DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

20 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Amsterdam to boost social housing sector, 40% of new homes rent controlled

July 20, 2017
New homes are being built in the Zuidas business district in Amsterdam. Photo: DutchNews.nl

Amsterdam city council has decided that 40% of new homes built within the city’s boundaries must fall under social housing rules, meaning the rent can be no more than €710 a month.

A further 40% must target middle income households with rents of around €850 per month or be affordable to middle income home buyers, councillors decided on Wednesday evening. The remaining properties will target high earners.

Currently just 30% of new homes must be social housing and there are no restrictions on the rest. ‘If we leave it to the market, people with a low or moderate income will no longer be able to live in Amsterdam,’ Laurens Ivens, the city’s housing alderman and a member of the Socialist party, said earlier.

The city council hopes the plan will make it possible for more teachers, police officers and other people in professions with moderate pay to make the capital their home.

Research shows that some 80% of new owner-occupier properties within the A10 ring road cost more than €400,000, while rents of €1,500 for a one-bedroom flat have become the norm. House prices in the capital have soared by 20% in the past year.

However, the plan, which was not supported by city coalition partner D66, has been criticised by building companies.

‘Over the past few years, Amsterdam has tried to boost the number of owner-occupied properties,’ Taco van Hoek, of the building sector economic institute EIB told the Parool. ‘To some extent this has helped, but nevertheless, just 30% of the city’s homes are owner occupied, compared with 60% in the country at large.’

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Housing
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Far right leads the pack with election plans that break the law
Europe at risk of cyberattacks because of “digital dependency”
The big election issues: climate change and the environment
Just dance! Amsterdam Dance Event invites young and old to party
Fewer Brits are moving to NL, and fewer are going home as well
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now