Livability in NPLV Areas Improves Slightly, but Backlog Remains Large

Livability improved slightly more in the 20 areas of the National Program for Livability and Safety (NPLV) than the national average between 2018 and 2024. However, livability in the NPLV areas still lags significantly behind the national average. This is evident from the progress report that Minister Mona Keijzer of Housing and Spatial Planning sent to the House of Representatives today.The Livability Meter shows that nuisance and insecurity have the greatest impact on the lagging livability in the NPLV areas, followed by the type of housing in the neighborhood. Positively, relatively more people are working and residents earn more on average. Also, fewer children grow up in poverty, the number of youths suspected of crimes has decreased, and the risk of educational disadvantages has also declined.“It is good to see that the first developments of the area-focused approach are becoming visible,” says Minister Mona Keijzer. “We are now seeing the initial effects of the first 3 years of an approach that requires 15 to 20 years of commitment. In these neighborhoods, people often face multiple problems related to housing, safety, income, or health. Six ministries collaborate in the NPLV neighborhoods with local parties and residents to turn the tide. The problems are persistent and require structural investments to improve the future prospects of the 1.2 million residents.”

Livability and New Housing

The proportion of homes in the NPLV areas located in neighborhoods with ‘weak’ or lower livability decreased from 60% in 2018 to 55% in 2024. Nevertheless, livability still lags significantly behind the national average of only 11%. Also, fewer people in the NPLV areas rate their health as (very) good: this number is 5 to 10 percentage points lower than the average in the Netherlands.

The NPLV areas have relatively many cheap and poorly maintained homes. Therefore, new homes are being built and existing houses and community facilities are being improved. With funds from the Housing Construction Impulse (Wbi) and the Start Construction Impulse (Sbi), construction has started on about 2,500 homes out of a total of 33,000 homes in the NPLV areas. Between 2025 and 2029, another 50,000 homes and collective facilities such as schools will be improved and built.

In 2024, more than 7,500 homes in the NPLV areas were improved with funds from the Housing Fund (VHF). Approximately 27,470 households were also supported in implementing energy-saving measures for lower energy bills and a healthier indoor climate. In total, 8,298 social rental homes in the NPLV areas were improved in energy performance.

More People from Welfare to Work, Less Poverty

The proportion of working people in the NPLV areas rose from 60% in 2018 to 64% in 2024. However, the average remains about 7% lower than the national average. The proportion of people on welfare is steadily decreasing. In 2023, 8% of households lived in poverty, compared to 18% in 2018. This aligns with the national decline in poverty. However, twice as many households still live below the poverty line compared to the national average.

Various interventions – such as job guarantees for young people, extended learning time, guidance to work for people on welfare, and activating childcare – contributed to this. These interventions are partly funded by the SPUK Kansrijke Wijk 2023-2025, a bundled funding stream from the government specifically for the NPLV areas. This year, the ministries of OCW, SZW, and VRO have released an additional €400 million for the SPUK Kansrijke Wijk 2026-2028.

More Development Time for Children

The risk of educational disadvantages in both primary and secondary education decreased slightly in the NPLV areas but remains higher than the national average. In 2024, 11,088 children from the NPLV areas qualified for early childhood education, such as toddler care. About 3/4 of them actually participated. Approximately 53,000 children in NPLV areas received extended learning time at primary school.

Nuisance and Insecurity

Residents of NPLV areas experience nearly twice as much nuisance and insecurity as the national average. The perceived insecurity has decreased slightly since 2018, although somewhat less quickly than the national average. In almost all NPLV areas, more than half of the residents experience nuisance, with peaks up to 70%.

The number of registered suspicious youths aged 12 to 22 per 10,000 residents decreased slightly in 2024, in line with the national trend. With the deployment of the program Prevention with Authority, the NPLV areas are strongly focusing on empowering young people, preventing juvenile delinquency, and punishing when necessary. To continue these approaches, the NPLV areas were able to apply for a second tranche of Prevention with Authority in 2025.