The student housing crisis in the Netherlands is deepening, with growing numbers of students abandoning hope of finding a room. According to the latest figures from  the new National Student Housing Monitor from Kences, only 44 percent of students currently live in student accommodation, while nearly half (49 percent) would prefer to.  

Eight years ago, those figures were considerably higher: 52 percent of students lived away from home, and 59 percent wanted to.

This worsening trend is illustrating more than just a shortage of rooms, as it is also showing a structural barrier to higher education and student well-being.

Students who remain at home miss a crucial part of their social and emotional development. Being excluded from student life often leads to isolation, weaker networks, and lower self-esteem. These factors limit not only personal growth but also job market prospects later on.

The Student Living Monitor has shown how this trend can significantly impact mental health: students forced to stay at home due to lack of alternatives record the lowest well-being scores (45.1 on the MHI-5), while those living in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) average a much higher 58.1.

Similarly, students who secure their first-choice housing type report better well-being (59.6) compared to those who do not (54.1). These findings show how availability and choice directly shape student happiness and mental health.

With the supply of housing in the Netherlands tightening, students are able to access fewer options over time, often forcing them to remain in their parents’ homes or to secure accommodation far from their university in the case of international students.

A Shrinking Supply

While 5,000 new student rooms were added in the Netherlands, far more disappeared when private landlords started to sell off student houses in response to new rental laws. As a result, there are now 17,800 fewer students living in private sector housing compared to last year, and the total number of rooms in 20 student cities has dropped by 13,500 to around 332,400.

Moreover, the shortage is expected to rise to between 26,000 and 63,200 by 2032/33, which was worse than prior estimates.

International competitiveness is also at stake, as the housing crisis creates structural barriers to both access to higher education and the overall student experience in the Netherlands. If left unresolved, it risks undermining the country’s position in the global knowledge economy.

What Needs to Be Done

Kences and other stakeholders have called for urgent action, including:

• Allowing temporary contracts for student housing to expand supply.

• Abolishing permit requirements for more than two people to share a house, improving use of existing stock.

• Moving past the “nuisance” argument, as well-managed shared housing does not inherently cause problems.

The LSVb student union adds that politics must prioritize affordable housing for young people rather than profit-making.

The crisis spans a wide spectrum of issues, from education access and urban development to mental health and international competitiveness. As such, these developments underscore the urgent need for a National Action Framework in the Netherlands: a coordinated strategy that unites housing providers and policymakers around shared targets, clear responsibilities, and long-term solutions.

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Sources:

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1. https://nos.nl/artikel/2581086-steeds-meer-studenten-geven-de-hoop-om-een-kamer-te-vinden-op

2. https://nltimes.nl/2025/09/04/many-students-given-finding-room

3. www.theclassfoundation.com/slm

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