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Whitepaper: Ambitious Housing Plans in the Run-up to Elections

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Read the latest developments in the Dutch residential market below

With political parties outlining ambitious housing agendas ahead of the elections, government policy remains firmly centred on tackling the persistent housing shortage. Our latest whitepaper examines investment dynamics and market shifts in the Dutch residential market, explores strategic opportunities within an evolving landscape, and assesses sentiment trends from 2012 to 2024. The key findings are presented below.

Key findings:

  1. Residential real estate dominates investment landscape: With €2.6 billion invested year-to-date in 2025, including €1.1 billion in Q3, residential real estate accounts for 31% of total investment volume. This volume is mainly driven by selling-off existing portfolios to the owner-occupied market.
  2. €5 Billion housing stimulus: The Dutch government has earmarked €5 billion to fast-track residential development, including €2.4 billion via the Realisatiestimulans programme. This initiative incentivises municipalities with €7,000 per affordable home started from 2025, supporting the national goal of 100,000 new homes annually. Two-thirds of which are affordable or social housing.
  3. Smart use of existing buildings: Beyond new construction, the government is prioritising adaptive reuse strategies such as office-to-residential conversions, vertical extensions, and co-living models.
  4. Infrastructure investment for large-scale neighbourhood growth: A combined €4.3 billion has been allocated for infrastructure and climate-adaptive development in 2026, reinforcing the long-term viability of new urban districts. This includes €2.5 billion for roads, public transport and utilities, and €1.8 billion for water safety and resilient construction.
  5. Cautious recovery in buyer and investor confidence: Stabilising interest rates and a more predictable macroeconomic outlook is restoring confidence among households and long-term investors. The expansion of the National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) and a higher transfer tax exemption for first-time buyers further support homebuyer sentiment, while reduced transfer tax rates could revive moderate buy-to-let activity if regulatory clarity improves.