Prof.dr. P.J. Boelhouwer

Professor of Housing systems
Department of Management in the Built Environment

Peter Boelhouwer has been Professor of Housing Systems at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment since 2001. 

“I am primarily concerned with supply and demand in the housing market and with housing policy. The Dutch housing market is currently in a poor state: too few houses are being built, the housing shortage is increasing and purchase prices are under pressure. Affordability is also an issue, with specific groups such as young people, the elderly and middle-income earners having difficulties in finding suitable homes. The research in my chair therefore focuses, inter alia, on housing choice , house price developments and housing market reforms. There is also a strong focus on international comparative research into housing systems. Issues such as the functioning of the private rental sector, developments in the Chinese housing market, the relationship between building production and purchase price development, and the positioning of the housing association sector are also discussed.

I supervise about eight PhD candidates on a range of topics. I foresee several challenges relating to housing in the near future. The housing market needs to be restructured and housing associations deserve a new position within it. The ageing population and changes in the welfare state also have a lot of influence.“ 

Boelhouwer studied Human Geography in Utrecht. In addition to being a professor, he is chairman of the European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) and the ArchitectuurPunt Zoetermeer.

Peter Boelhouwer