A home is the basis for everything else in life. It is where you unwind after a day at school, studying, or work, and where you spend time with family and friends. A home is much more than a roof over your head: it must be healthy, close to green spaces and, above all, simply affordable. For many people, the housing crisis has made this nothing more than a promise on paper. For them, the harsh reality is homelessness, overcrowded housing, or having to stay with their parents far too long. Housing should serve people, not profit. The key to solving the housing crisis lies in the affordability and suitability of homes.

What will we do in the coming years?

We will establish a Construction and Housing Collective. We will fix what the market cannot. Left to itself, the market produces homes designed to maximise profit: luxury penthouses and tiny, overpriced flats. That is why we want to create the Amsterdam Construction and Housing Collective. A partnership with housing cooperatives, business cooperatives, and social initiatives, to bring more real estate into public hands. This will create space for social housing, GP medical practices and childcare centres.

Affordable housing

  • We will continue to build according to the 40–40–20 model. Amsterdam residents do not need more expensive housing; they need affordable homes. Ideally, we would build 100% affordable housing in Amsterdam, but the national government is unwilling to fund that approach. That is why we are committed to maintaining the highest feasible distribution: 40% social housing, 40% mid-range housing and 20% private sector.
  • We will give housing cooperatives the space they deserve. By simplifying permit procedures and creating the right financial conditions, we will continue to promote cooperative and collective forms of housing. These allow people to live affordably and sustainably, within strong communities, for the long term.

Sustainable housing

  • We will build within the city, not in nature. We will keep the edges of the city green and add new homes only within the existing urban area. When we develop a neighbourhood, we will ensure current residents benefit too, through better green spaces and improved facilities.
  • We will build homes fit for the future. Our housing and neighbourhoods must be resilient to the extreme weather already caused by climate change. We will support developers with clear and workable rules for climate-adaptive building and renovation, while protecting biodiversity.

Suitable and mould-free housing

  • We will build to encourage movement within the housing market. To solve the housing crisis, people need to be able to move more easily. Many older residents would like a smaller, more accessible home. This frees up family homes for young people, students, and families. That is why we intend to build housing for older people within existing neighbourhoods, so they can stay in familiar surroundings.
  • By 2030, homes will be mould-free. Together with housing associations, we will ensure that no homes remain with serious mould problems.

What have we already achieved?

  • Affordable rent back on the agenda. We have stopped the decline in social housing. Since 2021, the number of social rental homes has been growing again.
  • Healthier, better insulated homes. Through our insulation campaign, 50,000 households have received tailored energy advice at home, saving low-income households an average of €300 to €600 per year. In total, this amounts to €15 to €30 million in savings. Thanks to GroenLinks, tenants with mould in their homes now get a rent reduction.
  • Homes for living in, not for profit. At GroenLinks’ initiative, a self-occupancy requirement was introduced so homes can no longer be bought purely for speculative renting or resale at huge profit. We also strengthened and sped up enforcement against vacancy. In 2024 alone, this freed up 1,300 homes. This successful approach is now being rolled out nationwide.

Want to read more about our plans to tackle the housing crisis? Read the summary of our election programme in English or our full programme in Dutch.