A city full of empty buildings, but no place for students
Eindhoven is facing both a serious shortage of student housing and an increasing number of vacant properties.
According to reports by Omroep Brabant, around 500 prospective students cancelled their studies at TU/e last academic year because they were unable to find accommodation. This is a missed opportunity for the students, TU/e and the city of Eindhoven. According to Woningnood Nederland, the problem of not being able to find a room has major consequences for students; it causes stress, anxiety and depression, which affects their well-being and academic performance (for those who have started their studies). Those who do find something often pay a high price, which leads to financial pressure.
Eindhoven also has to deal with a large number of vacant properties. The Eindhovens Dagblad newspaper reports that on 1 January, 3,550 properties were vacant, including 120 shops and 250 office buildings. According to ABN AMRO Insurance, vacant buildings are particularly susceptible to burglary, vandalism and even arson, which causes insecurity in the neighbourhood. In addition, there is a greater risk of illegal use, such as squatting or criminal activities, which often result in significant damage to the property. Long-term vacancy also causes visible deterioration and a decline in value of both the building itself and surrounding properties, which puts pressure on the attractiveness of an area.
From a mattress in the laundry room to a mission for Eindhoven
Eindje Bouwen is supported by a four-member female board that has one thing in common: we want to do more than just study and watch. We want to be part of a solution that matters.
We saw first-hand how severe the housing shortage is, how stressful the search for accommodation can be, and how this hinders students in their studies and well-being.
One of us even had to sleep on a mattress in the laundry room of a student house for a few months, purely because there was no other option.
We soon realised that these were not isolated incidents: almost everyone around us knows someone who has to travel too far, pays too much rent or is repeatedly rejected. It is a problem that cuts deep into student life and causes a lot of unnecessary stress.
That is precisely why we realised that we did not want to just stand by and watch this happen every year. We wanted to do something that could make a real difference, not only for ourselves but for all the students who come after us. As a student organisation, we have the opportunity to work together and actually turn our plans into reality, thereby helping to build solutions that will move Eindhoven forward.
We don't do this alone: we work together with various organisations, municipalities and other parties from whom we can learn a lot. At Eindje Bouwen, this gives us the opportunity to develop professionally, expand our network, gain administrative experience and contribute ideas at a policy and business level. In this way, we gain knowledge from books as well as from practical experience.
What also binds us together is our interest in the people behind the bricks. How people experience a space, how a building influences well-being, and how you create a place where people can feel at home. At Eindje Bouwen, we can turn that interest into something tangible: creating living spaces that are not only functional, but also social and liveable.
For us, Eindje Bouwen is therefore more than just a year on the board. It is an opportunity to grow, to do something meaningful for the city and to put our ideals into practice. This is where our studies, interests and motivation really come together.
Two major problems, one simple solution
The combination of a growing housing shortage and high vacancy rates shows that the demand for smart, feasible and future-oriented solutions is greater than ever. Students urgently need affordable, available housing so that they can study without stress and focus fully on their development. Educational institutions, businesses and the municipality of Eindhoven have long emphasised that sufficient student housing is crucial to attracting and retaining talent, which directly contributes to the innovative strength of the Brainport region.
At the same time, property owners and local authorities are looking for ways to restore value to vacant properties. Vacancy costs money, entails risks and hinders the development of the city. The remarkable thing is that these two problems actually function like two pieces of a puzzle that could fit together perfectly. On the one hand, there is a large group of students who need housing, and on the other hand, there are buildings that remain unused. The solution, therefore, does not lie in creating even more new space, but in making smarter use of what already exists. This is exactly where Eindje Bouwen wants to make a difference.
We want to bring what Delft has already proven to Eindhoven
By transforming vacant properties into (temporary) student accommodation, we are actually putting those two pieces of the puzzle together. In this way, we are helping students, property owners and the city of Eindhoven move forward.
Eindje Bouwen originated from an idea by the housing committee of DAS, the student party active in the university council, and was inspired by the successful example from Delft. SHS Delft (Stichting Herontwikkeling tot Studentenhuisvesting Delft, Foundation for Redevelopment into Student Housing Delft) has been in existence since 2011, was founded with the same mission and demonstrates that this approach works. Among other things, they converted a nurses' flat that had been vacant for years and several office buildings into accommodation for hundreds of students.
But SHS Delft looks beyond just creating housing and also emphasises building a committed community. In the Abtswoude Bloeit! project, students live together with clients of KesslerPerspektief, Ukrainian refugees and elderly people. The communal “Woonkamer van de Wijk” (Neighbourhood Living Room) is a place for encounters and activities that connect residents and local residents.
At Eindje Bouwen, we want to do the same: look beyond simply creating homes and also foster social cohesion among residents and the neighbourhood.
The success of SHS Delft shows that converting vacant properties into student accommodation works and has an impact, an approach that we at Eindje Bouwen now want to bring to Eindhoven.
This is how we approach it
At Eindje Bouwen, we are working towards one clear goal: realising our own transformation project. A vacant building that we can convert into affordable, social and sustainable student housing together with partners. But to achieve that, we are first building something that is just as important: trust.
We focus on brand awareness within both the student community and the property sector.
We want companies to recognise us as a reliable party that represents the voice of students.
By entering into partnerships, playing an advisory role and contributing ideas about housing, we demonstrate that we add value. This ensures that property owners, local authorities and organisations will know where to find us in the future when they need insight into what students really need. That is why we are now also investing in connections.
We want to organise an annual event where students, the property sector and the local council can meet, share experiences and discuss current housing issues. This will bring the parties closer together and show that we already play a valuable role in Eindhoven, even without our own project.
In addition, we remain actively involved in existing initiatives. We collaborate with the municipality's project and production team and contribute to the platform for room rental and house splitting. We also share knowledge, insights and experiences on social media and via the blogs on Brianport Eindhoven, so that more and more people know what we stand for and what we want to achieve.
Would you like to contribute? Share your ideas, offer a vacant building or follow us to stay informed about our next steps.