Larger single family homes slowly disappearing from Dutch housing stock

Large single-family homes are slowly losing favor in the Dutch housing market. The demand for affordable housing and political preference for building within existing cities mean that new construction increasingly consists of apartments mixed with smaller owner-occupied homes, according to a new study by the Land Registry, published in the economics journal ESB on Friday.

The proportion of construction projects consisting solely of apartments nearly doubled in the past decade, climbing from 11 percent in 2015 to 20 percent in 2024. The proportion of projects consisting of a mix of apartments and single-family homes also increased from 7 to 16 percent.

After enjoying a revival between 2017 and 2021, the share of projects involving mainly large single-family homes dropped from 39 percent in 2019 to 28 percent last year. While the share of small single-family homes only dropped from 50 percent in 2015 to 37 percent in 2024.

According to the Land Registry, increased focus on affordability in recent years likely played a role in the decline of larger, generally more expensive homes. It also likely contributed to the increase in apartments and mixed-use projects, though inner-city densification goals and municipalities prioritizing social mix and a more diverse housing supply within neighborhoods also played a role in that.

The shift toward smaller single-family homes and more apartments contributes to a more accessible housing supply and a more diverse streetscape, which can improve the livability of neighborhoods, the researchers said. But it also raises concerns about the availability of owner-occupied homes suitable for larger households.