Turnover in the construction sector grew by 6.5 percent in 2016 relative to the previous year. The highest growth rate was recorded in residential and non-residential construction: 9.4 percent. The civil engineering segment suffered a decline in turnover of 1.4 percent. Small businesses (employing up to 10 persons) achieved the best results with turnover increasing 8.5 percent on average relative to one year previously. At 4.0 percent, turnover growth was slowest for large businesses (over 100 employed persons).

At the end of 2016, business confidence reached its highest level since 2008. In the construction sector, it rose above all other sectors and above the private sector as a whole. Building contractors report a positive mood with well-filled order books.

The number of bankruptcies decreased in the construction sector for the third year on end and stood at 539 in 2016, the lowest number in years.

In 2016, 51 thousand building permits were granted for new dwellings, 2.5 thousand (5 percent) less than in 2015. The number of permits for owner-occupied homes (35 thousand) fell by 2 percent, for tenant-occupied homes (15.8 thousand) by 10 percent. Housing corporations in particular had fewer projects.

The number of permits for new-build homes in 2016 was above the low point in 2013, but certainly not yet back to pre-recession levels. During the period 2006-2008, for example, 90 thousand permits for new-build homes were granted each year.

Nearly 54 thousand new-build homes were reported as completed in 2016. This is more than 11 percent up on 2015, representing the highest number since 2012 and taking the current dwelling stock to 7,686 thousand (total by the end of Q4 2016).

House sales continued to rise in 2016. Over the year, 215 thousand homes were sold. This is almost 40 thousand more than in 2015. The number of transactions in 2016 was even 2 percent up from the peak year 2006. Sales were up in all provinces, particularly in Flevoland (28 percent); the lowest increase was in Noord-Holland (11 percent).

In 2016, the average age of first-time homebuyers was 39.4 years, up from 36.1 in 2007. The average age started to decline from the outset of the economic crisis in 2008. The share of (older) existing homebuyers dropped, leaving relatively more opportunities for (younger) starters on the housing market. The average age of homebuyers increased again as of 2010, possibly due to stricter mortgage regulations effective as of 2013. Buying a new home became increasingly difficult as a result, especially for prospective starters.