The ongoing housing crisis in the Netherlands has reignited tensions surrounding squatting, as thousands of individuals struggle to find affordable homes. There’s a collective backlog of more than 400,000 properties. At the same time, 81,000 enthusiastic first-time homebuyers are trekking the globe in the hopes of finding their ideal abode. Housing prices have already skyrocketed to an all time high. As a result, residents are being priced out now more than ever, pushing some to consider illegal methods of obtaining housing.
Inspired by this grassroots movement, the Dutch government recently passed new rent-control laws to rein in the housing market. Each of these regulations have unintentionally forced thousands of private landlords to exit the rental market. In this context, it is not surprising that the housing crisis has intensified. Despite all this, many are wondering how successful the government’s efforts will be to address the housing shortage. This skepticism is a result of the fact that roughly 57% of the Dutch population are homeowners.
Since 2014, the Dutch population has grown by almost a million – most on account of immigration. This unexpected influx has exacerbated demand for housing, further straining a market already under pressure. In reaction to this crisis, the Netherlands has committed to building almost one million new homes by 2030. As members of the expert panel pointed out, the time to act is now considering the increasing urgency of the crisis.
Here, the threat of squatting has been an important leverage point. It reminds us of the Vondelstraat riots in 1980 that led to the criminalization of squatting in the Netherlands. Raoul, a local resident, reflected on the current climate by stating, “I think that the same conditions are there. The housing need is as high, perhaps even higher. Kraken is coming back, even though it is now criminalised.”
The deep financial costs of the housing crisis have similarly alarmed every racial and ethnic group. Just 4.5% of homes in the Netherlands are affordable for middle-income households. Young people, especially students, are bearing the worst of this crisis as they search for affordable housing. Maaike Krom, chair of the LSVb (Dutch student union), stated that “the consequences of inaction become clear when considering the unaffordability of housing.”
Would-be buyers and tenants are finding it harder every day. At the same time, critics are beginning to make more noise about the broader societal impact of existing housing policies. Jona van Loenen expressed his apprehension about the incentives created by these circumstances: “We’re creating one of the most perverse incentives a society can have: one where people just sit at home on the sofa instead of actually doing something.”
The continuing crisis, along with its many underlying causes, has exposed a growing rift within Dutch society. Policies that create tax breaks for homeowners have thus become popularly supported tools among many groups. They have generated new, costly barriers for individuals who aren’t property owners. Most would say these tax breaks go against the spirit of equality. In turn, renters who bust their humps every day can no longer afford a decent place to live.
Jan Leegwater, a real estate expert, underscored the harsh realities of the current market conditions by noting that “They will ask €600,000 for this because of the potential to extend.” Property values have more than doubled. Much of this increase is due to a lack of supply, compounded by intense demand.
The legacy of past housing movements is still very present when viewed through this lens today. Marga Minco, a Dutch writer and Holocaust survivor, wrote the pathos of her existence in a deserted Amsterdam dwelling. She rented out her space to a dynamic community of younger artists and students moving in to escape the escalating housing crisis. Her story is the tragic reminder that when people are otherwise coerced by fragile societal expectations, they may go to extreme lengths to find creative solutions.
It is just one of many ongoing discussions about housing policy. Going forward, it will be important to see just how effectively the Dutch government can cater to the demands of both homeowners and renters. The urgency of addressing the housing crisis is evident not only in public sentiment but in daily life for many residents.