Crossing Continents

The Netherlands - ten new cities?


Listen Later

'Start by lighting a candle every morning.’ In other words, pray. That’s the advice on one social media platform to those looking for a rented property in the Netherlands. The pressure on housing is immense: an estimated shortage of 400,000 homes. It was the number one issue in the recent Dutch general election, with the winning D66 party promising to build '10 new cities'.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Squatting was made a criminal offence over a decade ago, but with an estimated 90,000 homes standing empty, the squatters – krakers – are back. And there are thousands of people breaking the law by living year-round in holiday or recreation parks deep in the Netherlands’ countryside.
The authorities are trying to change the dynamics. The city of Amsterdam is cracking down on second homes and owners who leave a property vacant. And last year, in an effort to cool an overheated market and limit the exploitation of tenants, the national government strengthened rent controls. But this has only encouraged landlords to throw in the towel and put their properties up for sale.
There’s also a question mark over plans to build thousands of homes - and new cities - because of an obstacle few seem to have foreseen... Electricity. The Netherlands has enough power, but it doesn’t have the infrastructure to transport it to proposed new developments. The Dutch are known for innovation – especially in their management of water. Could floating apartment blocks be one of the answers? Linda Pressly meets both those at the sharp end of the Dutch housing crisis, and those working to mitigate its fallout.

Presenter: Linda Pressly

Producer: Tim Mansel
Production coordinator: Katie Morrison
Studio Mix by: Duncan Hannant
Editor: Penny Murphy

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Crossing ContinentsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

75 ratings


More shows like Crossing Continents

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,821 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

377 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

893 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,074 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,475 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,820 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

971 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

588 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,833 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,048 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,105 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,060 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

483 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

109 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

File on 4 Investigates by BBC Radio 4

File on 4 Investigates

39 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

401 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

738 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

228 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

163 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

70 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,216 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

765 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,045 Listeners