Living/housing

The Dutch regulator ACM is assessing a proposal to change how households pay for electricity. The plan would introduce higher charges during peak usage and lower prices at quieter times. A decision is expected later this year, with possible changes by 2029.

The caravan is enjoying a significant resurgence in the Netherlands, with new sales figures from trade associations BOVAG and KCI showing an 18 per cent increase in registrations this spring. While caravan sales are currently declining across the rest of Europe in favour of motorhomes, the Dutch market is bucking the trend, driven largely by young families who see them as an ideal way to holiday with children. Industry experts note that since the pandemic, caravans have firmly returned to the radar of younger generations, resulting in over 2,100 new units being sold in just two months.

ABN AMRO reports that the gap between renters and homeowners is widening. Existing owners benefit from stable costs and rising incomes, while young renters and first‑time buyers face higher prices, smaller homes, and growing barriers to entering the housing mar

ING predicts that house price growth will stall for the remainder of the year as an influx of former rental properties boosts market supply. Higher taxes and stricter regulations are prompting private landlords to sell up, particularly in major cities, while rising mortgage rates have made buyers more cautious. Although total growth for 2026 is still expected to reach 1.5 per cent due to gains made earlier in the year, the bank suggests the long-standing boom is finally levelling off.

ABN AMRO has cut its growth outlook for the Dutch do‑it‑yourself sector to 2 percent in 2026, down from 3 percent, as the Iran war, higher inflation, and weaker consumer confidence weigh on home‑improvement spending. More homeowners are taking on small repairs themselves, while rising costs and online competition squeeze margins at DIY chains like Hornbach, Gamma, Karwei, and Praxis.

Owner‑occupied homes in the Netherlands were 5 percent more expensive in March than a year earlier, marking a further easing of price growth. Average prices now exceed €494,600, while sales volumes rose sharply compared to last year.

Dutch student cities could ease housing shortages by relaxing rules on shared housing, according to the National Student Union. After reviewing policies in fifteen municipalities, the union says simpler rules and fewer permits could allow more student rooms to be added. The recommendations come as several cities form new local coalitions.

The housing minister wants to relax the Tenancy Act so landlords can charge higher rents for certain homes. She argues that the changes will help increase the supply of mid‑market rentals. The proposal also extends higher‑rent rules for new builds and responds to a rise in investors selling rental properties.