So far, research on the creative class has focused largely on how cities can attract creative residents with respect to employment. This case study explores the housing and living environment preferences of creative knowledge workers. It describes the current Amsterdam housing market and provides recommendations on how Amsterdam can adapt its housing market to meet the demands of the creative class.

This case study is part of a book entitled ‘Creativity and the City. How the Creative Economy is Changing the City’

The creative living environment and the creative house do not exist. The living environment and housing preferences of the creative class are simply too broad and diverse.

The limited accessibility of the Amsterdam housing market, caused by high real estate prices and a large share of social housing, makes it difficult for the city to attract creative talent.

More attention needs to be paid to improving the availability of houses in the middle and higher segments of the housing market. In addition, living in Amsterdam should continue to be possible for first-time buyers with a limited financial capacity. Offering a variety of fitting living environments on a regional level is also an option.

However, before any concrete policy decisions are taken, the city council should make an extensive inventory of the living wishes of the creative class. 

Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies (AMIDSt)
Marco Bontje (Researcher AMIDSt), tel. +31 20 525 5240

11/11/2005

Marco Bontje and Sako Musterd, Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies (AMIDSt)

research

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing policy

Housing market