Living/housing

Gasunie has raised concerns about slow progress in refilling Dutch gas reserves ahead of winter. Low storage levels and rising prices are adding pressure, while decisions on a strategic reserve are still pending. The government says measures are under way, but acknowledges more may be needed.

Twenty-seven asylum seekers spent the night at an emergency shelter in Gieten as pressure on the overcrowded Ter Apel registration centre continues. Several Dutch municipalities are providing temporary accommodation while authorities search for a long-term solution.

VNO-NCW chair Coen van Oostrom hopes the Netherlands can avoid cuts to social security and instead seek broader solutions. His comments come after unions ended talks with the government and announced strikes over proposed changes to benefits and pensions.

More measures are needed to fix a €19.4 billion funding shortfall facing housing associations, as current government plans only solve the crisis on paper, Housing Minister Elanor Boekholt-O'Sullivan has warned. While the coalition's proposals—including annual funding boosts, higher rents for high earners, and relaxed European rules—theoretically turn the deficit into a surplus, they fail to account for reality. The minister pointed out that the calculations ignore high interest rates driven by the war involving Iran and wrongly assume that wealthy associations will easily subsidise struggling ones, threatening the target of building 30,000 new homes a year and prompting the creation of a new financial advisory committee.

CPB research reveals that solar panel ownership in the Netherlands is still dominated by higher‑income households. Housing associations help lower‑income groups access solar energy, while private renters lag behind.

The Dutch competition authority has fined two civil engineering companies for coordinating bids in a municipal tender, while a third avoided a penalty after reporting the scheme. The ACM says bid rigging harms competition and often leads to higher costs for clients and taxpayers. The regulator warns it will continue to act against such practices.

According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), just over 13,700 new-build homes were finished in the first quarter of the year, marking a drop of roughly 1,800 compared with the same period last year. This slowdown is even more notable when compared to the end of 2025, when completions peaked at nearly 22,800. While overall housing stock grew by 13,400 homes due to a boost from property conversions, the pipeline looks mixed: building permits for new homes saw a healthy year-on-year rise to 23,500, yet actually dipped slightly compared to the previous quarter.

The Netherlands faces a major shortage of social housing for people with mental health issues. Thousands are left waiting long periods, even after completing treatment. The sector warns that delays in housing are slowing recovery and limiting reintegration into society.