Nearly 31,600 homes built in Netherlands in first half of 2025; Lowest number since 2018

Nearly 31,600 new homes were built in the Netherlands in the first half of 2025, the lowest number in six months since 2018, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. The number of social housing units built by housing corporations did increase. Of the new homes, 9,100 were built by housing corporations, 900 more than in the same period last year. Amsterdam has also managed to up its housing construction, the city reported.

The number of new homes created throughout the Netherlands in the first half of last year was only slightly higher at 31,900. “Typically, more new homes are completed in the second half of the year than in the first half of the year,” CBS said.

According to CBS chief economist Peter Hein van Mulligen, the declining number of homes delivered is due to the number of permits issued. “Far fewer were issued in 2023, and that is reflected in these figures with a delay,” he said, according to NOS. Permits are often not issued due to there being no space on the power grid for the planned new homes. Many construction companies are also facing severe staff shortages, so they can’t build more.

Housing corporations did manage to increase their housing construction, building 9,100 new social housing units in the first half of 2025. That brings the share of social housing units to 29 percent, compared to last year’s 25 percent.

Despite the increase, the number of new homes earmarked for social housing is still far out of sight. The government agreed with municipalities and housing corporations to build 30,000 social housing units per year from 2029. The government's target of creating a total of 100,000 new homes per year from 2027, intended to alleviate the housing shortage, is also out of reach.

Housing construction in Amsterdam is on the rise, the city also reported. In the first half of the year, over 3,500 homes and 660 temporary homes were started in the city, almost double compared to the same period last year, when 1,773 homes were started. The Dutch capital aims to build 7,500 homes this year.

A large portion of the new homes are in the affordable segment, the municipality reported. Construction has begun on 1,123 social housing units. And 1,177 of the new homes fall in the middle segment. Construction started on 168 affordable owner-occupied homes, with price tags up to €405,000, as well as 667 private sector rental units and 390 pricier owner-occupied homes.

In terms of ratios, this means that the units under construction consist of 32% social housing units, 33% mid-range rental units, 5% affordable owner-occupied units, 19% private sector units, and 11% other owner-occupied units, the city said.

“We are well on our way to a good year for housing construction,” Alderman Steven van Weyenberg said. “We are significantly exceeding last year’s number, and I will do everything in my power to achieve our target of 7,500 homes this year.”