This page reviews the Dutch construction industry through performance indicators and the people behind the work. For 2023, we cover building activity such as 72,400 residential permits and 25.6 million m² of floor area under construction, alongside sector jobs reaching 418,000 FTEs. We also map investment and market conditions, including fixed-asset investment of €52.3 billion, plus sustainability outcomes like BREEAM-NL Excellent certification and energy-neutral newbuild rates.
Key Takeaways
- Residential building permits issued: 72,400 units in 2023.
- Total floor area under construction: 25.6 million m² in 2023.
- New non-residential floor space: 4.2 million m² completed in 2023.
- Total employment in Dutch construction reached 418,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2023.
- Unemployment rate in Dutch construction sector was 2.9% in 2023, below national average.
- Average hourly labor cost in construction was €38.50 in 2022.
- The total value of the Dutch construction industry in 2023 was €78.4 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
- Construction output in the Netherlands grew by 2.8% year-on-year in Q4 2023, driven by residential building.
- The Dutch building sector's turnover reached €85.2 billion in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from 2018-2022.
- Cement consumption in Dutch construction: 8.4 million tons in 2023.
- Steel usage volume: 4.7 million tons for construction in 2022.
- Average cost per m² for residential builds: €2,450 in 2023.
- 45% of new buildings in Netherlands achieved BREEAM-NL Excellent rating in 2023.
- Energy-neutral newbuilds: 62% compliance rate in 2023.
- CO2 emissions from construction sector: 4.2 million tons in 2022.
In 2023, Dutch construction expanded with growing output, investment, and sustainability gains despite higher material prices.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction Output & Projects21 stats
01
Residential building permits issued: 72,400 units in 2023.
02
Total floor area under construction: 25.6 million m² in 2023.
03
New non-residential floor space: 4.2 million m² completed in 2023.
04
Road infrastructure investments: €2.8 billion in 2023.
05
Number of completed dwellings: 68,200 in 2023.
06
Utility construction output increased by 6.7% in 2023.
07
Major projects pipeline value: €120 billion through 2030.
08
Demolition permits: 15,400 buildings in 2023.
09
Bridge and tunnel constructions: 12 new projects started in 2023.
10
Renovation and maintenance output: €29.4 billion in 2023.
11
Construction production index (2015=100) stood at 112.4 in 2023.
12
Total value of public tenders: €15.6 billion in 2023.
13
Infrastructure backlog reduction: 18% in 2023.
14
Wind farm construction output: 450 MW added in 2023.
15
Rail infrastructure km built: 45 km new in 2023.
16
Private housing starts: 55,300 in 2023.
17
Flood defense projects: 28 km reinforced 2023.
18
Office space completions: 450,000 m² in 2023.
19
Logistics centers built: 1.2 million m² 2023.
20
Social housing completions: 12,800 units 2023.
21
Hospital expansions: 150,000 m² 2023.
Interpretation
Construction Output & Projects Interpretation
In 2023, Dutch construction output showed strong momentum with 25.6 million m² of floor area under construction and 68,200 completed dwellings, while utility construction rose 6.7% and road infrastructure investment reached €2.8 billion.
02 · Category
Employment & Labor Market20 stats
01
Total employment in Dutch construction reached 418,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2023.
02
Unemployment rate in Dutch construction sector was 2.9% in 2023, below national average.
03
Average hourly labor cost in construction was €38.50 in 2022.
04
12.4% of construction workforce were self-employed in 2023.
05
Women represented 11.7% of total construction employees in 2023.
06
Number of construction companies in Netherlands was 42,500 in 2023.
07
Labor shortages affected 78% of Dutch construction firms in 2023 survey.
08
Average age of construction workers was 45.2 years in 2022.
09
Vocational training completions in construction: 28,000 in 2023.
10
Migrant workers comprised 22% of construction labor force in 2023.
11
Hourly wage index for construction workers up 4.9% in 2023.
12
Number of apprentices in construction: 35,200 in 2023.
13
Sick leave rate in construction: 4.8% in 2023.
14
Under 25-year-olds in workforce: 14.5% in 2023.
15
Overtime hours average: 180 per worker annually in 2023.
16
Collective agreement coverage: 85% of workforce 2023.
17
Pension contributions average: €12,500 per worker 2023.
18
Safety incidents: 1.8 per 100 workers 2023.
19
Training hours per worker: 42 annually 2023.
20
Union membership: 32% of workforce 2023.
Interpretation
Employment & Labor Market Interpretation
In the Dutch construction Employment and Labor Market, employment remains strong and relatively stable with 418,000 FTEs in 2023 while unemployment is even lower than the national average at 2.9%, and work is also increasingly diverse with women making up 11.7% of employees and 12.4% of the workforce working as self employed.
03 · Category
Market Size & Growth24 stats
01
The total value of the Dutch construction industry in 2023 was €78.4 billion, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
02
Construction output in the Netherlands grew by 2.8% year-on-year in Q4 2023, driven by residential building.
03
The Dutch building sector's turnover reached €85.2 billion in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from 2018-2022.
04
Investment in Dutch construction fixed assets amounted to €52.3 billion in 2023.
05
The residential construction market in the Netherlands was valued at €32.1 billion in 2023.
06
Non-residential construction segment grew by 5.1% to €28.7 billion in 2023.
07
Civil engineering projects contributed €17.6 billion to the Dutch construction market in 2022.
08
Forecasted CAGR for Dutch construction industry is 3.8% from 2024-2028.
09
Construction sector added €4.5 billion to Dutch GDP in Q3 2023.
10
The industry's market share in total Dutch economy was 6.1% in 2023.
11
Turnover per employee in construction: €187,000 in 2022.
12
GDP contribution growth: 3.2% for construction in 2023.
13
Export value of construction services: €2.1 billion in 2023.
14
Industry bankruptcy rate: 1.2% in 2023.
15
Venture capital in green construction: €450 million 2023.
16
R&D spend: 1.2% of turnover in 2023.
17
Foreign direct investment: €1.8 billion 2023.
18
Profit margin average: 4.7% in 2023.
19
Sector productivity growth: 1.9% YoY 2023.
20
€51.2 billion construction output (including both residential and non-residential) in 2019
21
€55.0 billion construction output (including both residential and non-residential) in 2020
22
€58.0 billion construction output (including both residential and non-residential) in 2021
23
€58.1 billion construction output (including both residential and non-residential) in 2022
24
€52.3 billion construction output (including both residential and non-residential) in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
With the total Dutch construction industry reaching €78.4 billion in 2023 and growing 4.2% year over year, the market size and growth picture is clearly positive, supported by continued momentum such as Q4 2023 output rising 2.8% and faster gains in non residential construction growing 5.1% to €28.7 billion.
More related reading
report visual · Projection
Dutch Construction Market Size: Growth to a Peak, Then a Dip
Construction output (total residential and non-residential) rises through 2021 and reaches the leader at the peak in 2022, before dropping in 2023.
51.2 EUR billions
Start
+0.53%
CAGR · 4y
52.3 EUR billions
Projected
20192023
source-verifiedcbs.nl2023
04 · Category
Materials & Costs17 stats
01
Cement consumption in Dutch construction: 8.4 million tons in 2023.
02
Steel usage volume: 4.7 million tons for construction in 2022.
03
Average cost per m² for residential builds: €2,450 in 2023.
04
Price index for construction materials rose 7.8% in 2023.
05
Asphalt production for roads: 12.5 million tons in 2023.
06
Brick production: 1.2 billion units for Dutch market in 2023.
07
Insulation material costs increased by 12% YoY in 2023.
08
Concrete ready-mix volume: 28.6 million m³ in 2023.
09
Cost overrun average in projects: 8.2% in 2023.
10
Low-carbon concrete adoption: 22% of projects in 2023.
11
Fuel costs for machinery up 15% in 2023.
12
Material import dependency: 42% for steel in 2023.
13
Lime and plaster costs: +9.4% YoY 2023.
14
Timber import volume: 2.8 million m³ 2023.
15
Electrical installation costs: +11.2% 2023.
16
Glass usage: 3.4 million m² 2023.
17
Paint and coatings volume: 250,000 tons 2023.
Interpretation
Materials & Costs Interpretation
In the Dutch Materials and Costs picture, construction is being heavily shaped by rising input prices, with a 7.8% increase in construction materials in 2023 alongside large volume demands like 8.4 million tons of cement and 12.5 million tons of asphalt for roads.
05 · Category
Sustainability & Innovation18 stats
01
45% of new buildings in Netherlands achieved BREEAM-NL Excellent rating in 2023.
02
Energy-neutral newbuilds: 62% compliance rate in 2023.
03
CO2 emissions from construction sector: 4.2 million tons in 2022.
04
Circular construction material use: 28% by volume in 2023 projects.
05
Solar panel installations on new builds: 1.2 GW capacity in 2023.
06
Timber construction share: 15% of total new volume in 2023.
07
Heat pump installations in renovations: 45,000 units in 2023.
08
Biodiversity measures in 72% of infrastructure projects in 2023.
09
Waste recycling rate in construction: 99.2% in 2022.
10
Green building certifications issued: 1,850 in 2023.
11
Share of digital BIM usage: 68% in large firms 2023.
12
Modular construction share: 12% of residential in 2023.
13
Prefab elements usage: 35% increase in 2023.
14
AI adoption in planning: 25% of firms in 2023.
15
Robot automation in sites: 8% penetration 2023.
16
Passivhaus certifications: 320 buildings 2023.
17
Geothermal projects: 15 new wells 2023.
18
EV charging stations built: 85,000 points 2023.
Interpretation
Sustainability & Innovation Interpretation
Sustainability and innovation in Dutch construction is accelerating in real terms, with 45% of new builds reaching BREEAM-NL Excellent in 2023 and 62% meeting energy-neutral newbuild compliance, alongside growing circular and low-carbon measures like 28% circular material use and 15% timber share.
Reference
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Dutch Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dutch-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Dutch Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/dutch-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Dutch Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dutch-construction-industry-statistics.