The Dutch housing market is stabilising, and that is good news

There is a lot going on in the Dutch housing market at the moment, but let’s start with the good news for home buyers: house prices and supply.

House prices and supply

According to the latest quarterly report from the real estate agents’ association NVM, the price of property bought and sold by its members actually fell by an average of 2,7% between the last quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. This only reflects the experiences of NVM members, of course, but it does point to a general trend. And the stabilisation is not only due to sellers asking for lower prices. It also reflects a shift in the types of properties coming to market.

In Amsterdam, for example, it is becoming easier to buy a smaller, and therefore cheaper, apartment. This is part of the ongoing sell-off by landlords who have been hit by higher taxes and tougher rent controls. But this is expected to slow down in the summer because by then all the two-year rental contracts landlords used to be able to offer will have expired, and landlords who want to sell their property will have done so.

So, if you are looking to buy a city apartment, this could be a good time to take the plunge, as I expect fewer to come on the market in the second half of the year.

Get mortgage advice from FVB de Boer

Foundation facts

Since April this year, property valuation reports, drawn up by independent specialists and paid for by buyers, need to include an assessment of the state of the property’s foundations, ranging from A (good) to E. You need a valuation report to get a mortgage, and if the property you want to buy has a D or E label, your mortgage provider will want further research carried out before it agrees to the loan.

One problem is that these reports are only drawn up once a deal to buy a property has been agreed to, so you could be in for an unpleasant surprise. So, make sure you or your buying agent asks the selling agent about the foundations; they have access to all the information which is available about the property, and they have a legal duty to tell you the truth.

In case you were wondering, house technical surveys, which you can have done before deciding whether to buy, do not include a foundation check. This is something the homeowners' lobby group, Vereniging van Eigenaren (VvE), wants changed, but until that happens, make sure your agent asks. 

Despite all the alarmist talk, do remember that while foundations might be a problem in some homes, they are solvable!

Interest rates

All the big Dutch banks were saying that they expect rates to be relatively stable this year, and I would have tended to agree with them. However, turmoil in financial markets due to the war in the Middle East is affecting rates, which have risen slightly over the past few weeks.

The interest rate for a new 10-year mortgage is hovering between 4% and 4,5%. How that will pan out in the future depends on a number of factors, such as how long the war continues, the impact on capital markets, what the European Central Bank decides to do, and how inflation will be affected. The only thing I can say with certainty about interest rates is that the uncertainty will continue for a while.

In the meantime, if you are planning to buy a home in the Netherlands, you are secure in your job, and you’ve got the funds available, keep looking and keep your paperwork up to date. There are more homes on the market, and prices are stabilising, making the market a little less hectic. And that is good news all round!