Living on the Water

Do you live on a houseboat or a residential vessel, and is your mooring located in waters managed by the Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Board (HHNK)? If so, you’ll pay rent for it.

You will receive a rental invoice because your houseboat or floating home is moored in a berth on water owned by HHNK. We charge rent for the use of this space.

HHNK owns and manages many bodies of water, docks, and riverbanks in our area. If a houseboat or floating home uses water owned by HHNK, this constitutes the use of public space belonging to the water board.

You pay rent for this use. This is similar to renting land or a berth from another owner. Through the rent, we ensure that users contribute to the use of HHNK’s properties in a fair and transparent manner.

The rental income helps fund the management of our properties. HHNK ensures that waterways, banks, and quays remain safe and well-maintained. This is important for water safety, an adequate supply of clean water, and a properly functioning water system.

HHNK determines the rent based on the area of the mooring space that is used. In doing so, we consider the space that a houseboat or residential vessel occupies on the water.

The rates are based on the market value of the use of the site. HHNK has these values assessed periodically to ensure that the rates reflect a reasonable and up-to-date valuation of the use of our property.

That way, we ensure that similar situations are handled in a similar manner.

Not every berth is the same. Factors that can affect the rate include, for example:

• the area of the berth;
• the location's setting;
• the possible uses of the berth;
• current market trends.

As a result, rates may vary between berths.

Yes, that happens often. You can own your houseboat or floating home, while the water and the mooring are owned by HHNK. You pay rent for the use of that mooring.

The area is determined based on the space your houseboat or floating home occupies on the water. To do this, we use the available data from the mooring and the vessel itself.

HHNK reviews its rates periodically. In doing so, we consider factors such as market trends and the current value of the berth. If rates change, we will notify you.

If there are any changes to your houseboat, floating home, or mooring—for example, due to a sale, replacement, or a change in dimensions—please notify HHNK as soon as possible. This will allow us to determine whether these changes will affect your lease agreement or rental rate.

Do you have questions about your lease agreement, the calculation of your rent, or your berth? Please contact HHNK. We’d be happy to explain how your situation was assessed and how the rate was determined.