On 5 August 2025, Minister Mona Keijzer of Housing and Spatial Planning
launched the internet consultation for the Housing Act BES. This bill aims to
ensure the building of more affordable social housing in the Caribbean
Netherlands.
The bill allows housing foundations to apply for admission as an admitted institution –
an official status. They will then be supervised by the Autoriteit woningcorporaties
(Housing Corporation Authority), which supervises housing corporations in the
Netherlands. This supervision guarantees that the housing foundations are
professional and financially sound organisations. A major problem on the islands is
that housing foundations are now often only able to take out loans with high interest
rates and sometimes unfavourable terms and conditions. This makes it difficult to
build enough affordable housing.
With a status as admitted institution, housing foundations can participate in the
Waarborgfonds Sociale Woningbouw (Social Housing Guarantee Fund). This fund
guarantees the repayment of loans, known as secured lending. For banks this means
they run less risk. That is why they can offer loans with lower interest rates and better
terms and conditions.
More social housing and better quality of life
Better access to finance enables housing foundations to build more social housing,
improve the maintenance of existing housing, and invest in the liveability of
neighbourhoods. This is urgently needed because there is a severe shortage of
affordable housing on the islands, especially for people with low and middle incomes.
In this way, the bill contributes to the fight against poverty.
Customisation for the islands
The Housing Act BES will be a separate chapter in the existing Dutch Housing Act,
but has been adapted to the situation on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This brings
the bill more in line with what is needed on the islands.
React to the bill
This is possible up to and including 28-9-2025 via the website for internet
consultation: https://internetconsultatie.nl/woningwetbes.
