Remote work reshapes Dutch housing preferences, ING reports

After five years of widespread remote work in the Netherlands, Dutch residents report significantly altered housing priorities, according to the latest ING press release. While confidence in the housing market remains stable, the study reveals a deep shift in how people view and use their homes.

The majority of Dutch people now place greater value on home comfort and emotional connection to their living space. According to the ING Housing Report, 73 percent of respondents consider living comfort more important than five years ago, while 63 percent now value their home more and feel a stronger need to truly feel “at home.”

Remote work has played a key role in this transformation. Nearly half of all respondents who now use their homes more intensively for work have reportedly made adjustments to improve their living environment. Many cited improvements in comfort and overall atmosphere. Preference for quiet surroundings and proximity to nature has grown, while interest in urban living has declined.

Despite these shifts, not everyone experiences their home as a sanctuary. For 24 percent of respondents, the house now feels more like a workplace than a home. This effect is most pronounced among starters and homeowners planning to move within two years.

The national Woonindex—a quarterly measure of housing market confidence—dropped slightly from 109 to 106 but remains positive overall. However, the general assessment of the economy declined more sharply, from 84 to 77. This downturn was visible across all demographic groups. According to Wim Flikweert, manager of Housing at ING Netherlands, international market tensions played a role. “The turmoil in financial markets surrounding U.S. import tariffs, which occurred during the research period, likely contributed to this decline,” he stated in the press release.

First-time buyers also reported a more optimistic view on housing transactions this quarter than in the first quarter of the year.

Nearly 50 percent of Dutch workers now work from home more often than they did five years ago. Another 17 percent started working remotely during that time. Of those whose remote work has remained the same (30 percent) or decreased (4 percent), many cited employer restrictions. Others pointed to shared living spaces with other remote workers or limitations in the home itself.

Notably, 19 percent of those who did not increase their remote work said they were already working from home every day and therefore could not expand further.

Most remote workers are satisfied with their current setup: 68 percent expressed contentment with their home workspace, 69 percent said their home still fits their needs, and the average rating for the home as a remote office was 7.6 out of 10. One in five respondents said working from home is more comfortable than working at their employer’s location.

Flikweert emphasized the long-term implications: “We’ve made enormous progress in remote work over the past five years. That makes the home more important—not just because people spend more time there, but because they use that time differently. This leads to different demands on the living space.”

One major reported reason people consider moving is the need for more indoor or outdoor space. For 10 percent of respondents, a well-equipped home office ranks among the top reasons for relocating. In contrast, living in the city or the distance to work has become less important for many. In fact, 37 percent of respondents are now willing to work at a greater distance if remote work remains an option.

Forty-seven percent of respondents would consider moving to a quieter area, but only if work or education did not tie them to a fixed location. Even with unlimited remote work, this does not reportedly lead to a large migration out of the Randstad. Only 36 percent would consider looking for housing outside their current province.

Connections with family and friends remain a key factor in the decision to stay. Zeeland is the only province to see a slight increase in popularity; preferences for other provinces have reportedly remained largely stable.

Flikweert noted that public policy aimed at reducing pressure on the Randstad has limited effectiveness. “Most people prefer to stay in their own province. That’s also driven by the desire to live near family and friends. However, partial remote work does offer the opportunity to expand the radius within which people are willing to work. With good mobility connections and remote work options, even employers located much farther away can become acceptable,” he stated in the press release.