ROTTERDAM, 23 June 2025 – Air conditioning is gaining ground in Zuid-Holland, including Rotterdam, as warmer summers lead to increased interest. A notable share of homeowners with solar panels are turning to airco units for both cooling and heating purposes.

One in five homes in Zuid-Holland now has air conditioning

New research conducted by Dutch sustainability platform Slimster has revealed that over 20% of homes in Zuid-Holland, including the Rotterdam region, are now equipped with air conditioning systems. Although slightly below the national average, the figures indicate a rising trend linked to warmer weather and energy-conscious decisions by homeowners.

The data comes from a survey involving 1,054 participants and highlights regional disparities across the country. In Limburg, for instance, more than 40% of homes now have an airco installed, while Friesland reports significantly lower figures, likely due to its cooler coastal climate.

Solar panel owners increasingly opting for airco units

According to Slimster owner Marco Schuurman, households with solar panels are particularly inclined to install air conditioning. In Zuid-Holland, approximately a quarter of homes have solar panels. As energy policies evolve and net metering ("salderen") may be phased out, homeowners are expected to make more direct use of their solar energy instead of feeding it back into the grid.

“If solar energy yields little return in summer, using it to cool your home makes more sense,” Schuurman explained. Nationally, 36% of owner-occupied homes with solar panels have an airco system, compared to just 16% of similar homes without panels.

Demand peaks in the warmer months

Data from Google Trends and Slimster's own figures show that interest in air conditioning typically peaks between June and August. The trend, which has been growing steadily since 2018, is most pronounced in inland provinces such as Drenthe and Overijssel. Newer homes with better insulation in Flevoland also show higher rates of airco ownership due to retained heat during the summer months.

Renters also benefitting from cooling systems

While home ownership remains the main driver of airco installations, one in seven renters is now benefitting from air conditioning. In regions like Drenthe, Flevoland, and Overijssel, landlords are increasingly investing in airco units for their rental properties. In contrast, provinces such as Gelderland, Groningen, and Friesland have lower rates of airco installations in rented homes.

Air conditioning as a heating solution

Beyond cooling, modern airco systems also serve as air-to-air heat pumps. Schuurman notes that these systems are capable of heating homes three to four times more efficiently than traditional gas boilers. “This makes them especially useful for smaller households with limited spaces to heat,” he stated.

Research from Slimster indicates that nearly 20% of airco owners now rely on their units as their primary heating source. For an average family, switching to airco-based heating could reduce gas consumption by 80%, resulting in annual savings of approximately €430 at current energy prices.

ROTTERDAM, 2 June 2025 – From October, cats in Rotterdam can be microchipped at no cost as part of a citywide campaign. The initiative aims to reduce the number of lost and untraceable cats in the city.

Rotterdam cats can be chipped for free from October

Starting 4 October 2025, residents of Rotterdam will be able to have their cats microchipped free of charge at participating veterinary clinics. The offer will remain available until 30 November 2025, or until the supply of microchips has been exhausted.

The initiative is open to all cat owners living in Rotterdam. To participate, residents are required to bring valid identification and proof of address to their appointment.

Microchip placement and benefits

A microchip is a small device, approximately the size of a grain of rice, that is inserted under the skin between a cat’s shoulder blades. The procedure causes only minor discomfort during insertion and is not felt by the animal thereafter.

Each chip contains a unique identification number that is linked to the owner’s personal details. Animal shelters and veterinary clinics across the Netherlands are equipped to scan these chips, making it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners.

Indoor cats also recommended for chipping

Microchipping is also being advised for indoor cats. According to the campaign, cats that live exclusively indoors may become disoriented if they escape, making it difficult for them to find their way home. A registered chip significantly increases the chances of return in such cases.

How to arrange an appointment

Appointments can be made by contacting one of the participating veterinary clinics by phone or email. A full list of locations is available via the city’s official communication channels. During the appointment, owners must bring a valid ID and their current address information, which will be linked to the cat’s chip.

Costs and eligibility

There will be no charge for microchipping a cat during the campaign period at clinics participating in the programme. The initiative is funded to cover costs for a limited number of microchips.

Participating areas in Rotterdam

Veterinary clinics across the following neighbourhoods are participating in the microchipping initiative:

• Centrum
• Noord
• Overschie
• Charlois
• Rozenburg
• Het Lage Land
• Lombardijen
• Kralingen/Crooswijk
• IJsselmonde
• Nesselande
• Prins Alexander
• Hoogvliet
• Delfshaven
• Pendrecht

Keeping chip details up to date

Cat owners are advised to periodically verify the accuracy of their contact information in the microchip registry. Changes such as moving house or switching telephone numbers should be reported. The registry can be checked at www.chipnummer.nl.

What to do if a cat is found

Anyone who finds a cat is encouraged to visit a local vet or animal shelter to have the chip scanned. In many cases, the cat can then be returned to its owner. In addition, residents can ask neighbours or consult local community groups for assistance, as some individuals may possess handheld chip readers.

ROTTERDAM, 3 June 2025 – Residents of Zuid-Holland are more likely than others in the Netherlands to struggle financially, a new survey shows. Satisfaction with income also varies significantly by housing situation and relationship status.

Zuid-Hollanders most likely to feel financially constrained

A recent survey has indicated that a significant proportion of Zuid-Holland residents consider their financial situation to be strained. According to a study conducted by comparison platform Slimster, one in four individuals in the province describes their finances as “tight,” “insufficient,” or “very concerning” (“zeer zorgelijk”). This is the highest percentage recorded among all Dutch provinces.

The research, based on responses from a representative sample of 1,054 Dutch residents, suggests that the rising costs of essentials such as groceries, energy, and fuel are being felt most acutely in Zuid-Holland.

Renters and singles face greater financial pressure

The study further reveals that renters tend to rate their financial situation more negatively compared to homeowners. Likewise, single individuals are more likely to report financial hardship than those in cohabiting relationships.

Financial strain appears to diminish once households exceed a net monthly income of €2,500. Those who live together without dependent children are the most likely to describe their financial situation as “adequate” or “more than adequate” (“(ruim) voldoende”), in contrast to singles who are the least likely to do so.

Mixed satisfaction with income levels

Participants were also asked to rate their satisfaction with their income. In Zuid-Holland, roughly one-third of respondents expressed satisfaction or strong satisfaction, while nearly one in nine indicated dissatisfaction or strong dissatisfaction.

The majority of Zuid-Hollanders, however, fell somewhere in between – not entirely satisfied, yet not overly concerned. A desire for slightly higher earnings was common, albeit not accompanied by acute distress.

Gender and age were also found to play a role. Women reported lower income satisfaction than men, and individuals in their twenties and forties were less content than other age groups. As with financial stability, cohabiting homeowners tended to fare better than single renters.

Among those earning less than €2,000 net per month, fewer than a third reported being satisfied with their income. In contrast, at least 75% of those with household incomes above €5,500 expressed satisfaction.

Financial resilience remains a concern

Despite the fact that most Dutch residents manage to get by, the data suggests that many still live with little financial cushion. Numerous respondents who rated their situation as “adequate” nevertheless reported having minimal disposable income each month.

This aligns with warnings from the Nibud (Nationaal Instituut voor Budgetvoorlichting), which advises saving at least 10% of net income to ensure a buffer. For many, this is not achievable, leaving a sizeable portion of the population financially vulnerable.

Marco Schuurman, owner of Slimster, noted: “The Netherlands is certainly a prosperous country, but within that prosperity, stark differences remain. Those who cohabit, own property, and earn a median or higher income tend to manage. However, for singles, renters and lower-income households, financial balancing acts remain the norm. These disparities warrant greater attention beyond statistical averages.”

ROTTERDAM, 28 May 2025 – Middle-income tenants in Rotterdam are facing fierce competition as demand for mid-range rental properties surges while availability continues to decline. With listings disappearing in less than a week, the chances of securing a home are slimmer than ever.

Rental pressure intensifies in Rotterdam’s middle segment

Rotterdam’s mid-range rental market (middenhuursegment) is being stretched thinner than ever before. New figures from Huurwoningen.nl and Pararius reveal that competition for regulated rentals in the city has reached staggering levels. During the first quarter of 2025, a single mid-range rental in Rotterdam received an average of 456 applications, significantly higher than the 74 responses garnered by comparable listings in the unregulated sector.

The situation is not much rosier in other Dutch metropolises, with Utrecht and Amsterdam reporting over 400 responses per listing. Still, it is in Rotterdam where the full gravity of the crisis is hitting home, quite literally.

A disappearing act: listings gone in days

Properties in the mid-range category, priced between €900,07 and €1.184,82, are now vanishing from the market faster than free samples at a Markthal food stall. In Q1 2025, these homes in the so-called “G5” (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Eindhoven) remained online for a mere six days on average. In Rotterdam, that is barely enough time to brew a cup of coffee, let alone schedule a viewing.

Comparatively, listings in the free sector loitered online for around 19 days, giving prospective tenants a bit more breathing room and hope.

From new law to new lows

The pressure cooker situation worsened following the introduction of the Wet betaalbare huur (Affordable Rent Act) on 1 July 2024. The legislation, aimed at making mid-range housing more accessible by regulating rents of homes below 187 WWS-points, appears to have backfired. Instead of boosting availability, it has coincided with a consistent drop in supply.

By Q1 2025, the number of mid-range rentals on offer had fallen by 12.7 percent compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, more homes are being let than are being listed, putting tenants in a perpetual game of musical chairs with fewer and fewer seats.

Size matters, and smaller is not necessarily available

While hopeful renters are battling over fewer homes, they are also being offered less space. The average size of a rented mid-range property in Q1 2025 shrank to 63.9m², down from 65.1m² the previous year.

In a twist of irony, the free sector has seen an uptick in the size of homes being rented, as smaller and once more affordable units are increasingly sold off (uitgepond) instead of being re-let. Pararius reports that over 1,800 such properties were removed from the rental pool and sold in early 2025, a 70 percent year-on-year increase.

A shrinking market and rising demand

According to Pararius director Jasper de Groot, “If homes are rented out within a week, there is no longer a healthy market at play. This is scarcity feeding on itself.”

For those attempting to find a place in Rotterdam’s tightening housing market, the situation resembles a housing-themed episode of “Wie is de Mol?” except everyone already knows the answer: it is the system.