(Editor’s note: This is Pt. 2 of a two-part post about buying a home in Europe. You can jump to Pt. 1 here.)
Buying a home in Europe is an exciting milestone for any expat, but European houses come with quirks that might leave you scratching your head. From steep stairs that feel like ladders to closet-sized bedrooms, European homes are full of surprises. Whether you’re moving from North America, Asia or anywhere else, adjusting to these differences is part of the adventure.
Now, I know what you might be thinking: “I’ll just avoid buying houses with those eccentricities.”
I’ll let you in on a little secret — you can’t avoid them all.
Yep, that’s the oven ….
Small kitchen appliances
Expats from North America often struggle with the downsized appliances in European kitchens. Refrigerators are much smaller, limiting bulk shopping trips. It also might be a tight fit to fit a full-sized turkey in the smaller ovens. Be prepared to adjust your meal planning and prepping to accommodate these smaller sizes.
I once sent my American friend a picture of our kitchen renovation and she commented:
“Aww, that’s a cute refrigerator.”
I had to respond that she was looking at my new freezer (“large” by European standards) and that my refrigerator was much smaller.
Combi-ovens: Jack-of-all-trades, master of none
To make kitchen matters worse, you might be stuck with a “combi-oven” or “combi-microwave” which functions as both oven and microwave. In theory, this sounds efficient, but in practice, it’s usually a mediocre version of both. I quickly realized that my combi-microwave would not cut it for baked goods and Thanksgiving turkey, so three months after I bought my house, I bought an actual oven. Some compromises aren’t worth it ….
Steep stairs
If you’re house-hunting in Europe, be warned: stairs can be shockingly steep. In older buildings, staircases are often so narrow and steep that they feel more like ladders than stairs.
Two taps for water
The first time I used the bathroom at my friend’s house in Ireland, I was perplexed. There were two taps — one for hot, one for cold. Scalding hot hands or icy hands … that’s not a great choice.
I would like to say that this is a quirk of older houses in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but sadly, this was a modern house. The logic behind this design quirk is debated, but for expats, it mostly means an awkward hand-washing experience or mastering the art of quickly mixing water in the basin.
Doors that are fire hazards
As soon as I moved to the Netherlands, I was shocked to find that some front doors require a key to exit. Hello, fire hazard?
Growing up, I learned about the historic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, which “exposed critical workplace safety failures, including locked exit doors.”
Europe apparently never learned this lesson because often people scramble to find their house keys when guests want to leave. I’ve also seen people hang a key on a string next to the door. This applies to old and modern doors.
Please, please, please: make this your top priority to change when you move in!
No screens
You might as well buy a welcome mat that says, “Bugs Welcome” because most European houses don’t use screens in their windows. Unlike in North America, window screens are almost nonexistent. If you live in a place with mosquitoes, this can be an issue. Some expats end up installing makeshift screens or just learning to live with the discomfort.
Lack of air conditioning
Most European homes, even newer ones, don’t have built-in air conditioning. This isn’t a problem in cooler climates, but during heatwaves, it can be brutal. Portable units or fans are the go-to solution, but you see more and more Europeans retrofitting AC into their homes.
Combination clothes dryer/air conditioner
Lack of space for a clothes dryer
In many European homes and apartments, clothes dryers are still not standard. Whether it’s not traditional or some houses lack the space, you’ll see many people air-dry clothes, either indoors or on a balcony.
Old European homes can be quite charming with beautiful touches, like original wood floors, tall windows and high ceilings. You can forgive many of the quirks of these homes, although it’s odd to see these things still built into modern houses.
Buying a home in Europe can be an incredible next step, but it helps to know what you’re getting into and what your hard-no’s are.
Some quirks require adjustment, while others you might find charming over time. And if you can’t get used to them? Well, Europeans continue to find creative workarounds.
Lane Henry is an accidental long-term expat. She is an American who came to the Netherlands for two years—or so she thought. She has now lived in the Netherlands and explored Europe for over a decade.
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