Lock and cylinder replacement
in Amsterdam, at a fixed price

Usually the cylinder, not the whole lock

A Dutch front door normally has a cylinder: the barrel your key turns in, held by a single screw in the edge of the door. The rest of the lock is the mechanism inside the door and it rarely fails. So when people ask for "a new lock", what they almost always need is a new cylinder. That is quicker, considerably cheaper, and it immediately makes every existing key useless.

We measure the exact cylinder size on site. That is not a formality: a cylinder that sticks out beyond the escutcheon can be snapped off, which is the most common break-in method in the Netherlands. A correctly sized, flush-fitting cylinder removes that weakness.

When you should replace

• You have just moved in. You have no idea how many keys are out there — previous tenants, an ex-flatmate, a cleaner, a builder.
• Your keys are lost or stolen, especially on a ring with an address tag.
• The key turns stiffly or has to be wiggled. That is a worn cylinder and it will eventually snap off in the lock, usually at the worst moment.
• After a break-in or an attempt, even if the door still closes.
• You are letting the property and a tenant is changing.

SKG certification, and what it actually means

In the Netherlands, lock security is graded with SKG stars. One star is basic, two stars is the normal standard for a front door, and three stars adds anti-snap and anti-drill protection. Most Dutch home insurers expect at least two stars on an entrance door, and many tenancy agreements assume it. We will tell you honestly which level suits your door — there is no point putting a three-star cylinder in a flimsy interior door.

One key for everything

Many Amsterdam homes come with three or four keys: the street door, your own front door, the storage room and the back door. We can supply matching cylinders so one key opens them all. For a building we can go a step further with registered cylinders: copies can then only be cut against your own card, so you always know how many keys exist. That is particularly useful for owners' associations and landlords.

What it costs

You get a fixed total price before we start, including the cylinder, fitting and travel. A standard cylinder is considerably cheaper than a certified security one, and we will always say which we think you need rather than selling you the most expensive option. See our prices page for an overview.

More in English: Locksmith Amsterdam · Locked out · Lock & cylinder replacement · Prices

Frequently asked questions