Rising Housing Prices and Growing Demand for Temporary Storage

The Dutch rental market continues to face intense pressure. Fewer homes are available for rent, while demand remains exceptionally high - leaving house seekers competing for every listing. As the housing shortage deepens, many tenants, expats, and students are struggling to find affordable accommodation and are turning to temporary storage solutions as part of their relocation process.

Fewer rental properties, more competition

According to recent analyses of the Dutch housing market, the number of available rental homes in the unregulated sector (vrije sector) continues to fall. In the third quarter of 2025, fewer homes entered the market than were rented out - meaning the total supply keeps shrinking.

On average, a rental home receives over 40 responses and is rented out within less than three weeks. This shortage forces prospective tenants to act quickly, often paying higher rents to secure a property.

The average rent for new tenants has now climbed to around €1,850 per month, implying that renters need a gross monthly income above €5,500 to qualify. For many middle-income earners, that’s no longer realistic - and it’s causing a shift toward smaller cities and alternative living arrangements.

Rising prices across nearly all provinces

The imbalance between supply and demand is visible across the Netherlands. Rents increased in nearly all provinces compared with last year.

• North Holland remains the most expensive province, with rents averaging nearly €25 per m².

• Drenthe and Overijssel saw the sharpest price rises - over 10% in just a year - largely due to limited housing stock.

• Even in smaller cities such as Deventer, Hoorn, and Schiedam, rent increases of 15–20% were recorded.

Amsterdam remains the country’s most expensive city, followed by Amstelveen, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Rotterdam.

Why this matters: temporary storage becomes essential

With fewer homes available and higher prices across the board, more people are caught between moves - whether waiting for a new rental contract, a delayed renovation, or the handover of a purchased home.

That’s where temporary storage plays a crucial role. Instead of paying for extra months of rent or living among boxes, people increasingly choose to store their belongings securely for a few weeks or months.

Through The Storage Scanner, you can instantly compare 3,500+ storage providers and 10,000+ storage facilities across 13 European countries - including short-term storage options ideal for:

• Tenants waiting for a new home

• Expats relocating to or from the Netherlands

• Students between semesters

• Homeowners renovating or selling

By comparing prices, size, and location, users can find reliable and affordable storage units anywhere in the Netherlands. From Amsterdam and Rotterdam to Groningen and Maastricht.

Broader trend: from renting to owning

A growing number of private landlords are selling their rental properties instead of re-letting them - a trend often referred to in the Netherlands as uitponden. Higher taxes, stricter rent regulations, and rising maintenance costs make it less attractive to remain active in the rental market.

As a result, thousands of rental homes disappear from the market each year while new construction struggles to keep up. This not only pushes tenants to buy sooner or move temporarily, but also affects the landlords themselves: many owners need a place to store furniture and other items during or after the sale of their properties.

For both groups - tenants between homes and landlords clearing out sold units - self storage offers a practical, flexible solution to bridge this transition period safely and efficiently.

Looking for a home or an agent?

If you’re currently searching for a rental home or a real estate agent, there are some excellent Dutch platforms to help you get started:

• Hestiva and KeyScout – for finding rental housing across the Netherlands.

• Krib.nl – to connect with professional real estate agents for both buying and renting.

These tools, combined with The Storage Scanner, help make the moving process smoother - from finding your next home to keeping your belongings safe in between.

Conclusion

The Dutch rental market shows no signs of cooling down. With supply shrinking and rents rising, flexibility has become key. Whether you’re waiting for your next lease, renovating, or moving abroad, temporary storage offers breathing space and peace of mind.

Visit The Storage Scanner to explore the largest selection of storage facilities across Europe - and find the perfect space to store your belongings safely during life’s transitions.