After months of decline, the market for newly-built homes in the Netherlands seems to be improving, with estate agents reporting 8% more sales in the final three months of last year. And compared with 2022 Q4, sales of new build properties are up 57%, according to figures from estate agents organisation NVM.

In total, contracts were signed for 19,150 new build properties last year, with the average price reaching €468,000 by the end of the year. 
Supply is also increasing, NVM figures show. In the final three months of the year, over 19,500 homes were on offer, a rise of 17% year on year and the highest total since early 2016. The average price of properties currently on the market is €506,000. 

Apartments accounted for 46% of the offer, with detached and semi-detached homes accounting for 22%. 

Dutch housing market pressure

“We welcome the increase in new build supply because it is reducing pressure on the market for older properties,” said Chris van Zantwijk, an estate agent and deputy chairman of the NVM’s housing group. 

“And we really need the increase to meet demand. But let us not blindly stare at homes for first-time buyers. We also need to realise homes for people moving up the property ladder or downsizing as seniors. And we are concerned about the new build pipeline.”

At the end of last year, it emerged that the five Holland Metropole partner cities will get a combined €100 million from a special Dutch government fund to stimulate affordable housing projects which are at the planning stage but threatened by the current slowdown in housing construction.
In total, 145 local authority areas are benefiting from the StartBouwImpuls fund (SBI), which will help pay for 31,000 homes, 80% of which are classed as affordable. Local authorities, private developers and housing corporations are all involved in the projects which are eligible for a total of €300 million in government grants.

Rent control concerns

Meanwhile, Dutch developers organisation Neprom has said it is concerned about plans by Zuid-Holland province to only sanction new property developments if two-thirds of the homes are classed are “affordable” or cost less than €350,000, and one-third of the total is rent-controlled. 
This is a tougher line than the caretaker government has suggested (€390,000 and 27% rent-controlled) and will lead to fewer new homes being realised, Neprom says. 
“Of course, Neprom wants to try to ensure two-thirds of new homes are affordable, but it has to be possible financially,” the organisation said. “Increasing investments in energy-efficient housing, climate resilience, biodiversity, accessibility and so on have increased the costs of housing projects substantially.”