Where does the Kadaster get its measurements from?
Every time a plot changes ownership, is subdivided, or becomes part of a boundary dispute, the Kadaster sends a land surveyor. The surveyor measures the boundary and records the coordinates in the Dutch National Triangulation System — the coordinate system that has been the standard since 1886. The Kadaster then calculates the area from those boundary points.
The registered area is not an estimate. It is a calculation based on surveyed coordinates. For most residential plots this is accurate to the square metre. Only for plots that have not been re-surveyed in decades — rural parcels or leasehold land from the 1950s, for instance — can there occasionally be a small discrepancy between what is registered and what the land actually looks like.
Three ways to look up cadastral dimensions
1. Kadaster.nl — the official source
Via kadaster.nl you can order an ownership extract (€13.40). That gives you the parcel number, area, and ownership details. For the cadastral map — the boundary drawn on a map — you can consult the free Cadastral Map Viewer. Search by address, click your parcel, and you see the boundaries immediately.
2. PDOK — open data for advanced users
PDOK.nl offers the cadastral map as open geodata. You can download parcels as GeoJSON or shapefile — useful if you work with QGIS or another GIS tool. For most people this is too technical; the Kadaster's own map viewer is simpler.
3. PlotSense — enter an address, see the boundary
On PlotSense you enter your address and immediately see the parcel boundary overlaid on a current aerial photo. Free. The Parcel Report (€25) adds the setback distances: how many metres your façade is from the boundary, and how much space you have left for extensions.
What is actually in the cadastral register?
- Plot area in m² — calculated from the boundary points. This figure also appears on your WOZ assessment.
- Cadastral designation — municipality code + section letter + parcel number. Your plot is something like ASD09-M-3833, which you can use to look it up anywhere.
- Boundary points in RD coordinates — the corner points of your plot in the Dutch triangulation system (EPSG:28992). With these you can draw the boundary in Google Earth or a GIS package.
- Parcel type — land, water, or road. Determines what you may do with it.
Is your fence in the wrong place?
This is a common issue with older properties. The fence or hedge that has been there for years does not have to sit exactly on the cadastral boundary. Sometimes it is five centimetres off, sometimes half a metre. Legally, the boundary runs where the Kadaster says it runs — not where the fence stands.
Compare the cadastral boundary with a recent aerial photo of your plot. If the boundary does not match the actual fence line, you can see the discrepancy at a glance. Talk to your neighbour first before ordering a survey — a cadastral measurement costs €700 to €900 and is often unnecessary if both parties can agree on the situation.
Want to know how accurate those registered dimensions really are? Read about the accuracy of cadastral dimensions.
When do you actually need a professional surveyor?
- Boundary dispute with a neighbour — if you cannot agree on where the boundary runs, the Kadaster can carry out a boundary restoration. The outcome is legally binding for both parties.
- Subdividing your plot — when selling or splitting off a portion of land, the Kadaster must survey and register the new boundaries as separate parcels. This always goes through a notary and a cadastral survey.
- Building on or right next to the boundary — if you want to place a wall or shed exactly on the boundary, a cadastral layout survey gives you certainty. Without it you risk the structure ending up partly on your neighbour's land.
- Plot not surveyed for a long time — for parcels not updated in 30 years or more, a small discrepancy may have crept in. A new survey brings the register back in line with reality.
What does a cadastral survey cost?
The Kadaster uses fixed tariffs. A boundary restoration at two points — the most common scenario in a neighbour dispute — costs approximately €700 to €900 excluding VAT in 2026. More boundary points or a more remote location pushes the price up. A certified land surveying firm charges a similar amount, as they act as an intermediary for the Kadaster.
Check your plot without any cost
Enter your address on PlotSense. You see the plot area, parcel number, and boundary on the map — free. The full Parcel Report with all dimensions, setback distances, and build options costs €25.