Stagnation in Dutch housing production and suggestions for a way forward

This paper examines the stagnation of the Dutch housing production in the late 1990s and identifies possibilities for raising production in the near future. Dutch housing production is placed in a theoretical and historical context. Special attention is devoted to the relationship between housing production, price developments, the economic cycle and urbanization policy. These form the basis for an explanation of the stagnation of Dutch housing production. In addition, it identifies a number of obstructive and disruptive influences in play. Because these are partly steered by government policy, the government needs to re-think its role in the housing (construction) market.