According to a new report, the Netherlands needs to build 845.000 new houses over the next 10 years to stop the current housing shortage from getting worse.

The Dutch need houses

According to a new report for the Ministry of the Interior, the Netherlands needs to build 845.000 new homes over the next ten years to prevent the current situation in the housing market from worsening. The report states that the Netherlands is short of 331.000 houses, even though more than 80.000 new houses were added to the market last year.

There are currently plans to build 837.000 new homes, although it is estimated that 30 percent of them will not be built. “It is crucial that national and local government, developers, housing corporations and sector associations work closely together to finalise the plans,” the ministry said.

First-time buyers and people earning average wages are among those particularly struggling to find a home, largely due to fewer options at affordable prices. Back in 2013, 48 percent of house sales were by first-time buyers, this has dropped to just 32 percent in 2019, according to Kasja Ollongren, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.