‘Everything’s just … on hold’: the Netherlands’ next-level housing crisis
Amsterdammers find themselves at the nadir of a Europe-wide housing shortage. But some bold initiatives offer hope
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In a pan-European housing crisis, the Netherlands’ is next level. According to independent analysis, the average Dutch home now costs €452,000 – more than 10 times the modal, or most common, Dutch salary of €44,000.
That means you need a salary of more than twice that to buy one. Nationwide, house prices have doubled in the past decade; in more sought-after neighbourhoods they have surged 130%. A new-build home costs 16 times an average salary.
The rental market is equally dysfunctional. Rents in the private sector – about 15% of the country’s total housing stock – have soared. A single room in a shared house in Amsterdam is €950 a month; a one-bed flat €1,500 or more; a three-bedder €3,500.
I live here in the more sought after cities and let me tell you, its fucking horrible. I have an adequate home because I got lucky, but even social housing/rent controlled housing is insane. My 'waittime' is 11 years and I won't even be the first in line for 98% of the houses, those folk have like 16 years. I make below the median income, but with my partner combined, who also makes slightly below median, we are excluded to move into rent controlled housing. Because we make too much money. But not enough to buy a house locally..... Nature is Amazing
A colleague of mine is moving 150km, away from all their fam, because that's the only place that sold viable houses in their price range, another literally moved into a bus just so they can control where they live. Not great.
If this is nature then capitalists are a parasitic species that should be exterminated (in Roblox).
Ever since I visited, I've wanted to live in the Netherlands. I hope the situation eases so I can follow my dream without being seen as an asshole immigrant taking up space ☹️
Lol, time to find a different spot then. You'll be thought of that for your whole life there.