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Tuesday, 20 May 2026  ·  Ljouwert, FryslânEst. 2026

FRISIAN NEWS

Nijs fan Fryslân  ·  Friesland News  ·  In English

Why the Dutch Housing Market Is a Policy Failure, Not a Market Failure
Economy

Wêrom de Nederlânske Húzemerk in Beliedsmislearring Is, Gjin Merkmislearring

June 25, 2026 · Frisian News

Dutch house prices rose 60 percent over a decade while incomes grew 15 percent. This is not a market failure, it is government failure through restrictive zoning laws and municipal cartels.

Frisian flagFrysk

De húzepriizen yn Nederlân binne de ôfrûne tsien jier folle rapper omheech gien as de húshâldlike ynkommens. Sjoch nei eltse grafyk. Dit bart net yn in wurkjende merk.

Nederlân hat strikte bestimmingsplannen en jout gemeenten de macht om bou tsjin te hâlden. Stêden wegerje nije wenningen om húzepriizen en gemeentlike belestingynkommens te beskermjen. Dit is net de merk. Dit binne gemeentlike kartels.

Amsterdam easket in heech oandiel 'sosjale wenningen' yn nije projekten, wat se ûnrendabel makket. It boubehear fan Rotterdam docht lang oer foar goedkarring fan ien ûntwerp. Belestingregels kinne bepaalde ynvestearders yn Nederlânske húzen foardielen jaan. De wet beheint it bouwen op beskikbere grûn.

Besteande húseigeners winne om't har húzen mear wurdich wurde. Spekulanten profitearje. Lokale politisy inne mear belesting sûnder iepentlik tariven omheech te bringen. Jonge wurknimmers en hierders ferlieze. In protte binne fertrokken.

De Nederlanners jouwe de merk de skuld. De regearing skoep dit mei sin.

English

Dutch house prices rose far faster than household incomes over the past decade. Check any chart. This does not happen in a working market.

The Netherlands enforces strict zoning laws and gives municipalities power to block development. Cities reject new housing to protect property values and municipal tax revenue. This is not the market at work. These are municipal cartels.

Amsterdam demands a high share of "social housing" in new projects, making them unprofitable. Rotterdam's building authority can take a long time to approve a single design. Tax rules can benefit certain investors in Dutch properties. Law restricts building on available land.

Existing homeowners win because their houses gain value. Speculators profit. Local politicians collect more tax revenue without raising rates openly. Young workers and renters lose. Many have left.

The Dutch blame the market. The government created this crisis on purpose.


Published June 25, 2026 · Frisian News · Ljouwert, Fryslân