groundwater is high and a large share of the homes are small and split into apartments. A damp patch, black mold (mould) in the corner of a bedroom or a wet band along the bottom of a wall in the basement (souterrain): the cause can be very different each time, and so can the solution.

Nederlandse versie: vochtplekken en zwarte schimmel Amsterdam

On this page we explain how to recognise the different types of damp, what usually causes them in Amsterdam buildings, what helps and what does not, and how an independent damp inspection works. Everything comes from our own work as building inspectors. We do not sell damp-proofing, injections or ventilation systems.

In brief

• Four types of damp look alike: leaks, penetrating damp, rising damp and condensation. Black mold is usually a result, not a cause.
• In many homes two or three of them occur at once. That is why we measure in several places and look at the pattern.
• A damp inspection at Premiumkeur costs from € 499, and a damp inspection in the cellar € 699. You receive the report within two working days.
• We do not carry out repairs and we do not recommend damp-proofing firms, contractors or roofers.

1. Recognising four types of damp

A simple rule of thumb: if the mold sits in a cold corner and a moisture meter does not give a high reading in the wall itself, it is probably condensation. If the material itself is wet, then water is coming from somewhere: from outside, from below or from a pipe.

2. Why damp is so common in Amsterdam

• Solid walls. Many buildings from before the 1930s have no cavity. Water that soaks through the outside shows up on the inside, and the walls are cold, which encourages condensation.
• High groundwater. In cellars and basements the floor is sometimes close to or below the groundwater level. Old cellar floors and walls are rarely watertight.
• Renovations with unintended consequences. In several reports we saw a new concrete floor poured directly against the old walls, with no crawl space or ventilation underneath. The moisture from the ground then has nowhere to go but up into the wall.
• Small, well-sealed homes. Double glazing and draught strips keep the heat in, but also the moisture from cooking, showering and laundry. Without working ventilation it condenses on the coldest spot.
• Buildings split into apartments. A damp patch can come from the home above or next door: a bathroom that is not watertight, a shared gutter, a balcony that drains onto yours.

3. Black mold

In most cases black mold is the result of condensation: humid indoor air that settles on a cold wall and stays there. In our reports we often see it in bedrooms along the front facade, in corners next to a false wall that was not carried through, on bathroom ceilings and behind cupboards.

What does help: tackling the cause. That almost always means better ventilation (vents open, mechanical extraction that works and is properly connected), more even heating and, where possible, insulating cold walls. In one of our reports the mechanical ventilation turned out to be connected to the supply opening, so no fresh air came in at all.

What does not help: only cleaning or painting over. The mold comes back as long as the cause remains. You can remove small patches with an approved mold remover; badly affected material is better replaced.

On health: according to the GGD (in Dutch), mold spores can irritate the airways, and people with asthma or allergies are more sensitive. We do not assess what mold means for your health; for that you can go to your GP or the GGD (the public health service).

4. Rising damp

We see rising damp mostly in buildings from before 1906, in basements and in ground-floor apartments. You recognise it by a wet band along the bottom of the wall that is there all year round, with white salt deposits and loose plaster.

These are the solutions that appear in our reports, with what we write about them:

Repairs inside only make sense once the wall is dry. In our reports we regularly advise measuring for a year before you plaster and paint.

5. Penetrating damp

Penetrating damp comes from outside: rain getting in through weathered pointing, cracks in the render, porous brickwork or an open connection at a window frame. It is usually on the wall on the weather side and is worse after a spell of rain and wind.

The solution lies on the outside: repairing the pointing, closing cracks, and putting window frame connections and sill flashings in order. A damp-proof coating on the inside hides the patch, but the water stays in the wall. We saw this more than once in our reports.

6. Wet cellars and basements

A cellar or basement in an old Amsterdam building is rarely completely dry. In our reports the causes include old cellar floors and walls that are not watertight, wet ground against the facade, a light well or patio where water collects, a sump pit that is under water, and leaking bathrooms above.

A damp inspection in the cellar maps out how much of the moisture comes from outside, how much from below and how much from inside (condensation, pipes). Then you can choose: small measures and keep measuring, or a watertight cellar tank in one go. Anyone buying a home with a basement will want to know this beforehand.

7. How our damp inspection works

1. Intake. Where is the damp, since when, does it change with the weather or with showering and cooking, what has already been done? Photos beforehand help.
2. Measuring in the material. With a pin moisture meter in plaster, wood and brickwork, at several heights and spots. This shows whether the moisture comes from below, from outside or from the air.
3. Humidity. If we suspect condensation, we measure the relative humidity and look at ventilation and heating.
4. Thermal imaging camera to show cold spots and missing insulation, always combined with a measurement, because cold is not always wet.
5. Endoscope to look behind a false wall or ceiling through an existing opening.
6. Outside we look at the facade, pointing, window frames, gutters, the ground against the facade and, where possible, the roof.
7. Archive. Where it helps, we search the building archive for drawings, for example to see how a floor was constructed.
8. Report within two working days, with photos, measurement results, the type of damp, the most likely cause and advice in order of approach.

The inspection is visual and non-destructive. We cannot always see what is behind a wall or under a floor. When that is the case, the report says so, along with the next step needed for more certainty.

8. What you can do yourself

• Ventilate every day, even in winter. Keep the vents above the windows open and check that the mechanical extraction works.
• Keep showers short, let the extraction run on after showering and wipe down tiles and walls.
• Use the extractor hood when cooking and cook with lids on.
• Dry laundry outside, or in a room with a window open.
• Heat evenly. The GGD recommends about 18 °C during the day and not below 15 °C at night.
• Do not put cupboards directly against a cold exterior wall.
• A simple hygrometer shows whether it is structurally too humid indoors.
• Do not paint over a wet patch. Have the wall measured first to see whether it is dry.

9. Renters, owners and the owners’ association (VvE)

Are you renting? Report damp and mold to your landlord in writing, with photos and dates. If the landlord does not fix it, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) for a social housing rental. According to Radar (in Dutch, 2023) the rent can be reduced substantially for a while in cases of severe mold, until the defect is fixed. In the private sector the Huurcommissie can give advice. The Huurcommissie is the Rent Tribunal, and most of its information is in Dutch. If you want to have an inspection done yourself, talk to your landlord first.

Do you live in a building with a VvE? The facade, roof, gutters and foundation are often shared; exactly what is shared is set out in the deed of division. An independent report helps the board determine whether the cause is in a shared part or inside an apartment. We do not give legal advice.

Are you buying? At viewings, watch for freshly painted patches, a musty smell, salt deposits and mold behind furniture. For a basement or ground-floor apartment in an old building, a damp inspection beforehand is often worth it.

10. Free damp test or free inspection: what to watch for

You will come across offers of a free damp test or free damp inspection, often from damp-proofing companies, and of free leak detection or a free roof inspection from roofers and plumbing firms. Free usually means you do not pay separately for the inspection. The cost is earned back through the work that follows, such as damp-proof injection, a ventilation system or a roof repair. Whoever makes the diagnosis then also earns from the solution.

That says nothing about the skill of any individual company, and many tradespeople work honestly. It does make the advice harder to check. With rising damp in particular this matters: in our reports we regularly write that damp-proof injection rarely works permanently, and sometimes a damp patch turns out not to be rising damp at all but condensation or a leak.

So always ask for a quote that states which type of damp was found, how it was measured and why this solution fits. Be extra careful with pressure to decide quickly and with cash payment or a deposit up front. If you sign an agreement worth more than € 50 at your door, you generally have 14 days to change your mind, according to the Rijksoverheid (in Dutch, the Dutch government). In Kassa (in Dutch, 2015) the trade association for roofers advised never to accept a job from a company that only wants to be paid in cash.

11. What does a damp inspection cost?

What the repair costs depends on the cause: from a fan or a few vents to a watertight cellar tank. One case below includes an estimate from the report.

12. Case studies: eighteen damp inspections in Amsterdam

These cases come from our own reports from 2023 through 2026. They show how often two or three types of damp occur at once, and how often the cause is somewhere other than where the patch appears. Addresses and names are left out; the district comes from the postcode. Amounts are only given when the report mentions them.

Case 1: Rising damp and black mold in a basement, Amsterdam-West

Situation. Corner house from 1898 with five floors, VvE, October 2025. The basement and ground floor were renovated in 2023. The damage appeared within two years: damp patches in the basement and on the walls above.

Findings. It was rising damp in one-brick-thick walls without a cavity, in wet ground, with no crawl space to carry moisture away. This showed in bulging plaster at the bottom of the walls, salt efflorescence, loose natural stone skirtings and wood rot in window frames. In the cellar the concrete was relatively dry and the brickwork damp (dry plaster: 0.5%). Black mold was present along the facades and in the bathroom, caused by condensation and too little ventilation.

Advice and costs. Close the ventilation openings, damp-proof injection of the walls, install insulated false walls with a ventilated cavity and water-resisting membrane, and mechanical extraction. 2025 prices: facade repair about € 7,000, coating the cellar € 750, basement € 53,000 (cost overview).

What this shows. Black mold near a damp patch can come from rising damp and condensation together. False walls hide the problem, while damp-proof injection tackles the source.

Case 2: Condensation and penetrating damp, Amsterdam-Zuid

Situation. Home from 1930 with three floors, VvE, January 2025. The reason for the inspection was moisture damage in the apartment.

Findings. In the front left bedroom there was black mold in the corner between the front and side facades. The thermal imaging camera showed cold bridges in uninsulated walls. The moisture measurement showed damp but not wet walls: an indication of condensation, not of a leak. The ventilation vent was closed. In the rear bedroom the readings were higher, but without mold thanks to good ventilation. There was penetrating damp there: at a settlement crack in the rear facade, rainwater splashes from a lower roof onto the facade. Mold above the balcony door came from the cold bridge of the balcony slab. The levelling of the mortar joints showed no differences in settlement; the floor varied by 10 mm over 5 meters.

Advice and costs. Insulated inner walls, ventilation vents and a humidity/CO2-controlled ventilation unit, repair the crack and check it every year, gravel on the roof against splashing. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Two types of damp in one home: condensation caused the black mold, penetrating damp the only real leak.

Case 3: Wet cellar with penetrating and rising damp, Amsterdam-Zuid

Situation. Apartment from 1923, VvE, July 2024. The cellar had several damp patches and had been repaired before.

Findings. In several places we saw penetrating and rising damp. Around the crawl space hatch the damp patches came from wet ground against the wall, separate from the rest of the cellar. The earlier repair in the floor-wall joint (the corner between floor and cellar wall) was no longer watertight in several places. Leak water from the joint may also be seeping through the screed. Floor covering and a cupboard limited the inspection. According to the measurements the cellar is not watertight; the readings are not in the report.

Advice and costs. Clear out the cellar, make the joint watertight again, a concrete edge of about 10 cm under the hatch, ventilation with a humidity sensor, a glass cover above the dormer. We advise against pumping out groundwater because of the risk to the wooden foundation piles. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. A damp patch in a cellar often has more than one cause; the floor-wall joint is a weak point.

Case 4: Mold on clothes in a cupboard under the stairs, Amsterdam-West

Situation. Mid-terrace house from 1933 with four floors, VvE, March 2025. Clothes and belongings in the space under the stairs became moldy.

Findings. It was humidity in the air, not rising damp or a leak. The walls under the stairs and in the bedroom cupboard were dry (limit: 4% plaster, 3% brick; dry reference 0.5%). In the crawl space we measured 0.9% in the walls and 18.2% in the wooden beams (risk range 15 to 20%), with no wood rot. The thermal imaging camera showed no extreme cold bridges. The space under the stairs was not heated and the only mechanical extraction, in the bathroom, did not work. The crawl space hatch is made of loose planks, which let cold, damp air come up.

Advice and costs. Finish the floor airtight, fit the hatch with a rubber seal, working mechanical ventilation (preferably humidity/CO2-controlled), an extraction point under the stairs. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Mold on belongings does not always mean a wet wall: too little ventilation and heating can be the cause.

Case 5: Rising damp and flooding in a parking garage and cellar, Amsterdam

Situation. Apartment complex from 2000, VvE, February 2024. The reason was regular flooding in the parking garage and damp problems in the cellar.

Findings. In the concrete wall we saw rising damp, caused by repeated flooding and paving that is not watertight. In heavy rain the soil becomes saturated, the groundwater rises and water comes up, because the garage floor is paved rather than made of watertight concrete. The rainwater downpipes of the flat roof were not connected to the sewer, there is an active leak (roof more than 24 years old), and sealant and thresholds at the cellar storage units let water through. There were damp patches in the cellar storage units.

Advice and costs. Connect the downpipes to the sewer, keep the drain clear, renew the expansion joints (at least every six years), replace the rusty profile, set aside a reserve for the roof. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Rising damp can result from rising groundwater and a design flaw; fully preventing it is then unlikely.

Case 6: Rising and penetrating damp in a canal house, Amsterdam-Centrum

Situation. Canal house from 1697 with five floors, VvE, November 2023, during rain. The reason was a damp inspection of two buildings.

Findings. In a courtyard we saw rising damp: the concrete floor had no watertight skirtings and in rain water ran along the facade. The walls stand well over 2.5 meters below ground level. At the rear facade, penetrating damp turned out to come from wood rot, a hole by the window and water running down the facade. In an office there were damp patches from both types. Water flowed through under a window frame, saturating the cement screed. In the cellar the steel ceiling structure was severely affected.

Advice and costs. New floor with water-resisting skirtings, drip sills, ventilated false walls instead of damp-proof injection, a dehumidifier and measuring every two weeks, shore up the cellar and have it renewed. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. With old, deep walls, rising damp can often be limited but not removed.

Case 7: Damp patches and black mold in a basement bedroom, Amsterdam-West

Situation. Ground-floor apartment from 1889 with two floors, VvE, February 2024. The reason was damp patches and leaks in the basement bedroom, after work by a contractor.

Findings. The damp patches were at the bottom and near the ceiling. The ceiling patches came from penetrating damp through a window frame that was not watertight at the bottom. Behind the cupboard there was black mold: the exterior wall was not insulated on the inside, so condensation formed on the cold wall. In the walls near the dormer, rising damp was already visible. The rainwater drained onto the roof of the extension, so the wall was soaked by splashing water and moisture came through.

Advice and costs. Finish the window frames watertight, connect the rainwater drain to the sewer, cover the dormer and clean it regularly, and insulate the cellar wall with a false wall. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. One damp patch can come from three sources: a leaking window frame, splashing water and condensation on an uninsulated wall.

Case 8: Penetrating damp in the rear facade and condensation on the bel-etage, De Pijp

Situation. Apartment complex from 1892 with five floors, VvE: yes. In January 2024 we investigated leaks and damp patches in several apartments.

Findings. Three types of damp were mixed together. In the first photos we saw damp patches from a roof leak. On the balconies the solid rear facade without a cavity was covered in green algae: penetrating damp, which shows inside as a damp patch and black mold. Wooden planks lay too close to the facade and led rainwater to the brickwork. On the bel-etage (the main floor above street level) black mold formed through condensation: no ventilation openings in the windows and an uninsulated exterior facade. Readings are not in the report.

Advice and costs. At least 3 cm of space between planks and facade, have the wall ties checked and have the pointing done by a skilled tradesperson. Ventilation openings in the facade or windows, balanced ventilation and insulating false walls on the inside. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Black mold does not always have the same cause. Condensation and penetrating damp need a different approach.

Case 9: Wet cellar from a leak, rising damp and a bathroom, De Pijp

Situation. Ground-floor apartment with a cellar, VvE: yes, year of construction unknown, May 2026. The reason was an independent investigation of damp problems in the cellar.

Findings. We found several types of damp. The cellar extends out into the garden and that extension is open at the top, so rainwater collects and soaks into the floor and walls. The wall and the window frame are not watertight, the bottom of the frame had wood rot and there were damp patches on the wall. The measurements pointed to an active leak and to rising damp in the wall, without figures. The sump pit was under water, with a risk of a short circuit. The screed had salt efflorescence and in the bathroom water was running into the wall behind loose skirtings.

Advice and costs. Keep rain out, for example with glass above. Pump the sump pit dry, renew the wiring, pressure-test the pipes, renew sealant and pointing in the bathroom. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. A wet cellar often has more than one cause, and that makes the repair difficult.

Case 10: Rising damp from a poorly ventilated crawl space, Amsterdam-Zuid

Situation. Ground-floor apartment from 1928, VvE: yes. In January 2024 we investigated damp patches and high humidity in the home.

Findings. In the children’s room, living room, hall and bedroom the moisture content above the skirting was higher than normal, on almost all walls. That pattern, low on the wall and throughout the home, points to rising damp. There was green algae on the walls and paint was peeling in the children’s room. The cause was the crawl space: there were no ventilation openings in the front facade and those in the rear facade were blocked. The relative humidity in the living room was well over 70%, with no ventilation openings in windows or walls. A planter with wet soil against the facade caused penetrating damp. In the bathroom there was black mold from the rain shower.

Advice and costs. Inspect the crawl space and ventilate it better with a humidity-controlled ventilation unit. Balanced ventilation, vents in windows or walls, waterproof membrane at the planter. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Rising damp can be a ventilation problem under the floor.

Case 11: Black mold from condensation and penetrating damp in an attic, Amsterdam-Centrum

Situation. Building from 1884 with five floors, VvE: yes. In December 2023 we investigated several leaks and damp patches.

Findings. In the attic there was black mold on the exterior wall. That wall is not insulated, so condensation forms. On the same floor water also seeped in under the window frame: penetrating damp. The render and the drip sills of the facade were not watertight and the stairwell showed moisture coming through from the adjoining roof. After the roof tiles were renewed the rafters were still wet, so the leak was active. Readings are not in the report; the finding was based on observation on site.

Advice and costs. Insulate the wall on the inside with a false wall. Repair window frames, render and drip sills, renew the gutter and lead flashings. Most of the work needs scaffolding. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Mold on a cold exterior wall and water under a window frame can occur at the same time on one floor.

Case 12: Clammy home and mold from failing ventilation, Amsterdam-Centrum

Situation. Mid-terrace house from 1998 with three floors, VvE: yes. September 2026, in rain. The client asked for an investigation of damp problems.

Findings. The home was damp and clammy. In one bedroom a dehumidifier was pulling a lot of moisture out of the air: a sign that the humidity was too high. The source was in the bathroom: the fan did not work and had too little capacity, while there is a lot of showering. There was mold on the cheeks of the dormer (the side walls), because they are cold in winter and the humid air condenses there. Ventilation vents and valves were dirty and not adjusted. The tumble dryer also released moisture. Readings are not in the report.

Advice and costs. A new, continuously running bathroom fan, clean and adjusted valves, a humidity-controlled ventilation unit. If mold remains, insulate the dormer on the outside. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Here condensation and black mold are mainly a ventilation problem.

Case 13: Damp rings under a skylight, condensation or a leak, De Pijp

Situation. Mid-terrace house without a VvE, year of construction unknown, September 2024. The client asked for a roof inspection with leak detection.

Findings. Around the skylight there were rings, mostly under the low part, beneath the steel profiles that carry the glass. The ceiling showed marks exactly in line with the skylight. We suspect condensation along the cold steel profiles: indoor humidity was high because of many plants. A leak in the roof covering of the roof terrace above could not be ruled out, because the skylight is built into the terrace and cannot be seen without demolition. On a dormer the structure behind it was rotten. Readings are not in the report.

Advice and costs. Remove the end panel to establish the cause. A drip edge with a condensation channel on the inside of the frame. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. A damp patch with rings can be condensation or a leak. Without opening it up, that is not certain.

Case 14: Rising and penetrating damp in a commercial building, Amsterdam-Centrum

Situation. Commercial building from 1770, VvE: yes. September 2026, before a planned renovation.

Findings. The damp patches were very severe. We saw rising damp in the walls, because moisture under the concrete floor cannot escape. In a hole in the floor the sand underneath was wet. At the back the building is built into the garden and surrounded by wet ground, which gives rising and penetrating damp. The floor here slopes badly according to a floor levelling survey, so we suspect a foundation defect. In addition the roof leaked: during the inspection there was a puddle of water on the floor. Figures are not in the report.

Advice and costs. Remove plaster and false walls, damp-proof injection of the walls and install ventilated false walls. That hides the problems rather than solving them; really solving them is only possible with a new floor and crawl space. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Anyone assessing damp in a building with a concrete floor has to look under the floor.

Case 15: Rising damp after injection and high humidity, Amsterdam-Oost

Situation. Ground-floor apartment in an apartment building from 1905, occupied, VvE: yes. Inspection in June 2024 because of previously reported leaks and damp problems.

Findings. Along the partition wall and the party wall, skirtings are damaged, plaster is damaged and the joints in the bathroom are discolored. The damp marks reach a height of about 2 to 2.25 m, also in the stairwell. The walls were injected in 2022 and the plaster was only repaired in 2023. The concrete floor lies directly on sand, with no crawl space. At the hatch, missing facade bricks and a wide pipe penetration are visible, with rainwater getting in. Humidity was 68.7% (desired: 40 to 60%). The extractor hood blows air into the bathroom and toilet.

Advice and costs. Contact the injection company again, have a contractor deal with the facade and the water under the home, check the ventilation unit and fit vents in the glazed frontage. Modify the extractor hood: € 450, 2024 prices.

What this shows. The injection proved insufficient. Rainwater under the home and a floor on sand can play a part.

Case 16: Penetrating moisture in a crawl space with wood decay, Amsterdam-Oost

Situation. Building from 1910 with four floors, occupied, VvE: yes. Damp inspection in March 2024.

Findings. The crawl space has very high humidity, visible on the underside of the crawl space hatch. As far as visible there is no ventilation. The facade has several openings; we estimate that rainwater is getting into the ground. The water supply connection drips, but does not explain all the moisture. The hallway floor has sunk badly because of wood decay, and the stair stringers show a great deal of wood decay. The qualitative moisture measurement, with a reference measurement in a dry spot, showed very high humidity. In two places there is moisture damage in the walls. Parts of the crawl space could not be inspected.

Advice and costs. First tackle the cause, for example with plastic sheets against the brickwork. Then replace the floor and stairs and investigate the pipes further. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Wood rot follows here from a moisture source outside. Without dealing with that source, repair is pointless.

Case 17: Recurring leak under sill flashings at a gallery, Amsterdam-Centrum

Situation. Two apartments in a complex from 1987 (according to online information), occupied, VvE: yes. Inspection in February 2024 because of a long-running leak in both entrance halls.

Findings. Above the front door of one apartment, moisture damage is visible and measurable on the left side, while a comparison measurement on the right showed no moisture. At the other apartment there is damage in the plaster of wall and ceiling and wood decay in the trim. On the outside of the ceilings no damage is visible. On the gallery above, the pointing and window frame connections have already been repaired. With an endoscope we saw gaps in the seal under the sill flashings; this is probably the cause. The images were of limited use.

Advice and costs. Have the seal under the sill flashings repaired by a contractor or sealant firm, have the sealant joints along the window frames checked and ask for several itemized quotes. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. Earlier repairs to the pointing solved nothing because the leak was under the sill flashings.

Case 18: Rainwater through facade insulation and balcony in an extension, Amsterdam-West

Situation. Ground-floor apartment from 1906, unoccupied, VvE: yes. Leak detection in March 2024 because of persistent leaks, without destructive investigation.

Findings. In the extension next to the living room, moisture damage is visible on the left and right, with raised humidity in both places. On the right the roof covering connects poorly to the balcony elements and improvised seals have partly worn out. On the left the original facade is insulated on the outside, with gaps at balconies and railing fixings. In hard wind and rain, water reaches the party wall. At the extension no lead flashing was fitted in the party wall, only artificial lead in the insulation layer. The drainage of the balcony above also plays a part.

Advice and costs. Temporarily remove the facade insulation, fit and repair lead flashings, have all seals done professionally, replace plasterboard finishing where needed. No amounts in the report.

What this shows. A leak can have several sources; here they were the roof connection, the facade and the balcony.

13. Frequently asked questions about damp patches and mold

How do I get rid of black mold?

You can remove small patches with an approved mold remover. The mold comes back as long as the cause remains. Usually that is condensation: too little ventilation combined with cold walls. Ventilating, heating evenly and insulating where possible solve that.

How do I know if it is rising damp?

Rising damp gives a wet band along the bottom of the wall, all year round, often with white salt deposits and loose plaster. A moisture measurement at different heights in the wall usually makes it possible to tell it apart from condensation and penetrating damp.

What is the difference between penetrating and rising damp?

Penetrating damp comes from outside through the facade, usually on the weather side and worse after rain with wind. Rising damp comes up from the ground and sits at the bottom of the wall, whatever the weather.

Does damp-proof injection help against rising damp?

Sometimes, but in our reports we regularly write that it rarely gives a lasting result. In one of our cases the moisture was still rising to well over two meters, two years after an injection. First have it established whether it really is rising damp and where it comes from.

My damp patch keeps coming back after painting. Why?

Because the wall is still wet or the cause has not been solved. Paint or a coating hides the moisture but does not stop it. First have the cause established and have the wall measured to see whether it is dry.

Is black mold dangerous for my health?

According to the GGD, mold spores can irritate the airways, especially in people with asthma or allergies. We do not assess health risks; for that you can go to your GP or the GGD.

What does a damp inspection cost in Amsterdam?

A damp inspection at Premiumkeur costs from € 499 including VAT, and a damp inspection in the cellar € 699. You receive the report within two working days.

I rent. What can I do about mold?

Report it to your landlord in writing, with photos and dates. If they do not fix it, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal for a social housing rental; in the private sector the Rent Tribunal can give advice. We do not give legal advice.

Is a free damp test a good idea?

It can be, but be aware that the cost is usually earned back through the work that follows, such as damp-proof injection or a ventilation system. Ask which type of damp was found and how. If in doubt, an independent inspection by a party that does not sell repairs itself helps.

Do you sell damp-proofing?

No. Premiumkeur does not carry out repairs and does not recommend damp-proofing firms, contractors or roofers.

14. Videos of our inspections

On the Premiumkeur YouTube channel you can see our inspectors at work, including with the moisture meter, the thermal imaging camera and in crawl spaces and cellars.

15. Read more

• Roof and facade leak investigation Amsterdam: when the damp comes from above or through the facade.
• Building inspection Amsterdam knowledge base: the building inspection, foundations and buying in Amsterdam.
• Services and rates (in Dutch).

Sources: the cases on this page come from Premiumkeur’s own reports (2023 through 2026). Addresses and names are left out. External sources (all in Dutch): GGD, Vocht en schimmel in huis; Radar (AVROTROS), Schimmel in je huurwoning, August 3, 2023; Rijksoverheid, rights when buying at the door; Kassa (BNNVARA), October 24, 2015. Reference date: October 2026.

Contact details Premiumkeur Amsterdam

Premiumkeur B.V., Heiligeweg 30, 1012 XR Amsterdam
Phone: +31 20 773 6842
Email: premiumkeur@gmail.com
KvK 81106130

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