Mortgage applications jump a quarter in four major Dutch cities
Homebuyers have significantly increased their activity in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague in the second quarter of this year, with the number of mortgage applications rising by an average of 24 percent compared with the same period in 2024, NU.nl reports.
The figures were released Monday by data collector HDN, which registers nearly all mortgages in the Netherlands. According to HDN, a total of nearly 140,000 mortgage applications were filed nationwide in the second quarter. That marks a 16 percent rise from the same three months last year.
The increase in the four major cities was notably higher. While HDN did not provide an official explanation for the trend, the organization indicated that many landlords appear to be selling their properties. A large share of these owners have stated that new regulations have made renting out their homes no longer profitable. As a result, they have opted to put their properties on the market. This trend has been observed disproportionately in large urban centers.
Of the nearly 140,000 mortgage applications, more than 85,600 were intended for purchasing a home. The average value of the homes bought exceeded half a million euros, reaching 508,700 euros. That represents a 5 percent increase over the previous year. In the province of Utrecht, the median purchase price climbed even higher, surpassing 600,000 euros.
First-time buyers were especially active, but the second quarter was also strong for so-called “opstromers”—current homeowners moving to more expensive properties. HDN director Jennifer op ’t Hoog emphasized that this group is essential for a functioning housing market. “Every opstromer frees up space for, for example, starters,” she told NU.nl.
In addition to the rise in purchases, there was also growth in applications to increase existing mortgages. Homeowners often use this additional financing for renovations. These applications rose by 20 percent, with the average amount reaching 53,849 euros.
This comes at a time when more parents in the Netherlands are increasing their own mortgages to assist their children with buying a home, according to advisers at De Hypotheekshop. The practice is reportedly contributing to a widening divide between first-time buyers who receive financial help from family and those who must depend entirely on their own earnings.
