Around 30,000 additional homes are expected to be built in five Dutch cities over the coming years. The government has designated new large-scale housing development areas in Deventer, Haarlem, Leeuwarden, Maastricht and Weert. The plans are intended to increase the housing supply and create room for approximately 60,000 home seekers. The homes will be developed in phases towards 2035.

Five new areas receive priority

The new housing development locations will receive additional attention from the national government to accelerate the implementation of existing plans.

In Deventer, the plans involve approximately 5,000 to 6,000 homes in the city centre, the surrounding area and Keizerslanden. In Haarlem Schalkwijk, around 5,000 to 6,000 homes are also planned.

Leeuwarden Middelsee-Spoordok is expected to provide space for approximately 6,000 homes. Around 8,000 homes are planned in Maastricht’s Spoorzone, while approximately 5,000 homes are planned in Weert.

Together, the planned total amounts to approximately 30,000 new homes.

Faster implementation of housing projects

When selecting the locations, the government did not only look at the availability of land. Factors such as accessibility, nitrogen restrictions, drinking water supply and capacity on the electricity grid also play an important role.

According to the government, these locations offer sufficient opportunities to actually bring projects to completion.

The municipalities involved will receive additional support to speed up procedures. This includes planning, permit procedures and cooperation between government authorities, developers and other parties involved.

The aim is to shorten the period between making plans and actually starting construction as much as possible.

Target remains 100,000 homes per year

The five new locations are in addition to 21 areas that had previously already been designated as large-scale housing development locations. More locations are expected to be added later.

The government remains committed to the ambition of building approximately 100,000 new homes each year. That target is currently not yet being achieved.

For this reason, approximately €1 billion is made available annually, particularly to enable the construction of affordable homes when projects are financially difficult to realise.

For home seekers, however, the announcement does not mean that thousands of homes will become available immediately. Developing and building complete residential areas takes several years.

How does OZQUR Makelaardij view this?

At OZQUR Makelaardij, we see the addition of new housing development locations as a positive step. Ultimately, increasing the housing supply remains one of the most important conditions for reducing pressure on the housing market.

At the same time, we believe that the number of homes is not the only important factor. Attention must also be paid to what type of homes are being built and for which target groups. First-time buyers, families, seniors and middle-income households all have different housing needs.

New housing developments can also affect existing neighbourhoods and property values. When buying or selling, we therefore look not only at the current situation, but also at future developments and new-build plans in the surrounding area.

At OZQUR Makelaardij, we help you reach your dream home in 5 steps

01 — Getting acquainted & identifying your housing wishes
We start with you. We get to know you, build trust and clearly identify your housing wishes and most important criteria.

→ Understand first, then search.

02 — Determining your budget & possibilities
Together with the buying agent and financial advisor, we determine your mortgage possibilities, budget and ideal search range.

→ Know what is possible before we start searching.

03 — Viewing together
You focus on how the property feels. We take a critical look at the technical condition, location, possibilities and points of attention.

→ You decide whether it feels like home. We look at the rest.

04 — Determining the value & bidding smartly
We analyse comparable properties that have been sold, discuss the property with the selling agent and assess the expected appraisal value. We then determine the bidding strategy together and submit the offer.

→ Not just bidding, but making a well-founded offer.

05 — From accepted offer to the notary
Offer accepted? We then review the documents and purchase agreement, monitor all important deadlines and guide the entire process through to the notary.

→ We stay in control until you receive the keys.

Yucel Samanci
Buying and selling agent at OZQUR Makelaardij, specialised in purchasing strategy, negotiations and assisting Dutch, Turkish and expat clients.
(27 July 2026)