On Thursday, the head of the Dutch real estate agents’ association issued the dire warning that the already difficult to navigate Dutch housing crisis has evolved into a bonafide emergency.
The statement comes on the heels of recent news indicating soaring housing costs and continuing shortages across the country with Amsterdam particularly affected. 2019’s quarter 4 saw an 8% price increase and an average home cost of €326,000. To exacerbate the housing shortage, the numbers also conclude that there were 4% fewer homes offered for sale in the final three months of 2019 with few homes expected to enter the market in the near future. Also last year, the number of new home permits fell by 25%
“I keep reading about a housing crisis, but I now dare to talk about a housing emergency,” said NVM chairman Onno Hoes, adding that the situation has turned into a “vicious circle” with an even more difficult 2020 forecasted.
