More permits issued for newbuilds but pipeline is filling up
Turnover in the construction trade was up by 5.2% in the second quarter of 2026 while the number of newbuild...
In the latest quarter of 2026, the construction sector in the Netherlands experienced a 5.2% increase in turnover, while newbuild permits for residential and commercial properties reached near-record levels. May 2026 saw 10,824 domestic house permits and 2,637 commercial permits being issued, marking the highest figure since December 2024. However, the market has softened from its peak growth rate of over 7% a year ago.
As of now, there are nearly 234,000 houses and 48,000 commercial premises in the pipeline, with a 33% and 25% increase in permits versus completed buildings for houses and commercial properties respectively over the past two and a half years. Construction costs have surged by 97% for domestic properties in the past year, attributed partly to congested electricity networks forcing local councils to expedite planning processes.
Despite the strong market trend, the construction labor market remains tight, with 28,600 unfilled vacancies reported by the CBS. During the quarter, 133 construction firms went bankrupt, five more than in the winter period. DutchNews, which provides this report free of charge, relies on reader donations to continue its coverage of important Dutch news.
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