Commuting to Amsterdam and Utrecht soars amid housing pressures

Workers in the Netherlands are increasingly travelling – at least digitally – from much further afield to jobs in Amsterdam and Utrecht, as housing costs continue rising and remote work is a more common option.

New research by Rabobank shows that since 2021, employers in the two cities have been drawing staff from across a much wider area of the country, rather than primarily from neighbouring regions.

The shift is most visible in sectors such as ICT, financial services and business services, where working from home is relatively easy.

Cost of living

At the same time, sharply rising house prices in and around Amsterdam have pushed both renters and buyers to look further afield. Areas that were once considered commutable, such as Almere or Haarlem, are now being joined by regions much further away, including parts of Overijssel, North Brabant, Drenthe and Friesland.

In the Arnhem-Nijmegen region, the share of workers employed in the Amsterdam-Utrecht area rose from 6.5% in 2021 to 7.5% in 2024 – equivalent to around 4,500 additional people.

Companies are also increasingly recruiting nationally, rather than locally, the researchers said. This means employers in smaller cities and regions are no longer just competing with nearby firms for new hires, but with businesses across the country.

Pressure on local markets

That growing competition could put pressure on local labour markets, particularly in sectors where hybrid working is common. Workers have more choice, while regional employers may find it harder to attract and retain staff.

Not all regions follow the same pattern. The high-tech hub around Eindhoven, often referred to as Brainport, has seen strong job growth but far less inbound commuting. Many people prefer to live close to their jobs, limiting long-distance commuting.