Private owners are renting out fewer homes in Amsterdam, down 18% in three years, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
At the start of 2026 they rented out 53,510 homes, 5,520 fewer than a year earlier and the third annual fall in a row.
Most belonged to owners with a single property. Other cities saw falls, but none as steep.
The drop is partly due to the Affordable Rent Act, which ties maximum rents to a home’s quality, and to rising taxes on second homes.
Gert-Jan Bakker of tenants’ group Stichting Woon says the law makes it easier to challenge high rents, but landlords also face higher taxes, rising interest rates and a ban on temporary contracts.
TU Delft housing professor Peter Boelhouwer says the rules overshoot their goal, helping higher earners who can buy a €300,000 to €400,000 home while leaving students and other newcomers with no alternative.
Total rental stock is stable as housing corporations and foundations rent out slightly more.
Alderman Zita Pels calls the law an important tool for protecting tenants, but says the sales can put pressure on students and middle-income renters.
Check out our guide to your rights as a renter in Amsterdam.