Hef Wonen is a Rotterdam-based housing corporation that was established on January 1, 2023, following the breakup of Vestia, which was once the Netherlands’ largest housing association. Hef Wonen manages approximately 29,000 rental units, focusing primarily on the Rotterdam region. The organisation employs around 260 staff members. The company’s activities are centered on providing affordable, sustainable, and decent housing in diverse neighbourhoods throughout Rotterdam and nearby areas.
Since its founding, Hef Wonen’s efforts have concentrated on defining its own identity and strategic direction. Its recent years have included significant work on internal governance, financial stability, and portfolio strategy. The corporation is under intensified regulatory supervision, a holdover from Vestia’s financial legacy, but is expected to meet all financial standards by 2027.
One of Hef Wonen’s recent notable projects is the completion of 137 new social rental homes in the Afrikaanderwijk neighbourhood. The development, De Roseknoop, is fully energy-efficient, gas-free, and includes apartments and family homes. Homes are allocated in part to local residents returning after demolition elsewhere in the city.
Hef Wonen is also selling former properties outside Rotterdam, including in Maassluis and Voorne aan Zee, in order to fund its core investments locally. In addition to new construction, Hef Wonen’s scope includes renovating and demolishing outdated stock, as well as sustainability projects to improve housing quality. The corporation actively collaborates with local partners to achieve these public housing objectives.