Dutch housing shortage could be cut in years, expert says
The Netherlands’ housing crisis could be significantly reduced within a few years with consistent, targeted policy, according to Taco van Hoek, director of the Economic Institute for Construction (EIB).
“The housing debate is marred by perceptions that obscure solutions to the housing crisis, which are not particularly difficult or unfeasible,” Van Hoek told De Telegraaf. “If we can maintain this pace for five years, the housing shortage can be resolved quickly.”
The EIB found that building 100,000 homes annually is feasible with the right policies. Van Hoek criticized political focus on long-term shortages, such as D66’s plan to build ten new cities, which would not start until at least 2040 and take decades to complete.
“Costly time, money, and construction capacity are being wasted that could be used for direct solutions,” he told the newspaper. “Small streets and neighborhoods at the edges of towns could contribute significantly to housing in the coming years. What is needed is some freedom to build higher-priced homes that also promote mobility within the market.”
Van Hoek rejected the idea that government involvement caused the shortage. “Government influence has increased sharply in recent years. Quotas, affordability rules, and stricter regulations have shaped the market. The free rental sector has nearly disappeared, yet some parties want to continue this approach.”
He also warned that cutting mortgage interest deductions for first-time buyers could harm them, that migration impacts housing demand more than assumed, and welcomed the raised nitrogen threshold as a positive step removing unnecessary building restrictions.
