Non-profit Housing Providers in a ‘Dominating’ Housing Regime: Re-strengthening the Role of Dutch Housing Associations

Authors: Marko Horvat ID, Marietta Haffner ID, Gerard van Bortel ID

Throughout the European Union governments have reduced their investment in social housing, a trend that has also affected the Netherlands. Providers of social rental housing have faced policy changes that have challenged the dominant role in the unique Dutch unitary rental market regime. This paper examines the extent to which a revival of this dominant role can be attributed to the government’s recent interventions. It contextualises the subsequent challenges facing the housing market currently and in the future based on a review of relevant literature, policy documents, and input from interviewed experts. The largely qualitative interpretation shows that recent government interventions have given providers of social rental housing back some of the previous autonomy they had lost in terms of financing and regulation. We argue that providers of social rental housing are regaining a more important role in providing housing for low- and medium-income groups.

PDF

29 views

References

ABF 2023. PRIMOS Prognose van bevolking, huishoudens en woningbehoefte) [PRIMOS Forecast of population, households and housing needs]. Delft: ABF Research. Retrieved 25 May 2024 from https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/253280db-4542-45be-822f-5734d1bb8e59/file

Aedes 2016. Dutch social housing in a nutshell. Examples of social innovation for people and communities. Internal publication.

Aedes 2024. Historisch hoge investeringen in verduurzaming, onderhoud én huurverlaging in 2023 [Historically high investments in sustainability, maintenance and rent reduction in 2023]. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from: https://aedes.nl/aedes-benchmark/historisch-hoge-investeringen-verduurzaming-onderhoud-en-huurverlaging-2023

Boelhouwer, P. 2019. ‘The housing market in The Netherlands as a driver for social inequalities: proposals for reform.’ International Journal of Housing Policy 20 (3): 447–456. https://doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2019.1663056

Boelhouwer, P. 2022. The housing crisis in the Netherlands: background. [Manuscript submitted for publication].

Boelhouwer, P., H. Priemus. 2014. ‘Demise of the Dutch social housing tradition: Impact of budget cuts and political changes.’ Journal of Housing and the Built Environment 29 (2): 221-235. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43907268

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) 2024a. Voorraad woningen; eigendom, type verhuurder, bewoning, regio [Housing stock; ownership, landlord type, occupancy, region]. Retrieved 8 October, 2024 from https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/82900NED/table?fromstatweb

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) 2024b. Bestaande koopwoningen; verkoopprijzen prijsindex 2015=100 1995-2023 [Dataset]. Retrieved 8 October, 2024 from https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/cijfers/detail/83906NED

Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) 2025. Nieuwbouw woningcorporaties [Datasets] Retrieved 23 October, 2025 from https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2024/39/meer-nieuwbouwwoningen-van-woningcorporaties-in-eerste-helft-2024 and https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/maatwerk/2025/13/nieuwbouwwoningen-woningcorporaties-tweede-halfjaar-2024

Czischke, D. 2014. ‘Social Housing and European Community Competition Law.’ Pp. 333-346 in K. Scanlon, C. Whitehead and M. F. Arrigoitia (eds.) Social Housing in Europe. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118412367.ch19

Czischke, D. G. Van Bortel 2018. ‘An exploration of concepts and policies on ‘affordable housing’ in England, Italy, Poland and The Netherlands.’ Journal Housing and the Built Environment 38: 283–303 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-018-9598-1

Duurland, J. L. 2023. Quid pro quo. Exploring the effect of increased rent regulation and taxation on the investment behaviour of private landlords in the Dutch housing market and the position of private tenants. TU Delft/Bouwkunde.

Elsinga, M., H. van der Heijden, R. D. Gomez 2020. ‘Impact of social housing on the social structure of the Randstad.’ Pp. 188–206 in W. Zonneveld, V. Nadin (eds.) The Randstad (pp. 188–206). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203383346-12

Elsinga, M., H. Lind 2013. ‘The Effect of EU-Legislation on Rental Systems in Sweden and the Netherlands. Housing Studies 28 (7): 960-970 https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2013.803044

Government of the Netherlands. 2024. Rented housing. Retrieved 8 November, 2024 from  https://www.government.nl/topics/housing/rented-housing

Haffner, M. 2002. Dutch Social Rental Housing: the Vote for Housing Associations? paper for plenary session of 6 June 2002. The Changing Role of Private Finance in Housing, June 6, Plenary III, 9th European Real Estate Society Conference, 4-7 June 2002, Glasgow.

Haffner, M., K. Hulse 2021. ‘A fresh look at contemporary perspectives on urban housing affordability.’ International Journal of Urban Sciences 25(sup1): 59–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2019.1687320

Hochstenbach, C., R. Ronald 2020. ‘The unlikely revival of private renting in Amsterdam: Re-regulating a regulated housing market.’ Environment and Planning A 52(8): 1622–1642. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X20913015

Hoekstra, J. 2017. ‘Reregulation and Residualization in Dutch social Housing: a critical Evaluation of new Policies.’ Critical Housing Analysis 4(1): 31-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.13060/23362839.2017.4.1.322

Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILENT). 2023. Corporatieregister [Corporation register], Retrieved 1 June, 2023 from https://www.ilent.nl/onderwerpen/publicaties-cijfers-en-wetgeving-autoriteit-woningcorporaties/actuele-gegevens-woningcorporaties/corporatieregister

Kadaster. 2024. Investeerders 3e kwartaal 2024: Investeerders verkochten meer woningen [Investors third quarter 2024: Investors sold more homes]. Retrieved 13 July, 2025 from https://www.kadaster.nl/-/investeerders-3e-kwartaal-2024-investeerders-verkochten-meer-woningen

Kemeny, J. 1995. From Public Housing to the Social Market: Rental Policy Strategies in Comparative Perspective. London: Routledge.

Kemeny, J., J. Kersloot, P. Thalmann 2005. ‘Non-profit Housing Influencing, Leading and Dominating the Unitary Rental Market: Three Case Studies.’ Housing Studies 20(6): 855–872. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673030500290985

Kemeny, J. 2006. ‘Corporatism and Housing Regimes.’ Housing, Theory and Society 23 (1): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14036090500375423

Kholodilin, K., S. Kohl, F. Müller 2024. ‘The Rise and Fall of Social Housing? Housing Decommodification in Long-Run Perspective.’ Journal of Social Policy 53: 970-996 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0047279422000770

Lijzenga, J., J. Wissink, R. Pijpers, S. Smit 2020. Effecten van de verhuurderheffing op het wonen in Nederland. Een evaluatie 2013 tot 2020. [Impact of the landlord levy on housing in the Netherlands. An evaluation from 2013 to 2020”. Companen and Thesor. Retrieved 23 October, 2025 from https://aedes.nl/media/document/effecten-van-de-verhuurderheffing-op-het-wonen-nederland-companen-en-thesor-mei-2020

Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties (BZK) 2022a. National Performance agreement. Retrieved 21 November 2022 from https://aedes.nl/media/document/volledige-tekst-nationale-prestatieafspraken

Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties (BZK) 2022b. Nationale Woon en Bouwagenda, [National housing and construction agenda]. Retrieved 26 November 2023 from https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/ronl-0343841159fc06a67a58b04ad520068192c521d1/pdf

Ministerie van VROM 1989. Volkshuisvesting in de jaren negentig [Housing in the nineties], The Hague, Sdu.

Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening. 2024. The Affordable Rent Act will come into effect on 1 July 2024. This law will allow the rent of thousands of homes and rooms to be reduced. Retrieved on 24 November 2024. from https://www.volkshuisvestingnederland.nl/wat-betekent-de-wet-betaalbare-huur-voor-mij

Nieboer, N., V. Gruis 2016. ‘The continued retreat of non-profit housing providers in the Netherlands.’ Journal of Housing and the Built Environment 31(2): 277–295. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43907383

OECD 2021. Brick by Brick: Building Better Housing Policies, OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/b453b043-en

 Priemus, H. 2003. ‘Dutch Housing Associations: Current Developments and Debates’, Housing Studies 18(3): 327-351, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673030304237

Rijksoverheid. 2023. Indexering inkomens voor woningtoewijzing, verkoopregels en passend toewijzen 2024 [Indexing incomes for housing allocation, sales rules and appropriate allocation 2024] Retrieved 12 May, 2024 from https://www.volkshuisvestingnederland.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/12/06/indexering-inkomens-voor-woningtoewijzing-verkoopregels-en-passend-toewijzen-2024

Schilder, F., R. Scherpenisse, R. 2018. Policy and practice: affordable housing in the Netherlands. PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

Van der Heijden, H., 2013. ‘Competition and non-profits in an integrated rental market’ Pp. 141-161 In West European housing systems in a comparative perspective Amsterdam: IOS Press. DOI: 10.3233/978-1-61499-195-3-i.

Vols, M. 2022. ‘The Netherlands.’ Pp. 119-139 in C. U. Schmid (Ed.), Ways out of housing crisis. Edward Edgar. http://doi.org/10.4337/9781800377448

Wigger, A. 2021. ‘Housing as a site of accumulation in Amsterdam and the creation of surplus populations.’ Geoforum 126: 451–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GEOFORUM.2020.10.007

Please, login first to add a comment.
Document Type
article
ISSN
2336-2839
Volume / Issue
12 / 2
Pages
141-151
https://doi.org/10.13060/23362839.2025.12.2.593
Date of publication
11.11.2025
Keywords:
social housing , housing and urban sustainability , migration, residential mobility and housing policy , urban policy and planning , welfare policy

Cite this article

copy
Horvat, M. , M. Haffner, G. van Bortel 2025. ‘Non-profit Housing Providers in a ‘Dominating’ Housing Regime: Re-strengthening the Role of Dutch Housing Associations.’ Critical Housing Analysis 12 (2): 141-151. https://doi.org/10.13060/23362839.2025.12.2.593