Permits for flexible, temporary homes jump 47%

Last year, permits were issued for almost 6,200 temporary homes, an increase of 47 percent compared to 2023, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. Between 2020 and 2024, permits were issued for 18,000 temporary homes.

Temporary homes are considered a quick, if temporary, solution in the housing crisis. These pre-fabricated homes, often aimed at students and refugees, can be placed quickly. And many consist of several living spaces with shared facilities like kitchens, so can offer homes for several households. These temporary homes are often erected on property destined for something else in the future, so they can stand there for a fixed period, typically up to 10 years.

In general, the more densely populated provinces issue the most permits for temporary homes. Noord-Brabant issued permits for the most temporary homes last year (1,600), followed by Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland. Friesland and Groningen issued the fewest permits, fewer than a hundred per province.

Of all the Dutch municipalities, Tilburg has issued permits for the most temporary homes between 2020 and 2024, at 1,244. The municipalities of Ouder-Amstel, Hengelo, and Utrecht have also issued a relatively large number of permits.

“Municipalities with more residents often permit more temporary housing, but this does not apply to all municipalities with many residents,” CBS said. For example, the relatively large municipalities of Apeldoorn, Arnhem, and Haarlem did not issue any permits for temporary housing between 2020 and 2024. “However, a year-on-year comparison is difficult to make because usually a large number of permits are granted at once. Then sometimes, none are granted for several years.”