Amsterdam, 21 May 2026 — Rockfield Real Estate and Pension fund ABP are set to develop affordable and sustainable housing for students and young professionals in the Netherlands. With initial capital of €350 million, the parties aim to build more than 2,000 homes in Dutch student cities over the coming years. The investments will be made through the newly established Student & Starter Social Living Venture (SSLV).
Students & starters
Almost all Dutch student cities face a structural shortage of affordable housing for students and young professionals. This shortage not only hinders access to education and work but also puts pressure on mobility within the housing market. Students and young professionals who cannot find suitable accommodation are forced to continue living at home or occupy homes intended for other target groups. At the same time, it must also be possible for people within this group to move on, from student to young professional, and from young professional to family. By building for each stage, movement is created throughout the entire chain. By investing in large-scale residential complexes, typically comprising 250 to 500 apartments with communal facilities, in the Dutch cities with the most severe housing shortages, ABP and Rockfield aim to help increase the housing supply and improve mobility. These complexes are distinguished by an integrated living concept: an independent living space for the tenant, complemented by communal areas for study, sport and socializing, and a dedicated community manager who knows the residents, organizes activities and ensures that a building is not an anonymous complex but a vibrant residential community where people connect and feel at home.
“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.”
-Wouter van den Eijnden, CEO Rockfield Real Estate
Social & sustainable
The partnership focuses on new-build housing for students and starters in the Netherlands, the vast majority of which falls within the lower and middle segments. The word ‘social’ in the name also stands for a housing concept that offers more than just four walls: shared spaces and communal facilities promote social interaction and provide residents with an inspiring living environment. The homes are being built in large-scale residential complexes with a focus on communal facilities and a liveable living environment.
All projects are developed to high sustainability standards and aim for at least BREEAM-NL In-Use Excellent and CRREM alignment. This ensures that new homes are not only affordable, but also energy-efficient, climate-resilient and suitable for the long term. An assessment is carried out for each project to determine whether the property is in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and contributes to a future-proof housing market. Residents benefit from this through high-quality buildings that will still be functioning well in twenty years’ time.
“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.”
-Harmen van Wijnen, Chairman of the Board of the Pension Fund ABP
