🕒 7 min read
Accurate building data is essential in a city like Amsterdam, where every square meter has a direct impact on value, rent and feasibility. Whether you are acquiring an apartment in De Pijp, redeveloping a canal house in the Jordaan, or preparing a commercial lease in Zuid or Sloterdijk, a NEN2580 meting is the most reliable way to calculate floor areas according to Dutch standards.
In this guide we explain what a NEN2580 survey includes, how the nen2580 meetrapport is structured, and why real estate professionals in Amsterdam rely on this standard when they need certainty.
For a general overview of the standard, see Nen2580.
Contents
- What is a NEN2580 meting?
- The NEN2580 meetrapport
- Why Amsterdam professionals rely on it
- NEN2580 vs other measurement standards
- How Wolk performs a NEN2580 meting
- When NEN2580 is essential in Amsterdam
- Contact Wolk
NEN2580 meting: what it is and why it matters in Amsterdam
A NEN2580 measurement is the Dutch reference method for determining gross floor
area (BVO), net floor area (VO), usable area (GO), and
rentable floor area (VVO). This standard is particularly important
in Amsterdam because::
- many buildings are old or transformed over time
- drawings are often outdated or incomplete
- legal disputes on square meters are common in rental and sale contracts
- In a competitive market, investors require data that can be verified quickly
A NEN2580 measurement is used for:
- purchase of homes and commercial properties in Amsterdam
- renewal and conversion of monumental buildings
- feasibility studies for renovations and expansions
- rental contracts in which the rentable area determines the price
- valuations and audits by banks and other financiers
In Amsterdam, minor variations of just a few centimeters can impact
property values by tens of thousands of euros.
The NEN2580 meetrapport explained
The nen2580 meetrapport is the certified document delivered produced after the measurement.
For Amsterdam buildings—often narrow, multi-story, historic, or recently
renovated—the report ensures clarity and full traceability.
The report includes:
It includes:
- an overview of the building (address, floors, rooms included)
- the measuring method (3D laser scanning is highly recommended for Amsterdam
buildings) - 2D floor plans with detailed geometry
- tables with BVO, NVO, GO and VVO
- explanation of excluded areas according to NEN2580
- digital files: PDF, DWG and optionally IFC/BIM
Wolk generates all reports based on high-resolution point clouds. This is
essential for complex geometries, slanted walls, narrow staircases, and historic
facades, such as those often seen in Amsterdam.
Why real estate & architects in Amsterdam rely on NEN2580
In Amsterdam, all parties involved need measurable clarity:
- Housing associations require certified usable surface area
- Architects want a reliable basis for redesign and extensions
- Real estate agents use NEN2580 in negotiations and marketing
- Investors want reliable data before closing a deal
- Project developers need accuracy for property splits and conversions.
A certified NEN2580 meting ensures:
- no misunderstandings about usable and rentable surface area
- no surprises after purchase
- realistic assumptions in the design
- defensible value assessments
- transparent negotiations between buyer and seller
“Reliable measurement underpins every real estate decisionis — especially in Amsterdam, where space and value are strongly connected.”
— Alessandro Marasca, Managing Director, Wolk Point Cloud
NEN2580 vs other measurement standards
NEN2580 vs BOMA (USA)
BOMA often allocates shared spaces proportionally.
NEN2580 is stricter and more neutral — Amsterdam landlords and tenants prefer its clarity.
NEN2580 vs IPMS
IPMS is international.
NEN2580 remains the default for Dutch leasing, valuation and compliance.
NEN2580 vs Bouwbesluit
Bouwbesluit focuses on regulatory requirements (fire, ventilation, height).
It is not designed for commercial area calculations.
NEN2580 vs architect’s internal calculations
Architects often use preliminary drawings that do not follow NEN2580 criteria.
The meetrapport provides a neutral basis accepted by all parties.
How Wolk performs a NEN2580 meting in Amsterdam
Wolk operates directly in Amsterdam and offers fast deployment.
Our workflow includes:
- 3D laser scanning of the building
- Point cloud processing
- Extraction of NEN2580 area categories
- 2D plans + area tables
- Optional BIM (IFC / Revit)
Advantages for Amsterdam clients:
- same-day or next-day scanning available in many neighbourhoods
- ideal for pre-acquisition checks
- perfect for split-ups, renovations and transformations
- meets requirements for municipalities and banks
When is a NEN2580 meting essential in Amsterdam?
Choose a NEN2580 survey when:
- you buy apartments in older buildings with unclear drawings
- you transform a monumental building into an office or residential function
- you want to split or merge a property (deed of division)
- rental contracts are renegotiated based on rentable area
- Surface areas must be verifiably documented for investors or banks
- you want to record the existing situation exactly before a renovation
If your decisions relate to costs, risk or compliance, NEN2580 is the safest choice in Amsterdam.
Contact Wolk
📞 Let’s discuss your next project
Wolk Point Cloud is based in Amsterdam and supports architects, investors and real estate owners with certified NEN2580 measurements, BIM models and digital building recordings.
Contact us directly:
• 📞 Phone / WhatsApp: +31 20 8965817
• ✉️ Email: info@wolk-amsterdam.nl
• 📝 Fill out our form and we’ll get back to you shortly
We support projects across Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Haarlem, Zaandam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and the wider Randstad.
Make your next project faster, more secure, and fully digital.
