Good news for future home seekers: thousands of homes are being added in South Holland

The average city in the Netherlands? It’s really full. Zoetermeer is no exception. Difficult for home seekers, but there is a speck on the horizon: thousands of homes are being added.

Before you jump into the air because you have been looking for a cottage in Zoetermeer for months, first a disclaimer: these homes are not only built in Zoetermeer, but distributed throughout the province. 235,460 homes are to be added in South Holland.

Social rental housing and affordable owner-occupied houses

The 235,460 extra homes in South Holland are part of a major plan that Minister Hugo de Jonge announced. By 2030, the Netherlands must be 900,000 homes richer. This concerns 250,000 social rental homes and 350,000 owner-occupied homes in the middle segment. For these homes, the monthly rent does not exceed 1,000 euros and the price in the case of an owner-occupied home does not exceed 355,000 euros.

Additional homes in South Holland

It is not yet known where those additional homes will be located. According to Sophie Kraaijeveld, new construction expert at ING, larger construction projects are needed. “That requires space that can be found outside the city.” An example of this is Fifth Village, a completely new village outside Gouda. Eight thousand homes will be built here, which are expected to be completed by 2030. The brand new village is about five kilometers from Gouda.

Inside the ring

Sophie says that designating a new location as a building plot is not easy, because it can be at the expense of nature. The result: municipalities are more or less forced to build within the city ring, where there is little space. As a result, fewer (quickly) houses are added.

In short: it may become a little easier for home seekers in Zoetermeer in the coming years, although that may mean that you will end up a few kilometers outside of Zoetermeer.