Housing permits surged in the Netherlands in 2024; Highest levels in a decade
The number of building permits issued for new homes in the Netherlands surged by 21 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to new data from the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS). More than 67,000 new homes received permits, marking the highest figure in the past ten years.
In 2024, approximately 34,300 permits were issued for owner-occupied homes, an increase of 28 percent from 2023. The number of permits granted for rental homes reached nearly 32,900, up 16 percent from the previous year. The total number of permitted rental homes is the highest in a decade.
Since 2022, the distribution between owner-occupied and rental housing permits has remained relatively balanced. Between 2015 and 2021, rental homes accounted for about one-third of all permits, while owner-occupied homes made up the remaining two-thirds.
Zuid-Holland had the highest number of building permits issued in 2024, with nearly 18,000 new homes approved. More than half (53 percent) of these permits were for rental properties. In contrast, Drenthe saw the fewest permits issued, with just 1,100 new homes approved, of which 28 percent were designated for rental use.
Utrecht and Limburg granted a high proportion of permits for rental housing, with six out of ten new homes in these provinces classified as rentals. Other provinces with significant housing permit activity include Noord-Brabant (11,190), Noord-Holland (8,822), and Gelderland (6,494).
The total value of permitted construction projects, including both residential and commercial buildings, rose to 22.7 billion euro in 2024, a 15 percent increase from the previous year. The cost of new residential construction alone amounted to 12.7 billion euros, reflecting a 28 percent rise compared to 2023.
Several factors contributed to the increase in construction costs, including the higher number of permitted new homes, larger average home sizes, and rising costs per square meter. Meanwhile, the value of renovation permits for existing homes declined by 4 percent to 2.3 billion euros.
