Dutch towns expand flexible housing and home splitting to ease shortage

In Gelderland, housing corporations and builders say many existing homes could be split to create new dwellings. The province estimates at least 5,000 houses are suitable for splitting, and nationwide the potential could reach 100‑150 thousand units, enough to alleviate about 15 % of the current housing deficit. Local officials, however, have been reluctant to approve permits, leaving owners such as Cenk Kiliçer in legal battles with the Overbetuwe municipality.

Meanwhile, the city of Tilburg has become a national leader in temporary‑housing permits, granting 1,043 approvals over the past five years for the Bloemkwartier flex‑housing project. The complex now houses around 180 residents, many of them recent status‑holders, who praise the close‑knit community. Resident Sema Heijnemans says, “I can move forward in life,” and emphasizes the sense of belonging fostered by the project.