Leaders Among Foreign Buyers
According to data from the Property Registrars, Britons and Germans have strengthened their positions as the main foreign property buyers in Spain. Citizens of the Netherlands also made it into the top three by the number of purchase-and-sale transactions completed in 2025.
In the fourth quarter of last year, the Dutch moved up one place in the ranking and took second place with 6.7% of all transactions involving foreigners, trailing only the British (7.9%) and slightly ahead of the Germans (6.6%). According to luxury real estate agency Dils Lucas Fox, between 2023 and 2025 there was an almost 50% increase in the number of Dutch buyers. In addition, the volume of transactions concluded by the agency with clients from the Netherlands reached €52 million.
Why the Dutch Choose Spain
The Dutch are attracted by the favorable climate, the opportunity to lead an active outdoor lifestyle, good transport connections, and the beauty of Spain, as well as the potential profitability of owning local property. They mainly focus on destinations such as Jávea, the northern part of the Costa Blanca, or Girona on the Costa Brava coast, where in 2025 the growth in the number of transactions involving them exceeded 42%.
Purchase Motives and Buyer Profile
As for the motives for buying luxury property in Spain, according to Dils Lucas Fox, heightened interest is driven by the large number of sunny days, when people can enjoy nature, the sea, the mountains, play sports, etc. Thus, this is a life-driven motivation supported by factors such as remote work, the desire for an active lifestyle, or the wish to spend retirement years here. The age of Dutch people buying homes in Spain is mostly 45–60, although on the Costa Blanca this range expands to 50–60.
These buyers already view Spain as a place for long-term living:
- 45.3% of Dutch buyers purchase property as their primary residence
- 45.3% – as a “second home”
- 9.4% – as an investment.
Which Properties Are Most in Demand
The most sought-after types of luxury housing are energy-efficient, open-plan homes that are move-in ready.
- 51.6% of transactions concluded in 2025 by Dils Lucas Fox were for luxury villas
- 31.3% – for apartments
- 6.3% – for country houses
- and the remaining 10.8% – for other types of real estate.
