The Hague

The Hague faces a severe housing crisis marked by tight supply, soaring prices, and intense competition. In Q1 2025, average home sales prices reached €443,800, up 10.7% year-over-year, with national forecasts predicting 4-5% growth in 2026 amid ongoing shortages of around 400,000 homes nationwide. The city has 2,640 vacant homes as of mid-2025, part of over 200,000 empty Dutch properties, yet low rental vacancy at 2.3% nationally drives free-sector rents up 5-7% yearly to about €21 per sqm monthly, with premium areas like Statenkwartier exceeding €2,500 for two-bedroom apartments. Rentals list for just 18 days on average, signaling fierce demand.

Social housing comprises nearly 50% of stock, targeting low/middle-income households (up to €51,537 single or €56,910 multi-person in 2026; 80% below €39,055), with regulated rents under €1,228/month, but long waiting lists persist. Private rental sector contracts as landlords sell (4.8% converted in 2024), shifting toward owner-occupied homes.

Primarily affected are first-time buyers facing affordability squeezes despite NHG limits at €470,000; renters in free and social sectors enduring high costs and competition; young professionals, students, expats, and low/middle-income families unable to access affordable units. (218 words)

The Hague's city administration addresses affordable and sustainable housing through the Housing Framework Agreement (ROK) 2026-2030, signed with housing associations and tenants' organizations, emphasizing livable neighborhoods, social housing expansion, and sustainability under the Housing Vision 2040.

Key targets include accelerating new construction for first-time buyers, families, seniors, and care needs; improving housing mobility; ensuring at least 70% of rental properties go to regular home seekers; balancing social housing distribution city-wide; and reducing costs via energy-efficient upgrades.

Concrete programs: ROK focuses on building/improving homes, greening neighborhoods, creating meeting places, and better utilizing existing stock through landlord rentals and friendly contracts. Regionally coordinated to avoid localized shortages. The city leverages national Realisatiestimulans (€7,000 per affordable home under €405,000 starting construction in 2026, €2.5B total to 2030), plus sustainability grants like SAH (€8,000/unit for gas-free rentals), insulation (€25-111/m²), and heat pumps (€1,250+). The Hague prioritizes social housing quotas with streamlined approvals and land incentives. National relaxed building rules from 2026 cut costs by €1,250/apartment via lower ceilings/doors and steeper stairs.

(198 words)

In The Hague, the housing market in 2026 shows moderate price growth of 4-5%, with a shift from rentals to owner-occupied homes as private landlords sell off properties (4.8% of private rentals converted in 2024). Specific percentages for renters versus owners are unavailable city-wide, but nationally, owner-occupied homes dominate amid a contracting private rental sector.

Recent median apartment prices per sqm are not detailed for The Hague; national forecasts indicate steady rises without localized rent/buy figures in euros per sqm.

Social housing, managed by non-profit housing associations (equivalent to public housing), plays a key role, approaching 50% of stock in cities like The Hague. It targets low/middle-income households (up to €51,537 single, €56,910 multi-person in 2026), with 80% for incomes below €39,055 (adjusted yearly), regulated rents under €1,228/month threshold, and long waiting lists. Housing associations maintain neighborhoods and ensure affordability per the Housing Vision 2040 framework. Public and social housing are the same in this context.

The market favors first-time buyers with rising NHG limits (€470,000) and exemptions (€555,000), though supply remains tight. (198 words)