Living/housing

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.

For the first time in years, the average mortgage for first-time buyers has stopped growing, signaling that new buyers have hit their financial limit. With property prices up 5% this March, many are forcing themselves into smaller homes or cheaper areas just to get a foot on the property ladder. Meanwhile, existing homeowners are using their equity and higher incomes to buy bigger properties, widening the gap between those buying their first home and those moving up it.

Financial pressure on Dutch homeowners is rising, with more people struggling to cover housing costs and falling behind on mortgage payments, NHG reports. Concerns about energy costs are also increasing amid higher gas prices. The organisation warns that problems are now spreading to middle-income and younger households.

Demonstrations and counter-protests were held across several Dutch cities on Saturday, focusing on asylum policy and public spending cuts. Organisers described the events as peaceful, while progressive groups also mobilised in support of refugees and against what they called far-right actions.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Commission has issued a stark warning that the government’s new flight plans for Schiphol Airport fail to guarantee adequate protection for local residents. In a critical advisory report, the commission highlighted significant "shortcomings" in the research, suggesting it downplays the true scale of noise and environmental damage while giving the aviation industry too much leeway. Urging a total revision of the report, the experts noted that health risks remain uncertain and that alternative solutions—such as banning night flights—were overlooked, though the Ministry maintained that the final level of protection remains a "political assessment."

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.