Most Dutch support limiting people's options to object to housing construction

Six out of ten Netherlands residents consider it so important that more homes are built quickly that they believe locals should have fewer options to object to construction projects, according to a representative survey by Kieskompas among over 13,000 eligible voters for NOS and the regional broadcasters.

The housing shortage in the Netherlands currently stands at an estimated 430,000 homes. Last year, the construction of some 115,000 homes was delayed or scrapped due to objection procedures against the construction project, trade association WoningbouwersNL reported. Project developers also reported being extorted by people filing objection procedures and then offering to withdraw their complaint in exchange for a fee.

Six in ten Dutch people believe that people should have fewer options for objecting. That group consists of four in ten who agreed with the statement that the right to object to new construction plans should be restricted, and two in ten who wholeheartedly agreed.

This survey again showed that voters consider the housing market as the most important issue in the upcoming elections, followed by asylum and migration.

On asylum and migration, Dutch voters are more divided. Two-thirds agree with the statement “people fleeing war and violence should be given hospitable shelter in the Netherlands.” But almost half think their province can’t accommodate any more asylum seekers. Only a quarter report actually experiencing personal nuisance from asylum seekers.

Three in ten voters think the number of migrant workers should be limited. 56 percent agree that migrant workers are needed to keep the economy strong. Only two in ten report experiencing personal nuisance from migrant workers.