With the Dutch general election set for October 29, 2025, the Netherlands finds itself at a political crossroads, grappling with two issues that have come to dominate public debate: migration and a chronic housing shortage. The campaign season, now in full swing, is drawing sharp lines between voters who see migration as the nation’s most pressing concern and those who want leaders to focus on the increasingly dire lack of affordable homes.
For Palwasha Hamzad, the answer is simple—she wants the election to be about solving the housing crisis, not about who gets to cross the country’s borders. "We need policies that actually help people find a place to live," Hamzad told BBC, echoing the frustrations of many Dutch citizens squeezed by soaring rents and a shortage of available homes. But for others, the focus is squarely on migration. Daniëlle Vergauwen, a resident of Rotterdam, put it bluntly: "It’s about putting our own people first." Her sentiment reflects a growing mood among voters who feel that the Netherlands must take a tougher stance on immigration to protect jobs, social services, and national identity.
This split in the electorate sums up the central tension of the 2025 election campaign. The debate isn’t just about policy; it’s about the very character of the Netherlands and how it sees itself in a rapidly changing Europe. The issues at stake are hardly unique to the Dutch. Across the continent, right-wing parties are gaining traction by promising to clamp down on migration, while others argue that such measures miss the real problems facing ordinary people.
At the heart of this storm stands Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). Wilders, known for his fiery anti-Islam rhetoric and hardline views on migration, stunned the political establishment in 2023 when his party swept to a surprise victory on a pledge to drastically reduce migration. According to Reuters, the PVV’s win was powered by a groundswell of support from voters who felt that mainstream parties had failed to address their concerns about immigration and integration.
Wilders’ triumph wasn’t just a flash in the pan. In June 2025, his party triggered the collapse of the four-party coalition government by pulling its lawmakers out of the Cabinet. The reason? A bitter dispute over how to implement his promised crackdown on migration. The government’s fall set the stage for the current election, thrusting Wilders and his agenda back into the national spotlight. As Associated Press reported, the move underscored just how central the migration issue has become—not just for politicians, but for Dutch society as a whole.
For Wilders, this election is a chance to cement his party’s grip on power and push through the changes he believes are necessary to "save Dutch culture." In campaign rallies and interviews, he has doubled down on his promise to "drastically rein in migration," arguing that the country simply cannot absorb more newcomers without risking social cohesion and economic stability. "We must put an end to uncontrolled migration," Wilders declared at a recent event, according to BBC. "Our people deserve security and a future in their own country."
But not everyone is buying what Wilders is selling. Critics—ranging from progressive parties to housing advocates—argue that focusing on migration is a distraction from the real issues facing the Netherlands. They point to the chronic housing shortage, which has left thousands of families struggling to find a place to live. "The problem isn’t migrants," Hamzad argued. "It’s that there aren’t enough homes being built, and the government hasn’t done enough to fix it." According to BBC, the Dutch housing crisis has reached a tipping point, with demand far outstripping supply and prices soaring in both cities and rural areas.
The tension between these two perspectives is playing out on the campaign trail, with parties offering sharply different visions for the country’s future. Some, like the PVV, are betting that a hard line on migration will win over voters anxious about change. Others are urging a broader approach, calling for major investments in housing, infrastructure, and social services to address the root causes of public dissatisfaction.
What’s clear is that the stakes are high. The Dutch parliament’s House of Representatives, with all 150 seats up for grabs, could look very different after the votes are counted. If Wilders and the PVV manage another strong showing, it could mark a seismic shift in Dutch politics—one that echoes the rise of right-wing parties across Europe. As Reuters noted, the Dutch election is being watched closely by leaders in neighboring countries, many of whom face similar pressures from voters uneasy about migration and economic uncertainty.
Yet, even as migration dominates headlines, the housing crisis remains a stubborn—and deeply personal—problem for many Dutch citizens. The lack of affordable homes is driving young people to leave cities, forcing families into cramped conditions, and fueling resentment among those who feel left behind by economic growth. According to BBC, housing has become a potent symbol of broader frustrations with the political establishment, and it’s clear that any party hoping to form a government will need to offer credible solutions.
Some analysts warn that focusing too heavily on migration could backfire, alienating voters who are more concerned about their immediate quality of life. "If politicians ignore the housing crisis, they do so at their own peril," one political commentator told Associated Press. The challenge for all parties will be to convince voters that they have a plan—not just for controlling borders, but for building a future where everyone has a place to call home.
As election day approaches, Dutch voters are weighing their options. The choice isn’t just between left and right, or between open and closed borders. It’s a question of priorities: Should the Netherlands focus on who gets in, or on making sure everyone who’s already here has a fair shot at a decent life?
Whatever the outcome, the 2025 general election is set to reshape the Dutch political landscape. With migration and housing at the center of the debate, the results will offer a window into the hopes—and anxieties—of a nation at a pivotal moment in its history.
