Student room shortage stays above 20,000 despite new builds

Despite the construction of thousands of new student rooms each year, the shortage of housing for Dutch students remains high, according to the annual student housing monitor from knowledge centre Kences. The country needs an additional 20,200 student rooms, barely decreasing from 21,000 a year earlier. Social housing providers have built nearly 5,000 units annually since 2022, reaching their set targets.

Kences had anticipated the shortage to increase due to private landlords selling their properties in response to new rent rules and higher taxes. Consequently, 32,300 fewer students have rented from private landlords since 2024. However, this decline in private rentals did not result in a significant rise in student housing because the overall number of students has also decreased, including international students.

The proportion of students living away from home has dropped from 50% to 43% over eight years. The remaining student accommodation on the private market is becoming increasingly difficult to rent safely, with many listings advertised above the legal limit. Scammers have also flooded social media platforms like TikTok with fake listings to deceive unsuspecting students.

Kences advocates for the abolition of the profit tax paid by housing associations, arguing that this would fund 15,000 to 25,000 more student homes over a decade. Despite the completion of all current building plans, the centre warns that the shortage could still range between 10,000 and 35,000 rooms within eight years. The Dutch News service relies on reader donations to remain free and report on issues that matter to the public.