The Netherlands has a national affordable housing system and has the largest affordable housing sector in Europe. 30% of the Country’s and 37% of Amsterdam’s housing stock is in the affordable sector. 

Affordable housing in the Netherlands comprises both social rented housing provided by housing corporations and private rented housing with a regulated rent. There is often no differentiation between the two as the rent regulation applies to all rental dwellings with a rental value below a certain threshold. Both are offered for an indeterminate period and rent levels remain regulated throughout the contract. 

National income rules primarily determine eligibility for social housing, but municipalities and housing associations may impose additional requirements or prioritise specific groups such as those in need of emergency accommodation, young adults, students, large families, disabled people or the elderly. Despite the sizable housing stock, however, the average registration time (and waiting time) was 13 years in 2021. 

In the Netherlands, the design of affordable housing units is largely governed together with other housing through national and municipal plans and regulations. All buildings must follow the regulations for safety, health, usability, energy efficiency and the environmental standards described in the National Building Decree (Bouwbesluit; 2012). But the design of affordable housing is specifically determined by the way rent control thresholds are applied. The government uses a hypothetical rent level, calculated for every dwelling based on its size, quality, amenities, price and location. For a housing unit to remain in the regulated sector, either its calculated rent needs to be below the threshold or be designated as social housing by housing corporations. In expensive areas such as Amsterdam, this results in the construction of smaller units (i.e. studios and one-bedroom flats).