Dutch construction is moving fast, and 2023 tells the story in numbers that are hard to ignore, from construction work reaching €78.5 billion to office starts dropping 15% to 450,000 m². With GDP contribution at 4.2% and production volume ticking up to 105.8 in Q4 2023, the sector is growing unevenly across building types. We pull together the latest indicators on permits, sustainability, waste recycling, and labor so you can see where momentum is building and where it is stalling.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the total value of construction work done in the Netherlands reached €78.5 billion, marking a 2.1% increase from 2022
- The Dutch construction industry's contribution to GDP was 4.2% in 2022, equating to €45.3 billion in value added
- Construction production volume index in the Netherlands stood at 105.8 in Q4 2023 (2015=100), up 1.8% year-on-year
- Non-residential building permits floor area totaled 4.2 million m² in 2023
- Office construction starts declined 15% to 450,000 m² in 2023
- Industrial and logistics floor space completed reached 2.1 million m² in 2023, up 8%
- Number of new dwellings started in Netherlands was 62,100 in 2023, down 12% from 2022
- Average size of new residential buildings permitted was 112 m² in 2023
- Multi-family housing accounted for 58% of new residential permits in urban areas in 2023
- 75% of new non-residential buildings achieved BREEAM-NL Excellent rating in 2023
- Construction waste recycling rate in Netherlands reached 99% in 2022, highest in EU
- CO2 emissions from construction sector fell 12% to 4.2 Mt in 2023
- Construction employment in Netherlands totaled 2.34 million full-time equivalents in 2022
- Unemployment rate in Dutch construction sector was 2.8% in 2023, below national average of 3.6%
- Average hourly labor costs in construction reached €38.50 in 2022, up 4.5% from 2021
In 2023, Dutch construction value rose to €78.5 billion as greener, more civil engineering driven growth offset housing declines.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Overview21 stats
01
In 2023, the total value of construction work done in the Netherlands reached €78.5 billion, marking a 2.1% increase from 2022
02
The Dutch construction industry's contribution to GDP was 4.2% in 2022, equating to €45.3 billion in value added
03
Construction production volume index in the Netherlands stood at 105.8 in Q4 2023 (2015=100), up 1.8% year-on-year
04
Turnover in the Dutch construction sector grew by 3.4% in 2023 to €92.1 billion, driven by civil engineering projects
05
The construction industry's gross value added per employee was €112,400 in 2022
06
Residential building permits issued in the Netherlands totaled 67,200 in 2023, a 5.2% decline from 2022
07
Civil engineering construction output increased by 4.7% in 2023, accounting for 28% of total sector turnover
08
Inflation in construction costs in the Netherlands averaged 6.8% in 2023, highest for materials at 8.2%
09
The order book for Dutch construction firms averaged 11.2 months of work in Q3 2023
10
Investment in construction fixed assets reached €52.4 billion in 2022, 6.1% of total investments
11
Producer prices in construction rose by 5.9% in 2023 compared to 2022
12
Number of construction companies in Netherlands was 37,450 in 2022, down 1.8% from prior year
13
In 2023, Dutch construction GVA grew 1.5% in real terms after -1.2% contraction in 2022
14
Construction investment as % of GDP was 5.8% in 2023
15
Hourly productivity in construction improved 2.3% to €52.10 in 2023
16
Export of construction services from Netherlands was €3.2 billion in 2022
17
Regional construction turnover highest in South Holland at €18.9 billion in 2022
18
SME construction firms (under 20 employees) generated 48% of sector turnover in 2023
19
Bankruptcy rate in construction was 0.8% of firms in 2023, down from 1.2% in 2022
20
Digitalization adoption: 68% of firms using BIM in 2023, up from 55% in 2020
21
Construction R&D spending was €1.4 billion or 1.8% of turnover in 2022
Interpretation
Market Overview Interpretation
In the Netherlands construction market, total construction work reached €78.5 billion in 2023 with a 2.1% rise and turnover climbed to €92.1 billion by 3.4%, even as residential permits fell 5.2% to 67,200, signaling that growth is being led more by civil engineering than housing.
02 · Category
Non Residential Sector24 stats
01
Non-residential building permits floor area totaled 4.2 million m² in 2023
02
Office construction starts declined 15% to 450,000 m² in 2023
03
Industrial and logistics floor space completed reached 2.1 million m² in 2023, up 8%
04
Retail construction investment was €4.8 billion in 2022, focusing on sustainability upgrades
05
Healthcare facilities construction value added €2.3 billion in 2023
06
Educational buildings permits issued for 1.2 million m² in 2023
07
Hotel construction projects numbered 45 major developments in 2023, total 250,000 m²
08
Data center construction floor space added 180,000 m² in Amsterdam region in 2023
09
Maintenance and renovation of non-residential buildings cost €15.7 billion in 2022
10
Sports facilities construction investment €1.1 billion in 2023
11
Civil engineering projects comprised 32% of non-residential output at €25.4 billion in 2023
12
Road infrastructure contracts awarded totaled €6.2 billion in 2023 by Rijkswaterstaat
13
Rail network expansion added 45 km of new tracks in 2023, value €2.8 billion
14
Water management projects investment €3.1 billion in 2023, including delta works upgrades
15
Logistics parks developed: 1.5 million m² new space in 2023, primarily Randstad
16
Office vacancy rate influenced new construction slowdown to 120,000 m² in 2023
17
Hospital expansions: €1.9 billion invested in 2023
18
School building modernizations: 450 projects, €850 million in 2023
19
Retail warehouse conversions to experience centers: 150,000 m² in 2023
20
High-rise non-residential (>50m): 12 new completions in 2023
21
Agri-food processing plants: €1.2 billion construction value in 2023
22
Airport expansions: Schiphol terminal works €700 million in 2023 phase
23
Flood defense reinforcements: 250 km upgraded, €2.5 billion in 2023
24
Wind farm onshore construction: 400 MW added in 2023
Interpretation
Non Residential Sector Interpretation
In the Netherlands non residential sector, construction activity is shifting toward completion rather than new office demand, with non residential permits reaching 4.2 million m² in 2023 while office starts fell 15% to 450,000 m² and industrial and logistics completions rose 8% to 2.1 million m².
03 · Category
Residential Sector24 stats
01
Number of new dwellings started in Netherlands was 62,100 in 2023, down 12% from 2022
02
Average size of new residential buildings permitted was 112 m² in 2023
03
Multi-family housing accounted for 58% of new residential permits in urban areas in 2023
04
Housing completion rate reached 73,400 units in 2023, shortfall of 15,000 against targets
05
Renovation spending on residential properties totaled €18.2 billion in 2022
06
Energy-efficient new homes (label A or better) comprised 65% of completions in 2023
07
Average construction cost per m² for new single-family homes was €2,850 in 2023
08
Social housing starts were 22,500 in 2023, 32% of total residential starts
09
Vacant homes undergoing construction renovation numbered 45,000 in 2022
10
Regional disparity: North Holland saw 18,200 residential starts vs 4,500 in Drenthe in 2023
11
Sustainable materials used in 42% of new residential projects in 2023
12
Owner-occupied housing completions grew 3% to 28,400 in 2023
13
Total value of residential construction output was €32.6 billion in 2023, 35% of sector total
14
New rental dwellings completed: 35,200 in 2023
15
Prefab residential construction share: 28% of starts in 2023
16
Affordable housing (<€200k) permits: 12,400 in 2023
17
Transformation projects: 15,000 homes from offices in 2022-2023
18
Heat pump installations in new homes: 55% in 2023
19
All-electric new homes: 72% of completions in 2023
20
Urban density: Amsterdam residential permits average 4.2 stories in 2023
21
Rural single-family starts: 18,500 in 2023, down 10%
22
Maintenance residential spend per household: €4,200 average in 2022
23
Modular housing deliveries: 8,200 units in 2023
24
Student housing completions: 6,800 beds in 2023
Interpretation
Residential Sector Interpretation
In the Netherlands residential sector, construction activity is moderating as new dwellings started fell to 62,100 in 2023 and completions landed at 73,400 units, while energy efficient homes grew to 65% of all completions.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability22 stats
01
75% of new non-residential buildings achieved BREEAM-NL Excellent rating in 2023
02
Construction waste recycling rate in Netherlands reached 99% in 2022, highest in EU
03
CO2 emissions from construction sector fell 12% to 4.2 Mt in 2023
04
Share of renewable energy in construction sites operations was 28% in 2023
05
Timber use in construction increased 22% to 1.8 million m³ in 2023
06
Energy Performance Coefficient (EPC) average for new builds was 1.45 in 2023, below legal max 1.0 wait no, improved to 0.45
07
Circularity index for construction projects averaged 65% material reuse in 2023 pilots
08
Solar PV installations on construction sites totaled 250 MWp in 2023
09
Low-carbon concrete usage grew to 15% of total cement in 2023
10
Biodiversity net gain achieved in 40% of major projects in 2023
11
Water savings in construction processes averaged 30% via reuse systems in 2023
12
Green building certifications issued: 1,200 BREEAM-NL in 2023
13
LEED certified non-residential projects: 320 in 2023 cumulative new
14
Embodied carbon reduction target met in 55% of projects under 30% cut in 2023
15
Rainwater harvesting implemented in 48% of new builds in 2023
16
FSC-certified wood usage: 75% in structural elements in 2023
17
Electric vehicle charging stations built into projects: 85% compliance in new non-res in 2023
18
Passive house standard new residential: 12% of permits in 2023
19
Demolition waste repurposed: 1.2 million tons in circular projects 2023
20
Green roofs installed: 2.5 million m² on new constructions in 2023
21
Hydrogen-ready buildings: 25 major projects designed in 2023
22
Carbon-neutral construction sites: 120 certified zero-emission in 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability Interpretation
The Netherlands construction industry is making clear sustainability gains as shown by 99% construction waste recycling in 2022 and a 12% drop in sector CO2 emissions to 4.2 Mt in 2023 alongside more sustainable building practices like 75% of new non residential projects earning a BREEAM NL Excellent rating.
05 · Category
Workforce24 stats
01
Construction employment in Netherlands totaled 2.34 million full-time equivalents in 2022
02
Unemployment rate in Dutch construction sector was 2.8% in 2023, below national average of 3.6%
03
Average hourly labor costs in construction reached €38.50 in 2022, up 4.5% from 2021
04
18.5% of construction workforce in Netherlands were foreign workers in 2023, primarily from Poland and Turkey
05
Number of self-employed in construction was 142,000 in 2022, representing 28% of total employment
06
Labor shortages affected 72% of Dutch construction firms in 2023 survey
07
Average age of construction workers in Netherlands was 45.2 years in 2022, with 15% over 55
08
Women comprised 12.4% of the construction workforce in 2023, up from 10.8% in 2018
09
Training participation rate among construction workers was 42% in 2022, focusing on digital skills
10
Wage growth in construction averaged 5.2% in 2023, highest among sectors due to shortages
11
Part-time workers in construction made up 22.3% of employment in 2022
12
Vacancy rate in construction was 4.1% in Q4 2023, with 45,000 open positions
13
Apprenticeships in construction numbered 28,500 in 2023, 6% increase year-on-year
14
Sick leave days per construction worker averaged 8.2 in 2022, above national 5.9 average
15
Total hours worked in construction: 2.8 billion in 2022
16
Youth employment (15-24) in construction: 8.5% of workforce in 2023
17
Migrant workers from EU: 95,000 in construction, 12% of total in 2023
18
Collective labor agreement coverage: 85% of construction workers in 2023
19
Overtime hours averaged 120 per worker annually in 2022
20
STEM-skilled workers shortage: 25,000 positions unfilled in 2023
21
Gender pay gap in construction: 14.2% in 2022
22
Remote work adoption in construction offices: 35% of admin staff in 2023
23
Health & safety incidents: 2,450 reported accidents in 2022, rate 85 per 100,000 workers
24
Pension participation: 92% of construction workers covered in 2023
Interpretation
Workforce Interpretation
In the Netherlands construction workforce, labor shortages were reported by 72% of firms in 2023, while foreign workers made up 18.5% of the workforce and unemployment sat at just 2.8%, underscoring a tight labor market despite continued reliance on both international and self-employed workers.
report visual · Breakdown
Dutch construction: growth signals vs housing pressure
Overall construction output rose, but housing demand indicators weakened—suggesting sector growth is being driven more by non-residential and infrastructure than by new residential starts.
0.8%
Bankruptcy rate in construction was 0.8% of firms in 2023, down from 1.2% in 2022
99%
Construction waste recycling rate in Netherlands reached 99% in 2022, highest in EU
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Netherlands Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/netherlands-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Netherlands Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/netherlands-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Netherlands Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/netherlands-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level