What the new ETHOS count found
A new ETHOS homelessness count led by Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and Kansfonds estimates over 20,000 people lack adequate housing in the Amsterdam–Amstelland and The Hague regions: more than 1% of residents there. Across nine Dutch regions counted this round, researchers found 28,721 people without proper housing, including around 4,000 children. Women are over-represented in Amsterdam and The Hague compared with other areas, and, contrary to common belief, many people are not on the street but staying with friends/family or in non-standard places like cars or sheds, highlighting “hidden homelessness.”
Why do these numbers differ from official stats
ETHOS is a broader European method that counts people without adequate housing, not only those sleeping rough or in shelters. This helps surface hidden homelessness but often produces higher numbers than the CBS (Statistics Netherlands) approach, which focuses on narrower categories in official statistics. Method differences explain gaps between ETHOS counts and earlier CBS estimates.
Local reaction and calls for action
Amsterdam alderman Rutger Groot Wassink and The Hague alderman Mariëlle Vavier urged the Cabinet to create a national distribution rule for sheltering homeless families, arguing large cities now absorb many families who have no ties locally. The Salvation Army said the results confirm what its services see daily: overcrowded shelters, limited move-on options, and slow recovery due to the shortage of affordable homes.
Photo Credits: Mario Gogh/Unsplash
The wider trend
The ETHOS findings align with recent signs that homelessness in the Netherlands has been rising again after earlier declines. CBS reported national totals increasing for a second consecutive year through early 2024, while separate reporting pointed to more homeless families in big cities, especially The Hague. In Amsterdam, municipal monitoring last year already indicated over 15,000 people homeless or close to it, with the true figure likely higher due to under-registration.
What happens next
Researchers say the ETHOS approach is being rolled out in more regions to give comparable local data for policy and funding decisions. Nationally, the government’s “Housing First” oriented action plan aims to expand housing and support and reduce reliance on emergency shelter, but implementation hinges on more affordable homes coming online. For now, cities will use the new count to update shelter capacity, outreach, and prevention, and press for measures that spread the burden more evenly across the country.
If you need local contacts: Amsterdam’s social services and the Salvation Army operate 24/7 help lines; for immediate help or to report concerns, residents can contact municipal hotlines in both regions.
