The housing crisis is going through the Netherlands and was a hot topic in the campaign for this Wednesday’s legislative electionswith parties unfolding promises to solve the problem: from the giant and international Amsterdam to the small city of Doetinchem, in the east of the country. The municipality of 60 thousand inhabitants grew 10% in the last ten years. There is a shortage of houses, and those that appear on the market are sold within a few weeks, with prices also rising. A problem especially for younger people.
At 22 years old, Luuc has already tried to leave his parents’ house, but he is unable to pay a rent on his own. “They are very high for someone, like me, who is starting a small business in the restaurant sector”, he tells Expresso. At the age of 18, he registered with a state controlled rent program, but he still had no luck, because “the waiting list is years long”. A “one or two bedroom” apartment in Doetinchem costs €1500 per month.