The Netherlands needs to build 845,000 new homes over the next 10 years to prevent the current housing shortage worsening, according to a new report on the state of the Dutch housing market for the home affairs ministry.

There is currently a shortage of some 331,000 homes, even though more than 80,000 were added to the country’s housing stock last year, the report said.

At the moment, proposals to build 837,000 new homes are in the pipeline but some 30% of them will never be realised. ‘It is crucial that national and local government, developers, housing corporations and sector associations work closely together to finalise the plans,’ the ministry said.

In particular, first-time buyers and people on average incomes are finding it hard to buy a home because of the lack of choice at prices they can afford.

In 2013, first-time buyers accounted for 48% of housing sales, but this had fallen to 32% by 2019, home affairs minister Kajsa Ollongren told MPs in a briefing.