New constructions alone will not solve room shortage

Representatives of the six cities insist that there is no way construction works can keep up with the growth in the number of students coming from abroad. In a joint statement, the municipalities write (in Dutch only, Ed.) that the construction targets set in the 2022-2030 National Student Housing Action Plan, unveiled in September, cannot be met by most municipalities as they are also facing huge demand for housing from other societal groups.

The municipalities are therefore asking the Minister of Education for tools to help higher education institutions regulate the ever-growing influx of international students. They are also looking to the Minister of Housing to adapt the rules that govern housing valuation and rent subsidies. If rent subsidy rules are changed to include occupants of housing units that are not self contained, this will enable rents to rise and create an incentive to build this type of accommodation.