Tekenpunt / Renovations / Basement
▲ Renovation type · Basement & semi-basement PLAN N°KLD-2026 / SCALE 1:50 / 06.2026

Basement or lower ground floor drawings across the Netherlands

Gain extra living space without sacrificing a single square metre of garden or building height: beneath your home. A basement or semi-basement is the most complex renovation, as structural design and groundwater are always factors. We produce the complete drawing with structural principles from €1,849 incl. VAT, with construction and soil conditions accounted for from day one.

€1,849
Starting price
Construction drawing + design brief (incl. VAT)
100%
Structure
Always included
Fast
Delivery time
Rush for a surcharge
+35m²
Space gained
Below your property
§01 What is the

What is a basement?

A basement or semi-basement is a waterproof space below or partly below ground level where structure and groundwater always play a role. The complete drawing with design basis costs from €1,849 incl. VAT and Tekenpunt plans delivery by arrangement (rush available for a surcharge). An environmental permit is almost always needed, allow 8 weeks for the decision period. You follow your entire application live in your own online file, from quote to delivery.

It is structurally the most demanding renovation: everything revolves around a watertight concrete box, a safe excavation pit and the connection to the existing foundation. These are the elements we draw.

MAAIVELD BASEMENT PIT BELOW GROUND LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6
  • 1
    Waterproof concrete tank (basement box)

    The complete watertight concrete shell you live in. The heart of every basement: it must withstand ground and water pressure and remain completely dry.

  • 2
    Sheet pile / cofferdam

    The temporary wall that holds back the ground during excavation. Crucial next to an existing building to prevent subsidence.

  • 3
    Floor + foundation connection

    The basement floor and its connection to the existing foundation. This is where the structural calculation is most critical.

  • 4
    Walls with water barrier

    Basement walls with a built-in water barrier against groundwater. Detailing of joints and penetrations is decisive for a dry basement.

  • 5
    Staircase / access

    The connection to the upper dwelling. Custom positioning and pitch angle, often the trickiest puzzle piece in an existing property.

  • 6
    Sun tunnel, garden window & ventilation

    Daylight via a light shaft or, for a semi-basement, a garden-facing window, plus mechanical ventilation against moisture. This determines whether the basement truly becomes habitable.

§02 Quick check

Do you need a building permit?

Four questions, about 30 seconds. No obligation.

1
Is it a new basement or deepening an existing one?
2
Does the basement go under the house or under the garden?
3
Is your property a (national) listed building?
4
Do you know the groundwater level at your location?
Permit almost certainly required

A basement almost always affects the structure, groundwater and municipal soil regulations, so a building permit is in practice usually required. We handle the drawing, the structural principles and the application. From €1,849 incl. VAT. Request a no-obligation quote for your specific situation.

§03 Costs

Calculate your basement price

Indicative calculator. The drawing is a fixed price; the construction work (groundwork, concrete shell, finishing) is carried out separately by a contractor or basement specialist.

Your situation

What you pay with us

Lines excl. VAT

  • Construction drawing basement€1,528.10
  • Selected add-ons€0
  • Rush (surcharge)€0
Total incl. VAT €1,849
Request a quote for this price →
Only then the construction itself, via a contractor or basement builder (not with us):
Construction costs basement± €81,000

* We handle the design, structural engineering principles and (if required) the permit. The construction work (groundwork, concrete shell, waterproofing, fit-out) is carried out separately by a basement contractor; that figure is an indication of approximately €2,500 to €4,000 per m². Request a quote for the exact drawing costs.

Amounts shown are incl. VAT (consumer price); the amount below the total is the amount without VAT. Your personal quote always shows the exact total price.

§04 Packages

Choose your package

Every package includes the drawing. Add structural calculation or the full permit route.

Drawing

from €1,849 incl. VAT
  • Existing + new floor plans, elevations, relevant sections and site plan to scale
  • PDF + DWG files, suitable for the municipality and your contractor
  • Fixed price upfront, no cost surprises

Not included

  • Structural calculation
  • Submitted to the municipality
  • 3D visualisation
Request this package →

Drawing + structural calculation

from €2,932 incl. VAT
  • Everything in Drawing
  • Load schedule per Eurocode, member/support sizing, checked against the Bbl building code
  • Signed off by our own structural engineer, internally checked before release

Not included

  • Submitted to the municipality
  • 3D visualisation
Request this package →
  • Our own structural engineers and drafters work per Eurocode and check against the Bbl building code; every drawing and calculation is reviewed internally by our checkers before release.
  • 930 projects since 2016, and 90% clears the aesthetics review (welstand) on the first pass — meaning: no design change needed after the municipality's first assessment.
  • 4.9 out of 10 reviews for this type of renovation (15 projects since 2016).
§05 Three variants

Which basement suits your home?

From an existing basement that you deepen to a full-height basement with daylight. We advise on what is structurally feasible and what the groundwater level allows.

New basement under the property

Excavating a completely new basement under your existing home. Maximum space gain, but involving a construction pit, sheet piling and a rigorous structural assessment.

  • PermitRequired
  • Extra space25-50 m²
  • Permit process8+ wk
Price on quote

Basement with daylight

A semi-sunken basement with a garden-facing window or sunken patio: a true garden room or kitchen-diner full of daylight. The highest-quality end result.

  • PermitRequired
  • DaylightFull
  • Permit process8+ wk
Price on quote
§06 Comparison

Basement vs alternatives

A basement is the way to gain square metres without affecting your garden or building volume, but it is the most demanding intervention. Here is how it compares to an extension and a roof extension.

Basement

  • Design from €1,849 incl. VAT
  • Always structural work and groundwater
  • 10-50 m² beneath the property
  • Delivery planned by arrangement
  • Garden and facade remain intact

Extension

  • Design from €599 incl. VAT
  • Often partly permit-free
  • 10-25 m² on the ground floor
  • Does use garden space

Roof extension

  • Design from €649 incl. VAT
  • Permit always required
  • 20-50 m² full additional floor
  • 8-week permit
  • Does the building height change
§07 Permit depends on situation

What applies where?

For a basement, the type of intervention, the groundwater level and any listed-building status determine whether (and how strictly) you need a building permit. A few typical situations.

Site plan
Type
Permit
Price
Soil / groundwater
Deepening existing basement, dry
Deepen
Usually
On quote
Favourable
New basement under property, dry
New
Required
On quote
Favourable
New basement, high groundwater level
New
Required
On quote
Attention
Basement with daylight
Basement level
Required
On quote
Attention
Listed building / protected townscape
Custom work
Required
On quote
Very strict
§08 Case study

Example project: basement beneath a villa

CASE · BLOEMENDAAL · 05.2026

New basement under an existing 1930s villa

Example project · beneath the home · permit required · wellness + storage space

+35 m² space
1 permit
Fixed price our design
Fast drawing

Challenge: A family in Bloemendaal wanted extra space for a wellness area and storage, but the garden and streetscape had to remain undisturbed. A basement beneath the existing villa was the only option, with the foundation and groundwater level as major unknowns.

Our approach: Together with a structural engineer we mapped the existing foundation and established the structural principles for the excavation pit and the watertight concrete tank. The groundwater level proved favourable. We delivered a complete, dimensionally accurate drawing that both the basement contractor and the municipality could work with straight away.

Result: 35 m² of extra living space under the house, a dry and well-ventilated basement, and a permit granted in one go. Drawing planned by arrangement; permit within the decision period.

§09 Additional info

Groundwater, financing & structure

A basement is a major, permanent investment with significant space gains. What you need to know in advance.

Groundwater first

The groundwater level determines whether a basement is feasible and how robust the waterproof structure needs to be. If in doubt, we recommend a soil survey before finalising the starting points.

ADVICE · GROUNDWATER LEVEL + MONITORING WELL

Structural calculation required

Excavating beneath or beside a home affects the foundation. A structural calculation is therefore standard for a basement; we establish the design parameters and collaborate with a structural engineer.

NORM · EUROCODE / BBL 2026

Renovation mortgage

A basement significantly increases the living area and often the property value. The costs can be co-financed through a renovation mortgage (up to 106% of the value after renovation).

BRON · NHG.NL 2026
§10 Frequently asked questions

FAQ about basements

Q01Do I need a building permit for a basement?

Often yes. A basement beneath the existing ground level of your property can sometimes be permit-free, but due to groundwater, structural requirements, and municipal soil regulations, a building permit is usually required in practice. A semi-basement with natural light and a new basement beneath the dwelling are almost always subject to a permit. We check your situation free of charge.

Q02What does a basement drawing cost?

A complete basement drawing with structural principles starts from €1,849 incl. VAT. This is the most complex renovation we draw because it always involves a structural and groundwater question. The construction itself (by a contractor or basement specialist) is indicatively between €2,500 and €4,000 per m².

Q03Is groundwater an issue with a basement?

Groundwater is the most important consideration for a basement. The basement shell must be watertight (a concrete tank with water barrier) and where the water table is high the structure must resist upward pressure. We always include the groundwater level in our design principles and refer to a soil survey where necessary.

Q04Is a structural calculation mandatory?

For a basement, almost always. Excavating beneath or alongside an existing home directly affects the foundation and structural stability. A structural calculation is therefore standard for a basement design; we handle this in collaboration with a structural engineer.

Q05How long does it take?

We plan the drawing by arrangement; rush is available for a surcharge. A basement almost always requires a permit; allow 8 weeks for the municipal decision period, which can take longer with soil investigation or a structural review.

Q06Do you work across the Netherlands?

Yes. We draw basements and semi-basements across the Netherlands. We handle the drawings remotely, submit any required building permit to your municipality and take into account local soil and groundwater rules.

◆ Kelder in de praktijk

15 basement conversion projects since 2016

10 clients rated their basement conversion project with an average of 4,8 out of 5 stars. A few of their comments:

BJ
Bram J.Zoetermeer · Basement
★★★★★

Very professional firm. The construction drawings for our basement conversion were highly detailed. Exactly what we were looking for, and the contractor could get straight to work.

Basement
PP
Peter P.Wassenaar · Basement
★★★★★

We wanted to build a basement conversion in Wassenaar. Tekenpunt guided us well from start to finish, and we could get straight to work with the contractor.

Basement
MD
Maaike D.Utrecht · Basement
★★★★★

Tekenpunt drew up our basement conversion perfectly. Thank you!

Basement
JB
Johan de B.Enschede · Basement
★★★★★

Geweldige service en duidelijke communicatie.

Basement

View all reviews →

§12 Plan your basement

Start your basement today

A fixed-price quote as soon as possible. Free check on whether a basement is feasible for you, including a first estimate of construction and groundwater. No obligation.

Last updated: October 2026