Checking noise before you buy: motorway, rail and aircraft

Short answer: noise from motorways, railways and air traffic is publicly mapped (among others by the RIVM) and checkable per location. A lovely home on a busy road can be considerably louder than it seems during a quiet Sunday-morning viewing.

What to look at

• Road traffic: distance to motorways and through-roads.
• Rail: proximity to a railway line (freight trains at night!).
• Aviation: flight paths — especially relevant around Schiphol, Eindhoven and Rotterdam.
• Cumulation: several sources at once add up.

Not a reason to bail, but to look closely

The point of checking in advance is to look more deliberately. High noise exposure? Ask about insulation (HR++ glass, façade insulation) and go back during a weekday rush hour. That way you weigh it consciously instead of noticing it only after buying.

Sources: Atlas Leefomgeving (RIVM) — noise