Dutch developers are building more flats than family homes

The number of new housing projects made up entirely of apartments has almost doubled in recent years, while developments dominated by large family homes have sharply declined, according to new research by the Kadaster land registry office.

According to a report in economics journal ESB, 20% of all new-build projects in 2024 consisted entirely of apartments, up from 11% in 2018. Mixed projects combining apartments and single-family homes also increased, from 7% to 16% over the same period.

By contrast, the share of developments made up mostly of large family houses – homes over 150 m² – fell by 11 percentage points to 28%. Projects focused on smaller single-family homes also declined.

ING housing economist Sander Burgers told ESB the figures confirm a broader trend towards smaller homes. More than half of all new houses built in 2023 were apartments, compared with 39% in 2019. Around a third had a floor area below 75 m².

Developers are also reducing outdoor space, with smaller balconies and gardens becoming more common, according to market analyst Rogier Weck of Brainbay, a subsidiary of estate agents’ association NVM. “Developers are adjusting their projects to remain profitable,” he said.

The focus on inner city development and more expensive land and building materials also play a part.

Around 40% of Dutch households now consist of one person.