Amsterdam is a city where you want to build your life. Where your friends live. Where your work is. Where you find your place. But for too many Amsterdammers, housing now feels like a lottery. You can do everything right and still not get a key. And once you do have something, you sometimes do not dare to move, afraid of losing what you have only just found.
Volt wants Amsterdam to be a city where you can make a start again. Where you do not have to leave because you do not have wealthy parents, did not get lucky at the right moment, or simply because you were "just too late." An affordable home is not a luxury. It is the foundation for being able to participate.
We will not make Amsterdam a city of near-misses, but a city where it works out. That means we stop patching things up with stopgap measures and choose solutions that actually work. And yes: that takes courage and clear choices.
In a city where space is scarce, we cannot afford to let square metres go unused. Housing that sits empty. Rooms that cannot be shared because of rules that once seemed logical but now mainly stand in the way. Properties above shops that have been closed for years. Buildings waiting for a plan while people are waiting for a home.
If there is space, we use it:
● We tackle vacancy with clear rules and firm enforcement
● We make home-sharing and room rental normal and easy again, with clear guidelines that prevent abuse
● We make it simpler to add housing above shops and in existing buildings, without endless procedures
● We harness innovative solutions that Amsterdam excels at — from temporary housing to new concepts that suit a city on the water
The housing problem is not just "too few homes." It is also being stuck. People who would happily move but do not dare to because they would end up paying more or losing everything.
Young people who cannot get started. Families who cannot take the next step. Older people who would be happy to downsize but see no good alternative in their own neighbourhood.
If you unlock housing mobility, space opens up without having to lay a single extra brick.
● We make home swaps easier and fairer
● We provide guidance and security for people who want to move, so that moving becomes a normal step again
● We build and organise more suitable housing for older people and those with specific housing needs, close to amenities and their social network
● We make sure the rules make sense: they should help people live in a way that fits their lives, not the other way around
● Volt believes the government should not stand on the sidelines here but should take the lead.
Responsive, clear and fast.
A city is only truly a home when we also look after those who have lost theirs. Homelessness is not "personal failure." It is often the result of bad luck, illness, debt, divorce, or simply a rent that rises too fast. And once you are out on the street, everything becomes harder: work, healthcare, paperwork, trust.
That is why we choose an approach that works: a home first, then the rest follows.
● We go all in on Housing First: rapid access to a place of your own, with support where needed
● We prevent homelessness by intervening earlier when rent arrears or evictions arise
● We make sure that shelter and support are tailored to the person, not to the system
Want to know what Volt Amsterdam stands for over the next four years? In our election program you will find all our plans: from more affordable housing and a green, sustainable city to fair opportunities for every Amsterdammer. No empty promises, but concrete ideas that work. Read the full election program.