The Dutch housing market saw an unprecedented number of existing homes put up for sale last quarter, according to the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents (NVM). Spring usually brings a seasonal rise in listings, but this year the increase was stronger than normal, driven largely by investors continuing to sell off their rental properties.
In total, 56,700 homes were listed via NVM agents. This is almost 9 percent more than in the same quarter last year. According to NVM Wonen chair Lana Goutsmits‑Gerssen, the growing supply is helping the market move “step by step towards a better balance”. Buyers have more room to compare and are positioned to make better choices, she noted, even though homes are still selling quickly, confirming that demand remains strong.
Average house price (in euros) of an existing owner-occupied home. The trend is per quarter over the last 10 years.
Picture source: NVM for ANP
Prices Rise
The average selling price of an existing owner‑occupied home climbed back above the half‑million mark, reaching €506,260. Price growth has slowed noticeably. The increase was just over 2 percent year‑on‑year, compared with more than 6 percent in the same quarter of 2025. According to the NVM, this moderation is closely tied to the surge in supply. Many of the newly listed homes are former rental properties and often apartments in lower price ranges, which pull down the average price even as demand remains high.
Temporary Relief
Despite the influx of homes, the NVM warns that the underlying issues in the housing market remain. Goutsmits‑Gerssen describes the current supply as “temporary relief”, emphasising that without sufficient new construction and a lasting expansion of the housing stock, pressure on the market will continue.
New‑Build
The supply of new‑build homes also increased last quarter, making it the highest since 2015. However, the association stresses that more construction does not automatically ease the housing shortage. The homes currently being built do not align with what buyers are looking for. Much of today’s new construction consists of apartments, while demand is stronger for ground‑level homes.
Fewer sales
Despite the growing supply, new‑build sales fell. Only 6,100 newly built homes were sold last quarter, 7 percent fewer than a year earlier. Goutsmits‑Gerssen attributes this decline to the dominance of apartment projects. Buyers seeking apartments already have a wide range of existing homes to choose from, reducing the urgency to buy new construction.
Competition
The existing-home market offers ample apartment options, partly due to the ongoing “off‑market selling” of former rental properties by investors. These additional listings give apartment‑seekers more choice and place new‑build apartments in direct competition with often cheaper existing alternatives.
For real impact, the association says, the “right homes in the right place” must be built. Projects matching regional needs and buyer demand remain an ongoing challenge.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
