Buying a house on Bonaire: 5% at purchase — and after that living there yourself makes the difference

First the order that is fixed on this site: in your first year you don't buy — you rent, you get to know the island (and the island you), and only then do you decide. This article is for the moment you've got that far.

The process: the Netherlands, but at 12 degrees north

Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands, and the home purchase runs as you're used to: via the notary, who executes the deed, remits the tax and arranges the registration. When searching, pay particular attention to the land: besides freehold land, long lease (erfpacht) is common — ask about the remaining term and the ground rent (canon) before you make an offer, and have the notary include the long-lease conditions in their investigation. And remember that buying is separate from your admission and registration: you arrange that process separately.

The purchase: 5% transfer tax

The transfer tax in the Caribbean Netherlands is 5% of the value of the immovable property. You as the acquirer owe it, and the notary makes sure it is declared and remitted with the deed — you don't have to go to a counter for it yourself. Count it in your purchase budget together with the notary's fees; the purchase knows no other large levies here.

And after that: the question is whether you live there yourself

The annual tax on real estate is called the property tax (vastgoedbelasting) here, and it has one boundary that decides everything for emigrants: the home occupied by the owner themselves is exempt. If you live there yourself, you therefore don't pay this tax. If you keep the house as a second home or go on to let it, you effectively pay 0.91% of the value a year: 17.5% on a notional benefit of 4% is 0.7%, and Bonaire levies a 30% island surcharge on top — and for second homes there is an exemption at the base. Whoever hesitates between "buy first, move later" and "move first, then buy" has yet another reason here for the second route. How housing, healthcare and work on the island otherwise fit together, you can read in healthcare on Bonaire and working and safety net on Bonaire.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 5 of 5 of the journey: the same steps, but applied to your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines monitored. See the whole journey to Bonaire.