How much living space do Dutch people have?

The Storage Scanner looked at home sizes across Dutch municipalities. We used open data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on household sizes and average home areas. From that we calculated how much living space each person has on average. It turns out the Netherlands’ average is about 57.5 m² per person, which is quite sizeable compared to the EU average (roughly 45 m²), so Dutch households have, generally speaking, more space than other European citizens.

The Netherlands is, however, one of the most densely populated countries in Europe (about 424 people/km²). For comparison, Belgium has about 383/km² and Germany 239/km². This high density means the Dutch generally live more compact together than people do in other European countries. Even though Dutch houses are relatively large by global standards, more people tend to live together in villages, smaller cities and major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague and Utrecht.

Dutch figures vs. Europe

Overall, the Dutch average (≈57.5 m²/person) is higher than you might guess from other sources. The CBS itself notes Amsterdam residents only have about 40 m² each – a figure our data confirms. With an average of 57.5 m² per person, the Netherlands actually sits above the European average. In many Southern and Eastern European countries, people live with significantly less space per person.

However, compared to neighboring countries like Denmark, Sweden, and parts of Germany, Dutch living space is noticeably smaller. And more importantly: the national average hides huge local differences. In several Dutch municipalities, people live with less than 45 m² per person, levels more commonly associated with Europe’s densest cities.

Where people in the Netherlands live the smallest

The municipalities with the least living space per person are spread across the Netherlands. High space pressure is not limited to large cities. Smaller towns also score low.

The living space per person is calculated by dividing the average home size in the municipality by the average household size in the municipality. Household size simply means how many people live in one home, on average. The more people in a household, the less space each person has.

Based on our analysis, Scherpenzeel ranks lowest in terms of living space per person. Homes are relatively small and households are larger than average. This results in just 34.4 m² per person, the smallest in the country. Urk also ranks high on the list. Households are generally speaking large, with almost three people per home on average. Even though homes are bigger, the high household size reduces living space per person to 41.3 m². Amsterdam shows a different pattern. Household sizes are smaller, but homes are also much smaller. As a result, residents have only 43.5 m² per person on average.

Other municipalities with limited living space include Waddinxveen and Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht. In these areas, a combination of family households and moderate home sizes leads to below-average space per person.

Overall, the data shows that limited living space is not only an urban issue. Household size and home size together determine how much space people really have.

These places often have smaller homes or more people per house. (For example, CBS data shows Amsterdam’s low space per person) Notably, many big cities (like The Hague, Rotterdam) also have limited living space per person, even if not in the top 15 shown above, because of dense housing.

Where people in the Netherlands live the largest

On the other end of the scale are municipalities where people have a lot of living space per person. These are mainly rural areas with larger homes, smaller households, or both. However, there are also some cities (outside of the Randstad area) that have a lot of living space per person. Generally, speaking, living space per person increases when homes are large and fewer people live in each household. This is clearly visible in the top-ranking municipalities.

Renkum ranks first by a wide margin. Homes are very large on average, while household sizes are relatively small. This results in 119.1 m² per person, the highest in the Netherlands. Oldebroek follows. Homes are even larger, but households are also bigger. Even so, residents have 111.1 m² per person on average. Other municipalities with high living space per person include Winterswijk, Schiermonnikoog, and Westerveld. These areas combine spacious homes with moderate household sizes. Most of these municipalities are rural or semi-rural. Maastricht stands out as an exception. Despite being a city, smaller household sizes and relatively large homes result in 78.5 m² per person.

Overall, the data shows a clear contrast between dense urban areas and more spacious rural regions.

Self Storage and Limited Space

On average, people in the Netherlands do not live small versus European standards. With around 57.5 m² per person, the country sits above the EU average. But that number hides large local differences. At municipality level, the picture changes. In several parts of the country, people live with far less space. Sometimes because homes are small. Sometimes because households are large. Often it is a combination of both.

Space pressure is not limited to major cities. Smaller towns also appear among the places with the least living space per person. At the same time, rural areas and some cities outside the Randstad offer significantly more room.

Limited living space per person explains why many households look for practical ways to create more room. Moving to a larger home is often expensive or simply not possible. Renovating is not always an option either. In these situations, self storage becomes a logical solution. It allows people to store items they do not need every day, without having to get rid of them. Common examples include seasonal clothing, bicycles, sports equipment, tools, archives, or furniture that does not fit in the home.

Self storage is also used during life changes. Think of moving house, renovating, downsizing, or combining households. By storing items outside the home, rooms can be used for living instead of storage. In areas with high space pressure, self storage becomes therefore a practical extension of the home. If you are considering self storage, The Storage Scanner helps you find the right option. Our platform shows self storage facilities across the Netherlands and Europe in one overview. You can compare locations, unit sizes, prices, and security features. This makes it easier to find a safe and affordable storage unit close to home.