Mortgage types: annuity, linear, interest-only (2026)
Dutch mortgages come in three forms. An annuity mortgage (annuïteit) has equal monthly payments — mostly interest early, mostly principal later. A linear mortgage (lineair) repays equal principal each month, so payments start higher and fall over time, and you pay less total interest. Interest-only (aflossingsvrij) pays only interest and never repays — but it earns no mortgage interest relief for loans taken since 2013, and lenders cap it well below full value.
How they differ
Annuity is the default: a stable payment that's comfortable early on, at the cost of more total interest and slow early repayment. Linear costs more in the first years but builds equity faster and is cheaper over the full term. Interest-only keeps the monthly payment lowest but the debt never shrinks, so you carry the full loan to the end.
The tax catch
Mortgage interest relief (hypotheekrenteaftrek) only applies if the loan is repaid in full via an annuity or linear schedule within 30 years. Interest-only loans taken out from 2013 onward do not qualify for relief, which is why they're usually a top-up (often max 50% of value), not the whole mortgage. The calculator lets you switch type and toggle relief to see the effect.