More Dutch households can't make ends meet; Over half of young adults struggling

A growing number of households in the Netherlands are struggling to make ends meet and constantly worry about their finances. Young adults, low-income households, and tenants are overrepresented among households with financial difficulties, the budget institute Nibud reported in a new study on Tuesday.

The share of financially struggling households grew from 32 percent in 2024 to 38 percent this year. Among young adults aged 18 to 30, 54 percent are struggling to make ends meet, up from 40 percent in 2024. The share of households worried about their financial situation increased from 27 to 33 percent.

“Over the years, we have seen that more young adults are struggling to make ends meet and that they are having a harder time than other groups, “ said Nibud director Mattias Gijsbertsen. The biggest problems in this group are a lack of affordable housing and high fixed costs.

“We also see large differences between tenants and homeowners, and between people with fixed and fluctuating incomes.” This year, 56 percent of tenants said that they were struggling, compared to 24 percent of homeowners, up from 48 percent and 22 percent, respectively, in 2024.

The proportion of households with fluctuating incomes that are struggling increased from 39 to 51 percent. Among households with stable incomes, 35 percent said they couldn’t make ends meet, up from 30 percent in 2024. 62 percent of low-income households can’t make ends meet, up from 54 percent in 2024.

Many households cite rising expenses, high fixed costs, and an income that can’t keep up as the reason why they are struggling.

According to Nibud, having financial reserves decreases how worried people are about their financial position in the near future. Almost half of households don’t know whether they will still be able to pay their fixed expenses after a major life event. A third of Dutch households have €2,500 or less in savings, and nearly a quarter have less than €1,000. Young adults, households with fluctuating incomes, and tenants are again overrepresented in this group with little to no financial buffer.

“Two years ago, there were more households that could easily make ends meet, but even then, young adults, tenants, and people with low or fluctuating incomes lagged behind,” Gijsbertsen said. “Households that were struggling then are now facing even greater difficulties. They are financially vulnerable, and we must take their concerns seriously.”

Nibud urged the Cabinet to “look for structural solutions with long-term vision,” especially on issues like the lack of affordable housing and high fixed costs.