A 51-square-metre flat on Havenkade in Scheveningen drew more than 700 responses within two days of being listed online. The one-bedroom property has a monthly rent of €1,150, alongside a deposit of €2,261.
Estate agent Paul Rats of Doen Makelaars said 200 people applied within just a few hours. The agency no longer lists properties on rental website Pararius because managing the volume of messages from Funda alone has become overwhelming.
High demand and small landlords selling
Rats noted that his team must review hundreds of files simply to invite ten people to view the home, making the process feel like a lottery. The applications included nurses searching for two years, couples with babies, and divorced parents unable to host their children.
Registration numbers reflect the growing pressure across the region. Early in 2026, 224,000 house hunters were registered with Woonnet Haaglanden, an increase of roughly 13,000 from the previous year, with a record 89,188 actively responding to listings.
Rats pointed to the Affordable Rent Act introduced in July 2024 and box 3 wealth taxes as factors driving small private landlords to sell their properties.
While aimed at tackling excessive rents, the measures have prompted property owners to exit the market, further shrinking the supply of private rental housing.
