Municipalities positive about splitting big homes, but that rarely happens in practice

Dutch municipalities are generally supportive of splitting single-family homes into multiple units, but they issue only a few thousand permits each year, according to responses from nearly 300 municipalities to the ANP news agency.

Not all municipalities could provide exact numbers, and some track home divisions differently. In Amsterdam, hundreds of homes are split annually, while smaller municipalities often grant only a few permits per year.

Local rules significantly limit how many homes can be divided. In Zaanstad, split homes must be at least 100 meters apart. In Groningen, the original house must be at least 140 square meters.

Several municipalities also require sufficient on-site parking. Some municipalities do not allow home splitting at all, including Almelo and Raalte. Lelystad “in principle” does not grant permits, while Roosendaal, Zeist, and Stein are “cautious” in their approach.

Despite these restrictions, many municipalities are developing new policies to allow more home divisions. Soest, Zaltbommel, and Breda have introduced new rules, and in other areas, recent regulations have also eased restrictions.

A 2023 study estimates that dividing existing homes could add between 80,000 and 160,000 new residences by 2030. Caretaker Housing Minister Mona Keijzer of BBB supports this approach and wants to encourage permit-free splitting, at least for conversions of one home into two.

The Association of Dutch Municipalities disagrees. A spokesperson said, “Permit-free splitting can have major consequences for neighborhoods where livability is already under pressure.” Municipalities want to retain control over which homes can be divided.

The new coalition government of D66, VVD, and CDA aims to allow rooftop additions and home splits “where possible” without a permit.