There is much attention to the substandard living conditions of labor migrants, but because it is often assumed their stay is only temporary, knowledge about their housing once they have truly settled in the Netherlands is lacking. The doctoral research of PBL researcher Dolly Loomans shows that the many EU labor migrants who stay long-term in the Netherlands need better housing.
This dissertation shows that there are large differences among EU labor migrants and that these differences grow the longer they stay in the Netherlands. While the more affluent migrants mostly live in larger cities, it is mainly low-paid migrants with uncertain labor market positions who live in rural areas. They often remain dependent for a long time on shared and informal housing forms, whether or not linked to the employer.
Feeling of insecurity
“Poor housing conditions, dependence and uncertainty affect people: it has long-term consequences for the feeling of safety and the way people approach life,” says Loomans. “Due to the difficult housing market in the Netherlands, the role of intermediaries in access to housing becomes even greater. The uncertainty of labor migrants worsens and lasts longer. A comprehensive vision that also pays attention to broader accessibility of housing and improving labor market conditions is what labor migrants need.”
PhD trajectory
Several PBL publications by Loomans were part of the doctoral research, including Who comes, who stays, who leaves?, Long term housing challenges and A longitudinal analysis of arrival infrastructures. Dr. Dolly Loomans obtained her PhD on February 11, 2026, in social geography and planning at the University of Amsterdam, with PBL researcher Prof. Dorien Manting as supervisor.
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Housing and space
Research on the housing market, housing stock and living environment.