Dutch Housing Crisis: Migrants and Refugees Often Blamed, But Experts Say They Are Some of the Biggest Victims

The Dutch city of Rotterdam is at the forefront of a national housing crisis, where migrants and refugees often find themselves facing high rents, overcrowding, exploitative landlords, and unfair evictions. While politicians and far-right groups blame immigrants for the shortage of decent housing, experts argue that they are actually some of the biggest victims of the crisis. According to Statistics Netherlands, the Dutch population has grown by around a million in the last decade to about 18 million, mainly through net migration.

Key Takeaways:

• The Dutch housing crisis is a complex issue with multiple causes, including a sharp decrease in building and an increase in single-person households.
• The shortage of decent housing affects up to 800,000 labour migrants working in agriculture, meat processing, manufacturing, and distribution.
• Migrants and refugees are often blamed for the shortage of decent housing, but experts say they are actually some of the biggest victims of the crisis.
• The new Dutch law provides tenant protections and gives the government the legal tools to intervene in cases of exploitation.
• Economists say a tax break for homeowners fuels inequality, inflates prices, and leads to fewer rentals.

Statistics:

• The Dutch population has grown by around a million in the last decade to about 18 million, mainly through net migration.
• Up to 800,000 labour migrants are working in agriculture, meat processing, manufacturing, and distribution.
• The Netherlands has a shortage of about 400,000 houses due to a sharp decrease in building and an increase in single-person households.

Sources:

• Statistics Netherlands
• UN's special rapporteur on adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal
• Economics editor at De Groene Amsterdammer, Koen Haegens
• Territorial Unit for The Hague and Amsterdam, A.W. Mśyte
• Professor of housing systems at TU Delft, Peter Boelhouwer