New-build sales fall as existing housing market picks up
In the first quarter, 19.1 per cent fewer new-build homes were sold than a year earlier.
Sales of new-build homes in the Netherlands continued to decline. In the first quarter of 2026, 5,126 new-build homes were sold, while sales of existing homes increased.
The number of new-build homes sold was 19.1 per cent lower in the first quarter than in the same period of 2025. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Kadaster and Eurostat, this was the third consecutive quarter in which new-build sales declined.
The existing-home market showed the opposite trend. Almost 56,000 homes were sold, 8.7 per cent more than a year earlier. In total, 61,075 homes changed hands, representing a combined sales value of more than €30 billion.
New-build homes became more expensive again. A new-build home cost an average of €516,000, 4.6 per cent more than a year earlier. The average selling price of existing homes was €492,000, an increase of 5.2 per cent.
The figures do not directly explain why buyers are increasingly passing up new-build homes. Possible factors include the higher price, uncertainty about mortgage costs and the long period between purchase and completion. The available statistics do not distinguish between projects that are not being sold and homes that have not yet been put on the market.
The trend is important for housing construction targets. A fall in sales may make project developers more cautious about new plans, while municipalities want more homes to be built. Fewer transactions do not immediately mean less construction, but they may put pressure on project financing and planning.
The comparison with the existing-home market presents a mixed picture. Demand for homes remains strong, but buyers appear to have opted for existing homes more often this quarter. Whether this is temporary or points to a structural shift will only become clear in the coming quarters.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- New-build sales are falling, while sales of existing homes are rising.
- New-build homes are more expensive on average than existing homes.
- The figures measure sales, not construction output directly.
Left
Arguments The decline shows that the market is not producing enough affordable homes. The government should take stronger control of social housing, affordable home ownership and public land holdings.
Values Housing security, affordability and equal access to housing.
Consequences Greater public control could accelerate affordable construction, but would limit the room for market participants and make decision-making more complex.
Centre
Arguments The solution lies in a combination of more building sites, predictable rules and financial viability. Municipalities, developers and central government should share risks without taking over the market entirely.
Values Deliverability, continuity and balance between public and private interests.
Consequences More stable policy could get projects moving, but would not automatically deliver homes in the short term.
Right
Arguments From this perspective, high prices and falling sales point to too many rules, slow permits and high construction costs. More market forces and fewer restrictions should increase supply.
Values Ownership, entrepreneurship and economic freedom.
Consequences Fewer rules could make faster construction possible, but would not guarantee that new homes become affordable for lower-income groups.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The numbers, percentages and average prices have been confirmed by CBS. The text avoids speculation about causes and corrects the reference to the number of consecutive quarters of decline.
- confirmed In the first quarter of 2026, 5,126 new-build homes were sold. — CBS reports this figure. source
- confirmed Sales fell by 19.1 per cent compared with a year earlier. — CBS publication. source
- confirmed Almost 56,000 existing homes were sold, 8.7 per cent more than a year earlier. — CBS publication. source
- incorrect The decline continued for four consecutive quarters. — The primary CBS source refers to three consecutive quarters. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The decline has continued for the fourth consecutive quarter.Now: The decline has continued for the third consecutive quarter. (The primary CBS report states that there were three consecutive quarters.)
Editor's note
The primary CBS publication confirms a decline in the first quarter of 2026, but refers to the third consecutive quarter. The causes of the decline cannot be inferred directly from the figures.Sources
- Weer minder nieuwbouwwoningen verkocht — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
- Analyse nieuwbouw eerste kwartaal 2026 — NVM
- Woningmarkt tweede kwartaal 2026 — Kadaster