The municipal executive has had 12,538 homes built in 3.5 years. This number of homes has been or will be built since the current executive began. Alderman Chantal Zeegers knows that building a lot is not easy and thanks the builders for their work.

The number 12,538 represents the number of construction starts in Rotterdam between June 2022 and the end of 2025. In June 2022, the current municipal executive board (B and W). Link opens an external page in a new browser tab. began its term. In that executive, Chantal Zeegers is the alderman for Building and Housing.

Construction starts

Not all 12,538 homes have been delivered yet, but construction has started before 2026. Therefore, the executive counts construction starts: homes that are already finished or are still being built. 

Executive target

With 12,538 construction starts in 3.5 years, one of the new construction goals of this executive has been achieved. The executive provides in its final accountability. Link opens an external page in a new browser tab. the latest update on goals and promises from the coalition agreement. 

The executive target for new housing construction is one of 15 measurable goals of this executive. The target has been met on 2 of the 3 fronts. The target included 3 goals: at least 12,500 construction starts, of which 20% in the social segment and 35% in the middle segment. Only the last goal was just missed: 34.4% of all construction starts are in the middle segment. 

Online you can read the entire final accountability of the executive. Link opens an external page in a new browser tab.. 

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Affordable and sustainable

‘We have done everything possible for affordable and sustainable homes, such as social rent, middle rent and flexible homes for young people,’ says alderman Chantal Zeegers (Climate, Building and Housing). As alderman, she is responsible for the executive target for new housing construction. 

More than 60% of the construction starts fit into the affordable segment. This concerns homes that fall under middle rent. Link opens an external page in a new browser tab., middle ownership and social rent. The price for a middle ownership home is between 236,000 and 420,000 euros as of January 1, 2026. 

Of the 12,538 construction starts, 4,164 homes fall under middle rent and 3,185 homes under social rent. Also counted in the construction starts are the 441 StartR flexible homes. Link opens an external page in a new browser tab. that will be built. 

Furthermore, the construction of over 1,300 student homes has started. Another 1,000 student homes will be added in Brainpark . Link opens an external page in a new browser tab.. Construction of these will start mid-2026. 

Fighting against circumstances

Zeegers knows there is a great need for affordable housing in Rotterdam. ‘So we keep fighting, even though the circumstances are sometimes tough,’ says the alderman.

The circumstances Zeegers refers to are rising construction costs, limited building space and investments in housing construction that are delayed or withdrawn. These make it difficult in Rotterdam to connect new construction to housing needs.

The municipality tries to make building easier to meet the demand as much as possible. This is done, among other things, with an investment of 25 million euros in the Doorbouwfonds. This is a collaboration with housing corporations, builders and other parties who jointly decide on new construction.  

Builders, thank you at Dahliablok

Alderman Zeegers wants to thank builders for the 12,538 construction starts. She does this at the Dahliablok in Bloemhof. There, 33 owner-occupied homes are now being built, of which 67% are in the affordable segment.

At Dahliablok, the alderman celebrates that the highest point of the new construction has been reached. Zeegers hands out bags of fries at the celebration to thank the builders. ‘Without your craftsmanship and perseverance, we would not have had 12,538 construction starts.’ 

The Dahliablok symbolizes affordable and sustainable building. The homes are connected to the heating network, have solar panels and a garden that fits the changing climate. This is called climate adaptive: the gardens can better drain or retain rain and absorb heat with plants.