Pension fund ABP and Rockfield Real Estate have launched a new partnership to build affordable and sustainable housing across the Netherlands. The initiative aims to support students and young professionals by creating more than 2,000 new homes in major Dutch student cities over the next few years.

Backed by an initial €350 million capital injection, the project will operate through the newly formed Student & Starter Social Living Venture (SSLV). Almost every student town in the country currently suffers from a severe shortage of affordable accommodation for young people. This crisis restricts access to education and employment while forcing many individuals to live with their parents for longer or occupy housing meant for other groups.

To address this, the venture will invest in large-scale residential blocks containing between 250 and 500 apartments. These buildings will feature self-contained living spaces alongside shared facilities for sports, studying and socialising. An on-site community manager will also organize group activities to encourage social interaction.

The strategy relies on building for consecutive life stages to help people transition smoothly from student life to early careers and family homes. This approach aims to free up spaces across the wider property sector.

All properties will target top eco-credentials, aiming for at least a BREEAM-NL In-Use Excellent rating and alignment with the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM). Every development will be assessed to ensure compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement, helping to protect residents from high energy bills.

The partners are now looking to collaborate with developers on turnkey projects to maintain high building standards while handling all property and community management in-house.

Wouter van den Eijnden, CEO Rockfield Real Estate, said: “With the SSLV strategy, we can put into practice what we have believed in for years: creating affordable, well-managed homes in a sector facing a severe shortage. Students and young professionals deserve more than just a room; they deserve a place where they feel at home and are part of a community. For SSLV, we are seeking partnerships with property developers for development and turnkey projects that allow us to guarantee the quality of the buildings. By keeping property management and community management in-house, we can deliver on that promise at scale.”

Harmen van Wijnen, Chairman of the Board of the Pension Fund ABP, added: “By investing in affordable housing for starters and students, we are generating stable, long-term returns for our members and helping to alleviate the housing shortage. When young people can find a place of their own, and as a result more people end up in suitable housing, it creates momentum throughout the entire chain. This investment fits our strategy of investing in projects that make the Dutch housing market healthier and more resilient.”