€524bn inheritance wave could push up Dutch house prices
The financial markets regulator AFM warns that the money passing from older to younger generations over the next ten years will add to price pressure on a housing market that is already short of homes, and attract fraudsters.
i
Illustrative photo: Dqfn13 / CC BY-SA 4.0
People aged 75 and over will leave their children and other heirs €524 billion over the next ten years, the Dutch financial markets regulator AFM says. Of that, €304 billion comes from homes. The rest is savings and investments.
The AFM expects the extra money to push up house prices, because demand for homes still exceeds supply. That makes it harder for first-time buyers and people without wealth to find a home to their liking. The gap between those with and without wealth will widen, the regulator says, until the housing shortage is solved.
AFM researchers looked at what heirs do with the money. Buying the parental home is not popular. Heirs prefer to sell it and put the money into a home of their own. Some save or invest instead, which the AFM expects to raise demand for financial advice and investment products.
The regulator also says the risk of fraud and scams aimed at heirs is rising. Heirs receive a large sum and often face complex financial choices, while losing a loved one is an emotional event that can affect their judgement. “This group is emotionally vulnerable,” the AFM says.
House price growth slowed from 11.9% in November 2024 to 2.9% in September 2026
% change on a year earlier · Oct 2024–Sep 2026
House price growth slowed from 11.9% in November 2024 to 2.9% in September 2026 (% change on a year earlier). From 11.5 in Oct 2024 to 2.9 in Sep 2026; highest 11.9 in Nov 2024, lowest 2.9 in Sep 2026. Source: CBS and Kadaster.
View data
| Item | % change on a year earlier |
|---|---|
| Oct 2024 | 11.5 |
| Nov 2024 | 11.9 |
| Dec 2024 | 11 |
| Jan 2025 | 11.5 |
| Feb 2025 | 10.6 |
| Mar 2025 | 10.6 |
| Apr 2025 | 10.2 |
| May 2025 | 9.7 |
| Jun 2025 | 9.3 |
| Jul 2025 | 8.6 |
| Aug 2025 | 7.9 |
| Sep 2025 | 7 |
| Oct 2025 | 6.6 |
| Nov 2025 | 6.1 |
| Dec 2025 | 5.8 |
| Jan 2026 | 5.4 |
| Feb 2026 | 5.4 |
| Mar 2026 | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | 4.3 |
| May 2026 | 4.4 |
| Jun 2026 | 4.1 |
| Jul 2026 | 3.9 |
| Aug 2026 | 3.3 |
| Sep 2026 | 2.9 |
Source: CBS
More on housing market · prices and cost of living
Guide: Box 3: Dutch tax on savings and investments in 2026
See more of NLnow in Google: add it as a preferred source