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

25 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • 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

Discrimination widespread in Utrecht’s private sector rental market

October 30, 2019
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Private landlords in Utrecht are discriminating against potential tenants on the basis of both their ethnicity and sexual orientation, according to research involving 57 rental agencies which operate in the city.

The research, carried out at the request of a number of political parties, involved ‘landlords’ contacting rental agencies with discriminatory requests, so see if they would comply. ‘For example, when we were posing as landlords, we told them we did not want to rent to foreigners,’ one of the researchers said.

‘Sometimes they then asked us if we wanted to exclude all foreigners or were okay with expats,’ she said.

Four in five agencies were willing to comply with a discriminatory request. ‘We can do that for you,’ and ‘we don’t rent to certain groups as a matter of course’ were among the responses.

Testers also responded to adverts to assess what sort of response different ethnic backgrounds would generate. They then posed as potential tenants Abdel El Amrani and Stef de Vries and couples Max and Thijs, and Daan and Julia.

The responses showed that was Abdel less likely to be considered for a property than Stef and that a couple made up of two men were not invited for interview as often as a heterosexual couple.

Housing alderman Kees Diepeveen said he is shocked by the results and that the council will be taking immediate measures to combat discrimination in the city’s housing market.

Officials have already scheduled meetings with the real estate agents association NVM and Vastgoed Belang, which represents private landlords, the city press release said.

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
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt 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 information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

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