housing

Amsterdam mayor insists on cutting tourism despite hospitality bankruptcies after EU rejects stricter Airbnb rules for primary homes. New EU law targets second homes only, leaving Amsterdam's 30-night limit intact. For expats: fewer crowds, more empty tables.

Amsterdam's housing market is cooling, with home prices rising only 0.8% in Q2 2026, but rents in the unregulated sector keep climbing: €28.53 per square metre. Meanwhile Rotterdam's rents jumped 10.4% and The Hague draws the most non-student young people. For internationals, the key is to check city job markets, budget for rising rents, and start apartment searches early.

A €300 billion inheritance wave from Baby Boomers will widen the gap between Dutch homeowners with family wealth and those without — including most expats. The report warns that only 1 million residents will benefit, deepening inequality in an already overheated market.

A new analysis by mortgage advisor Van Bruggen warns that €300 billion in housing assets will be transferred through gifts and inheritances between 2024 and 2033, primarily benefiting older Dutch homeowners and deepening inequality. For internationals without family wealth in the Netherlands, buying a home will become even harder.