For residents who fall outside the social housing bracket, renting a home in Amsterdam is becoming increasingly difficult to afford.

New numbers from online housing platform Pararius show the average rental prices in Amsterdam to be far higher than the country-wide average, and significantly more than in other major Dutch cities.

Amsterdam most expensive Dutch city for renters

Home rental costs in Amsterdam have been on the rise since 2010. Over the past year, between the first quarters of 2014 and 2015, the cost of renting in Amsterdam rose by 6,4 per cent.

This means that the average Amsterdam landlord is now asking for around 20,04 euros per square metre, and many prospective renters are having to anticipate monthly housing costs in the 2.000 euro range.

By contrast, the average increase in free-market rent throughout the entire Netherlands over the past year was 1,9 per cent. The average Dutch renter pays 12,61 euros per square metre.

Rent in Amsterdam is more expensive, and rising faster, than in other major Dutch cities - it is 50 per cent higher, on average, than in The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam.

Middle-earners cut out of rental market

Director of Pararius Jasper de Groot has called attention to a country-wide shortage of free-market housing in the 700 to 1.000 euro per month range.

Households with a total income of under 35.000 euros qualify for social housing. Would-be renters earning just slightly over this amount must rent in the private market, but struggle to find affordable options.

The consequence, according to de Groot, is that 600.000 residents of the Netherlands are living in homes for which they technically earn too much.

Amsterdam short-stay rental apartments multiplying

The researchers also found that Amsterdam apartments tend to rent for shorter periods than apartments in other Dutch municipalities.

According to planner Gert Middelkoop, who spoke to Het Parool in February, high demand for housing makes the city attractive to investors, who sub-divide family apartments into small, expensive suites.

They maximise profit by marketing these units to students, foreign business people and others who plan to stay only a few months.

Expats, in particular, can often afford such accommodation when their companies cover all or part of the costs.