Housing construction falls to lowest level since 2018

Almost 32,000 new homes were added to the Dutch housing stock in the first six months of 2025, the lowest half year figure since 2018, according to new figures from national statistics agency CBS.

Chief economist Peter Hein van Mulligen told broadcaster NOS the slowdown was linked to a sharp drop in building permits issued in 2023. “You see that come through in these delayed figures,” he said.

Although the overall total has fallen, housing corporations which provide most of the country’s social housing, increased their share of the new build. They delivered 9,100 homes, raising their share to 29% of the total – the highest level since records began in 2020.

The government has set a target of building 100,000 new homes a year from 2027, and housing corporations are supposed to account for 30,000 new rent-controlled properties a year from 2029.

The 100,000 target includes subdividing existing homes or converting buildings, but even then the total is out of reach, Van Mulligen said.

“More permits were granted again in 2024, though the numbers have dropped again in 2025,” he said. “If you really want to build more homes, more permits will need to be issued.”