Only 70,000 homes added to housing stock last year; Lowest number in 5 years

Last year, around 70,000 new homes were added to the housing stock in the Netherlands, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported on Thursday. That is the lowest number in at least five years, including the first year of the pandemic. It is also well below the government’s target of adding 100,000 new homes per year to reduce the housing shortage.

Last year, 68,995 new homes were built in the country. Another 13,000 homes were created by splitting up buildings, converting office spaces, or other means. That amounts to around 82,000 new homes created.

But about 12,000 old homes were also torn down. On balance, the housing stock increased by a net of 70,364 homes, a decrease of 10.7 percent compared to the 78,819 homes added to the housing stock in 2023.

That means the policies from the current Cabinet and the Rutte IV caretaker Cabinet led to nearly 8,500 fewer homes added to the housing supply last year compared to 2023.

The Netherlands now counts almost 8.3 million homes, 0.9 percent more than in 2023.

In absolute figures, Zuid-Holland completed the the most new homes at almost 18,000. Flevoland saw the largest growth, with the province’s housing stock increasing by 1.5 percent. The fewest homes were built in Limburg, Friesland, and Drenthe, where the housing stock increased by 0.7 percent.

Of the municipalities, Amsterdam built the most new homes at 6,400. But the growth was greatest in Zoeterwoude. The Zuid-Holland municipality built 441 homes, increasing its housing stock by 9.6 percent.