The home owners lobby group VEH has urged the government to take steps to remove the huge disparity in building permit costs between different parts of the country.

In Zundert, for example, locals are charged €638 for a simple building permit which costs just €35 in Leiden, the organisation says.
The VEH said it expects charges to increase everywhere as councils are hit by a squeeze on spending. ‘In particular, the reduction in ground sales and the sharp drop in building permits are hitting budgets,’ the organisation said.
The VEH says the government had given councils until May to take action on permit fees. ‘It is now time for ministers to get involved,’ the organisation said. ‘Seven years of research into building permits shows councils are not able to moderate their fees on a voluntary basis.’