Dutch government proposes 10-year legalization of vacation home residency
Housing Minister Mona Keijzer is proposing to legalize residential use of vacation homes for a ten-year period, in a move aimed at easing the severe housing shortage across the Netherlands, NOS reports. The plan, outlined in a draft directive to municipalities, is now open for public consultation.
Living in vacation cottages is currently prohibited under Dutch law, but Keijzer noted that nearly 60,000 people are already officially registered at the addresses of recreational homes. “The actual number of permanent residents is likely higher,” she wrote in an explanatory note accompanying the proposal.
According to the draft policy, the legalization will apply strictly to individuals who were registered at a recreational home address before May 16, 2024. The homes must also meet minimum safety and health standards to qualify. The rule explicitly excludes other temporary accommodations such as hotels, motels, and boarding houses.
The minister had already advised municipalities in December to refrain from evicting individuals who reside year-round in vacation properties. The new measure would grant those residents a legal status, at least temporarily. “They have nowhere else to go,” Keijzer noted.
The consultation period will run for eight weeks. After that, the plan—possibly revised based on submitted feedback—will be sent to the Tweede Kamer and Eerste Kamer for approval. After eight years, the regulation will be evaluated to determine whether it remains necessary. If not, municipalities will regain full authority over residential use of vacation parks two years later.
The plan has faced criticism from the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), the national association representing Dutch municipalities. The VNG stated earlier this year that local governments should retain the freedom to assess and balance local interests themselves. The ten-year legalization proposal was included in the main governing agreement reached by PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB.
