As voters head to the polls in the Netherlands this Wednesday, one issue is undeniably at the forefront of many minds, particularly among younger generations: the escalating shortage of affordable housing.
For a broad spectrum of the population—from students and recent graduates embarking on their careers to young adults planning families and individuals seeking social housing—securing an affordable home or even purchasing property in the Netherlands has become an almost impossible feat.
The root of the problem lies in a stark imbalance: an overwhelming number of people are searching for homes, but there simply aren’t enough available. This situation has plunged many Dutch cities into a deep affordability crisis, impacting both renters and aspiring homeowners alike.
“I’d prefer to live by myself, but that’s impossible, even though I earn enough,” expressed Charlotte Stienstra, a 33-year-old project manager based in Amsterdam.
When her long-term relationship ended last year, she moved out of her student rental, optimistic about buying her own place. However, the dream of getting onto the property ladder quickly proved unattainable. Instead, Ms. Stienstra found herself moving in with a roommate in northern Amsterdam, an area known for its recent construction.
“It’s pretty much a full-time job on the side to find something,” she lamented.
Experts suggest that the challenges within the Dutch housing market are the culmination of a ‘perfect storm’ that has been brewing for many years.
Population growth and a lack of new homes are among the factors leading to a housing crisis in the Netherlands.Credit…Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times
Charlotte Stienstra, 33, a project manager in Amsterdam, cannot find a place to live on her own, despite being able to afford it.Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times
Elisha van Kouwen, 25, a medical student in her final year, is planning to move back home with her parents in Utrecht, because her landlord is selling her building and she cannot afford other rentals.Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times
Over the past decade, the population has surged beyond government projections, driven by an influx of migrants, including workers, expats, students, and refugees. Simultaneously, the average household size has decreased, with more people living alone for longer periods, which in turn amplifies the demand for more, often smaller, homes.
Furthermore, since the economic downturn of 2008-2009, new home construction has not kept pace with demand, according to Peter Boelhouwer, a professor of housing systems at Delft University of Technology. He noted in a phone interview that building new homes in the Netherlands is often hampered by numerous local rules and environmental regulations, leading to significant delays.
Cumulatively, these factors have resulted in an estimated shortage of approximately 400,000 homes across the Netherlands, accounting for about 5 percent of the total housing stock, as reported by the Dutch research firm ABF Research.
“There’s an accessibility problem,” stated Hans Koster, a professor of urban economics and real estate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “There isn’t much left for first-time buyers or expats.”
Across the political spectrum, housing is acknowledged as one of the country’s most critical challenges. However, no single party has yet managed to assert clear leadership over the issue, despite a multitude of proposed solutions, according to a recent poll.
The center-left D66 party has pledged an ambitious plan to construct 10 new cities.
The left-wing alliance of the Labor Party and the Green Party, currently polling in second place, has declared public housing its “top priority” and proposed a tax on vacant properties owned by landlords.
Meanwhile, the far-right Party for Freedom, led by Geert Wilders, which holds the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives and has been leading recent polls, advocates for a “crisis plan” and “fewer rules.” Wilders, a long-time critic of migration, has also called for an end to prioritizing social housing for asylum seekers with valid permits to reside in the country.
However, the demographic Mr. Wilders references comprises only about 13 percent of those awaiting social housing in Amsterdam, explained Anne-Jo Visser, director of the Amsterdam Federation of Housing Associations. “That’s not how we’re going to solve the big problem,” she asserted.
The current wait time for one of Amsterdam’s approximately 190,000 affordable housing units is just under a decade, Ms. Visser confirmed.
Construction workers at the site of a new social housing project in northern Amsterdam this month.Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times
Beyond first-time buyers and those seeking social housing, middle-income renters are also facing considerable difficulties.
The number of private rental properties has decreased, partly due to a 2024 affordable rent law. This legislation has made renting out properties less financially appealing for landlords, prompting many to sell their properties instead.
This very issue has impacted Elisha van Kouwen, a 25-year-old medical student in her final year. Her landlord is selling the building where she currently shares an apartment with two friends, she explained.
Priced out of the current rental market, Ms. van Kouwen stated she plans to move back in with her parents in Utrecht. “You’ve built a life somewhere,” Ms. van Kouwen reflected, “but it’s very difficult to find a place to live.”
Isa Kashi, 27, who moved to the Netherlands a year ago from the United States to pursue a master’s degree in Amsterdam, expressed her surprise at the immense difficulty of finding housing. “There’s just constant stress about housing among my friends here,” she shared. “It’s constant worry simmering in the background.”
Ms. Kashi noted that even though she relocated from New York, a city with its own notorious housing crisis and rising rent prices, finding an apartment to rent in Amsterdam has proven even more challenging.
“In New York, I feel like you’ll find something. There’s enough inventory,” she observed. “Here, there just straight up aren’t enough places.”
Rosanne Kropman contributed to this report.