If you’ve been looking for a home to rent in the Netherlands — especially in Utrecht or the Het Gooi region — you might have felt it already: the Dutch rental market Q1 2025 is under serious pressure. For many expats arriving with fresh hopes and plans, the reality of house hunting can come as a shock.

At Expat Things, we believe in keeping things real and practical. That’s why we’re sharing highlights from the latest Q1 2025 Pararius Rental Monitor — not to overwhelm, but to equip. Because the more you know about the market you’re entering, the better decisions you can make.

The Big Picture: Supply Down, Pressure Up
Here are a few numbers that paint the story:

• Available rentals down 35.5% compared to this time last year
• Average rent in the free sector: €1,781/month
• Required income to qualify: around €5,340/month (gross)
• Landlords are selling more than they’re re-letting

And perhaps most importantly:
📊 The Krapte-Indicator — a measure of how tight the rental market is — now reads 0.46.
That’s extremely tight. (Anything under 1.0 signals a landlord’s market; 0.46 means less than half as many homes as seekers.)

A Closer Look: Utrecht & Het Gooi
From what we’re seeing daily, this national trend is hitting Utrecht and the Het Gooi region just as hard — if not harder.

Well-priced homes are attracting multiple offers within hours. Clients with solid income, strong documents, and even local support are sometimes missing out. It’s no longer just about Amsterdam — the search for housing is spreading outward, and pressure is rising across the board.

What’s Driving It?
The reasons are layered:

• Rental regulations are changing, and not all landlords are waiting around
• Instead of adapting to capped prices, many are selling their properties
• In Q1 alone, nearly 1,850 rentals became sales listings, while only 367 homes came into the rental pool
• Meanwhile, demand continues to grow — especially in cities popular with expats

Why This Matters

Updates like these are important because they help you prepare.
If you’re planning to move to the Netherlands, or you’re already here and navigating the market, it’s better to understand the landscape than to be blindsided by it.

We meet expats all the time who say:

“We thought it wouldn’t be this tough. We didn’t know how fast things move here.”

This is the kind of insight we wish everyone had before beginning their housing search.

The Dutch rental market Q1 2025 reflects a deeper national trend: lower supply, higher demand, and growing pressure even outside the big cities.

What You Can Do

• Prepare early — with all your documents ready
• Stay flexible — location, layout, and budget
• Seek support — guidance can truly make a difference

Looking for connection as much as guidance?
Join our Facebook group: Expat Things: Community and Connection in the Netherlands — a place for real conversations, shared experiences, and support that goes beyond the paperwork.

And if you haven’t read it yet, our blog on what community really means to us is a good place to start: Community isn’t just a word — it’s a feeling

– C | Glad you’re here

📞 Call/WhatsApp: +31 68 799 0631
📩 Email: info@expatthings.nl
🌐 http://www.expatthings.nl

Further reading:
The data in this blog is based on the Q1 2025 Huurmonitor by Pararius. You can view the full report here.