Amsterdam’s Housing Crisis and the Return of Squatting

  • Amsterdam faces a severe housing shortage: over 400,000 homes are needed, yet prices are at record highs.
  • Squatting, illegal since 2010, is on the rise as young people and students can’t find affordable housing.
  • Many blame homeowner tax subsidies (€11.2B annually) for worsening inequality and pushing renters out.
  • 57% of Dutch households own homes, benefiting from mortgage relief, while tenants shoulder rising costs.
  • Riot police are increasingly called to clear squats, echoing the confrontations of the 1980s.
  • The crisis is politically charged ahead of October elections, with anger targeting wealthy homeowners rather than immigrants.
  • The long-term fix lies in phasing out subsidies and building nearly 1M homes by 2030, but homeowners’ resistance remains strong.

Why Arizona Landlords Should Care

  • Like Amsterdam, Arizona faces supply shortages and political debates around housing affordability.
  • Rent control laws, eviction rules, and subsidy policies abroad are signals of the regulatory pressures that could land here too.
  • In both markets, property managers help landlords navigate compliance, protect profitability, and prevent tenant conflict.