Most young people cannot afford to buy a house anymore
Marnix Hazelhoff
22 may 2025
Reading time 3 minutes
Having a place of their own is becoming increasingly out of reach for many young people in the Netherlands. According to new research by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), more than 26% of young adults living at home (ages 18–30) want to move out but are unable to find a suitable home. In 2021, that figure was still at 13%, underscoring how quickly the issue has intensified.
Shortage throughout the whole Netherlands
What was once a problem centered around large cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht has now spread across the country. In provinces like Drenthe and Limburg, the number of young people unable to move out has also risen sharply. In Drenthe, for instance, the share of young people with an unfulfilled desire to move out has grown to 24%; in Limburg, it's now 19%.
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Realizing that desire is increasingly difficult. Back in 2015, over half of young people who wanted to move out were able to do so within two years. By 2021, that had dropped to 45%, with little improvement since. Many young people are staying at home much longer than they’d like, often out of necessity rather than choice.
​The desire to buy is growing
The CBS research also shows a growing preference among young people for buying rather than renting. In 2021, 46% of young people still living at home said they would prefer to buy a home, which is a significant rise from 33% in 2015. But rising prices, stricter mortgage rules, and low supply are making that goal increasingly unrealistic.​​
​The rental market isn’t offering much relief either. Affordable rental options are scarce, especially for people without permanent jobs or high incomes. As a result, many young people fall through the cracks, unable to buy, yet unable to rent affordably.
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This has consequences far beyond housing. Many delay major life decisions such as moving in with a partner, starting a family, or relocating for work. Meanwhile, the entire housing system slows down, since starters can’t move into homes that would allow others to move up the property ladder.
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What now?
The CBS figures make one thing clear: the housing crisis for young people is both urgent and widespread. Without intervention, the gap between housing ambitions and reality will only grow, along with its social and economic consequences.
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What’s needed are targeted measures: more affordable starter homes, faster construction, rental solutions, and financial support for first-time buyers. Only then can young people begin building their own futures, instead of waiting in limbo at home.
