The land registry — in Dutch the Kadaster, and also called the cadastre — is the official record of who owns land and buildings and where the boundaries of parcels lie. Every parcel is drawn on the cadastral map and has a unique number. Besides ownership, matters such as mortgages and other rights (for example easements) are kept in the public registers.
What is recorded
- Parcel boundaries — the limits of each piece of land, shown on the cadastral map
- Ownership — who owns a parcel or building
- Rights and charges — mortgages, ground leases, easements and other burdens on a parcel
- Cadastral data — area, location and the parcel number
Application
When a home is bought or sold, the transfer of ownership is registered (in the Netherlands through the civil-law notary) in the public registers; only then is the new owner officially known. For an extension or alteration it also pays to check the cadastral data: you then know exactly where your boundary runs and how far you may build.
Points to note
- If the exact position of a boundary is in doubt, the registry can mark it out on the ground on request
- The cadastral map underpins many building and planning decisions
Related terms
- Property boundary
- Zoning plan
- Parcel
- Ownership
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