De Gratis Makelaar

What De Gratis Makelaar does

De Gratis Makelaar (legal entity DGM B.V.) is a Netherlands-based online real estate broker founded in 2017 and headquartered in Rotterdam, operating under the model of an "internetmakelaar." The company serves Dutch residential property sellers and buyers through a fully self-serve digital platform with no physical offices. Sellers can register a property online and receive, at no cost, a Funda listing, professional photography, and access to the proprietary Online Biedplatform, while buyers browse listings and submit transparent, visible bids. All ownership transfers are executed through a fixed partnership with Nationale Notaris, and the platform also offers a Woningdossier for digital document access, Digitaal Tekenen for remote purchase-agreement signing, and an Open Huis Begeleiding service to support sellers running viewings.

The core product is the Online Biedplatform, a transparent online bidding system in which all bids are visible to registered users, with automatic outbid notifications, the ability for buyers to revise their bids, and a 15-minute extension if a bid is placed in the final 15 minutes of a bidding window. Supporting features include Funda integration for top-of-funnel distribution, a digital document repository, remote digital signing, and a buyer-side Hypotheek Certificaat delivered in partnership with Blauw & Florijn to evidence mortgage readiness. The company is a member of VBO Makelaar, the Dutch branch association for real estate brokers, and reports a Funda rating of 8.8 out of 10 and an average sales outcome of approximately 14% above the asking price across its 1,360 platform listings.

The business model is asymmetric in its fee allocation: sellers pay €0 for listing, marketing, and bidding-platform access, while buyers pay a one-time transaction fee (veilingfee) at closing, starting at a €1,999 minimum and structured by bid tier (€0–200k: €500–€2,500 raises; €200k–€450k: €1,000–€5,000 raises; €450k–€1M: €2,000–€12,500 raises). The fee is payable at closing and can be included in the buyer's mortgage financing, which shifts the cost burden from the seller to the buyer and undercuts traditional Dutch brokers that charge seller-side courtage. The go-to-market motion is self-serve product-led growth, supported by Funda-driven organic traffic, an SEO and blog presence, an email newsletter with 10,000+ subscribers, organic social activity on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and PR coverage in NRC, AD, BNR, RTL5, and Metro.

Name

De Gratis Makelaar

Legal name

DGM B.V.

Website

https://degratismakelaar.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

De Gratis Makelaar is a Netherlands-based online real estate broker offering sellers a free listing and Funda exposure while buyers pay a transaction fee to use its transparent Online Biedplatform for residential property transactions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Buyer Auction Fee (Veilingfee): The buyer pays a one-time auction fee (veilingfee) when purchasing a property through the platform. This fee is charged to the buyer, not the seller, making the service free for sellers. The fee is paid at closing and can be included in the mortgage financing. Minimum fee is €1,999.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

De Gratis Makelaar operates an online real estate brokerage platform in the Netherlands where homeowners list and sell properties at no commission (€0), with professional photography and Funda advertising included. Buyers register on the platform and participate in a transparent online bidding process, paying a transaction fee (veilingfee) starting at €1,999 at closing. The service bundle covers the full sales process including a digital property dossier, digital signing, and fixed notary services through Nationale Notaris.

Product overview

De Gratis Makelaar operates as an online real estate broker offering a free selling platform for homeowners paired with a transparent online bidding platform for buyers. The core product is the Online Biedplatform, which enables property transactions through transparent competitive bidding. Supporting services include the Woningdossier for property document access, Digitaal Tekenen for remote purchase agreement signing, and the Hypotheek Certificaat offered through partner Blauw & Florijn for mortgage pre-approval. Sellers receive complimentary Funda listings and professional photography, while buyers can register on the platform to bid and access property documentation. All property transfers are handled by De Nationale Notaris.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Online Biedplatform: The company's transparent online bidding platform for property transactions

Products and services

• Online Biedplatform (Online Bidding Platform) Transparent online auction platform where buyers register, place and revise bids on listed properties, see competing bids in real time, and receive automatic outbid notifications. If a bid is placed in the final 15 minutes, the bidding window is extended by 15 minutes. Used by Dutch property buyers to bid on homes listed through De Gratis Makelaar.
• Free Property Selling Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 14% above asking price achieved for sellers
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VBO MakelaarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Gratis Makelaar is a member of VBO (branchevereniging voor makelaars), the Dutch branch association for real estate brokers. As a member, they adhere to VBO professional standards and consumer terms.
• Nationale NotariscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFixed notary partner for all property transfers. All ownership transfers take place at the Nationale Notaris, ensuring consistent transaction handling across all deals.
• Blauw & FlorijnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent mortgage advisors offering Hypotheek Certificaat (Mortgage Certificate) to help buyers understand their financial possibilities and improve their chances in competitive bidding situations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Huizenbezit.nl: Dutch internet makelaar offering fixed-fee online home selling services. Direct competitor targeting cost-conscious sellers in the same value-segment as De Gratis Makelaar.
• Verkoopmakelaar.nl: Dutch online real estate broker offering low-cost home selling with online service delivery. Direct competitor in the internet makelaar category with similar Funda-driven acquisition model.
• 123Wonen: Dutch real estate agency network with a strong online and offline hybrid model, including a low-fee internet makelaar offering. Comparable in serving Dutch sellers seeking an alternative to traditional full-service brokers.
• Makelaarsland: One of the largest Dutch internet makelaars, offering low-commission or fixed-fee home selling services online. Direct competitor to De Gratis Makelaar in the no/low-cost self-serve segment with nationwide coverage.
• Jaap.nl: Major Dutch online real estate marketplace and brokerage offering low-cost home selling services. Direct competitor in the self-serve, low-commission online makelaar category with a large national audience.
• Eerlijk Bieden: Dutch online platform that pioneered transparent online bidding for property sales, charging a buyer-paid auction fee. Closest direct competitor due to nearly identical bidding-platform model.

Emerging players

• ZelfVerkopen.nl: Dutch self-sell platform that supports homeowners selling their own homes with optional paid services. Adjacent competitor — overlapping in the do-it-yourself seller segment but not a direct bidding-platform peer.

Others

• Funda: Dominant Dutch real estate listing marketplace and a key distribution channel for De Gratis Makelaar's listings. Not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem partner whose terms govern the company's top-of-funnel access.
• Blauw & Florijn: Independent Dutch mortgage advisor that provides the Hypotheek Certificaat on De Gratis Makelaar's platform. Partner / ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor; could be a comparable if the company brings mortgage origination in-house.

Broad incumbents

• Huis & Hypotheek: Established Dutch real estate and mortgage advisory network with physical offices and online services. Larger, broader incumbent that competes for Dutch sellers with bundled brokerage-plus-mortgage offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DeGratisMakelaar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-gratis-makelaar
• Instagraminstagram.com/degratismakelaar
• Xx.com/gratis_makelaar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about De Gratis Makelaar