New-build home sales in Netherlands fall 19% as market cools

Sales of newly built homes in the Netherlands fell sharply in early 2026. This is the continuation of a decline that has now lasted three consecutive quarters, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the Kadaster.

A total of 5,100 new-build homes were sold in the first quarter of 2026. That is a 19 percent decrease compared with the same period in 2025.

CBS chief economist Peter Hein van Mulligen told ANP that demand for owner-occupied homes remains strong. He said the decline may be linked to a drop in construction permits.

Housing market expert Matthieu Zuidema from Kadaster said it is unclear whether fewer homes are being sold because they are unavailable or because they were never built. “It is difficult to assess whether there are many newly built homes for sale or whether they have not been built,” he said. He added that some projects are canceled when demand is too low.

Zuidema also described signs of cooling in the housing market. He pointed to rising interest rates and uncertainty around energy prices. He said this uncertainty affects new construction more than existing housing. In March, oil prices rose sharply due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Despite the decline in new-build sales, the market for existing homes grew. Sales rose nearly 9 percent in the first quarter compared with a year earlier. That amounted to almost 56,000 homes sold.

The average price of an existing home was 492,000 euros. The average price of a newly built home was 516,000 euros.

Home prices are still rising year over year. Existing homes are now 5.2 percent more expensive than a year earlier. New-build homes are 4.6 percent more expensive. However, both increases have slowed since 2025. This indicates that price growth in the housing market is losing momentum.