Public housing for whom? Experiences in an era of mature neo-liberalism: The Netherlands and Amsterdam

Public housing in the Netherlands is rapidly changing. While it used to be an example of how government intervention could successfully contribute to create descent housing for all, and while public housing was seen as the instrument to get rid of inhumane housing conditions, currently the sector is moving into another position. The sector is still large and of high quality, but its function is significantly changing. In this paper, a brief history of Dutch and Amsterdam public housing is presented, as well as an interpretation of the main forces behind its development. These descriptions are seen as essential ingredients for understanding the rise and current decline of the sector. An empirical analysis shows for whom the sector is functioning and what the directions of change are. The sector is not only declining but also residualising. Its position in the housing market is getting weaker, while the sector increasingly functions for lower-level socio-economic categories only.