Despite new building, the housing shortage remains 400,000

Photo: Dutch News

The housing shortage in the Netherlands is virtually unchanged around 400,000 this year, according to new calculations on behalf of the government and quoted by broadcaster NOS.

Overall, the deficit fell by 5,000 to 396,000, researchers at ABF Research found. It is the first time in three years the shortage has gone down, albeit only slightly. The shortage is based on the number of people and households who are looking for a home.

A report by the housing ministry earlier this year suggested that the outgoing government’s plans to build 100,000 new homes a year will not be realised until 2027.

There will be some improvement next year, but it will not be until 2027 that the number of new homes is on target.

Last year, just 69,000 units were added to the housing stock, 13,000 of which were refurbished office buildings or homes split into several apartments.

At the start of last month, caretaker housing minister Mona Keijzer identified 24 locations where building work can be carried out more quickly, by cutting red tape and appeal procedures.

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