Netherlands' housing crisis leaves mothers, children and asylum seekers homeless

Amsterdam alderwoman Zita Pels warned that mothers and their children have become "the new face of homelessness" in the Netherlands, as a shortage of affordable rental homes forces many to live in unsafe conditions such as basement boxes without daylight or basic facilities. The city is currently sheltering 235 families, but Pels calls for national investment and a more even distribution of housing to relieve the pressure.

At the same time, the asylum system is strained by a lack of small‑scale accommodation. Only four of the 107 regular asylum centres are considered small, despite advocates saying that "small‑scale fits better with the neighbourhood and creates more support". The COA notes that small sites host fewer than about 150 residents and allow asylum seekers more independence, but larger facilities remain more efficient for providing care and services.

Both issues highlight a broader housing shortage affecting vulnerable groups across the country, prompting calls for increased construction of affordable homes and a reconsideration of how social and asylum housing are allocated.