Homebuyers Leave Randstad, Driving Up Prices in Groningen and Provinces
As housing in the Randstad becomes increasingly unaffordable, buyers are relocating to quieter regions like Groningen and Drenthe—driving up local prices and mortgage amounts.
With housing prices in the Randstad remaining high and supply increasingly tight, more Dutch homebuyers are turning to quieter, more affordable provinces like Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel. This trend is creating a ripple effect: house prices and average mortgage amounts are rising sharply in these once-overlooked areas.
According to mortgage advisor De Hypotheker, the average mortgage in the Netherlands hit a record high of €360,770 in the second quarter of 2025—an increase of 14% compared to two years ago. But some areas saw much sharper increases. In Groningen, the average mortgage jumped by 23% over two years, reaching €283,271. Overijssel and Drenthe followed closely with increases of 22% and 20% respectively.
The shift is largely driven by affordability. While cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Rotterdam still have the highest housing costs, the scarcity of homes and escalating prices are pushing buyers to reconsider where they live—especially now that hybrid work has made longer commutes more tolerable. “If you only need to go to the office twice a week, people are more willing to accept a longer commute in exchange for a better home,” explained De Hypotheker’s commercial director Mark de Rijke.
Data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) also supports this shift: population growth has slowed in the Randstad while increasing in smaller cities and rural areas. This migration pattern has intensified pressure on housing markets outside the major urban centres, accelerating price growth and raising average mortgage levels.
Although housing prices are still expected to rise in 2025, experts believe the rate of increase will slow compared to the past two years. One contributing factor is the growing number of investors selling off rental properties, which is helping to ease housing supply constraints.
Young homebuyers appear to be most affected by the trend. De Hypotheker noted that those under 35 are taking out increasingly large mortgages to secure homes. For buyers under 25, the average mortgage rose by 7% over the past year, while those aged 25–35 saw a 6% increase. For older buyers, growth was more modest.
Rising incomes, persistently low interest rates, and limited new construction all contribute to the upward pressure on the market. Unless more homes are built quickly, says De Rijke, prices will continue to climb. “We really need more housing. The population is growing, and there are more and more single people who need somewhere to live.”