Dutch pensioners discover Elten: bargains in the border area!

Dutch pensioners discover Elten: bargains in the border area!

A remarkable phenomenon can be seen in the small district of Elten, near Emmerich am Rhein. More and more Dutch pensioners, like Ferdi and Mareike Jansen, are deciding to move to this German border town. Your motivation? The search for a cheaper lifestyle. Ferdi Jansen emphasizes that many things are significantly cheaper in Germany than in the Netherlands. The couple's new home in Elten costs around 400,000 euros, while comparable properties in their home country would cost at least 500,000 euros Focus reported.

The demographic situation in Elten is significant; around 60 percent of the residents have Dutch roots. As a result, many real estate agents in the region are increasingly targeting Dutch buyers. Rainer Elsmann, a local real estate agent, notes that on average, Dutch people sell their homes and look for new properties every seven to eight years.

Growing demand for housing

The demand for housing in the border area is growing not only due to the price difference, but also due to the limited housing space in the Netherlands. The regional real estate market benefits from this; According to media reports, there is a shortage of around 400,000 apartments in the neighboring country, which is attracting many Dutch people to the border area. This development is reinforced by the circumstances, as many of the new single-family homes in Elten have a Dutch style, which makes the move more attractive for the new residents, such as WDR has observed.

There are also a noticeable number of cars with yellow Dutch license plates in the region, which illustrates the strong presence of the Dutch population. Younger families like Lenny Jansen's, who moved to Elten 15 years ago, are considering swapping their houses for larger properties. Lenny emphasizes the advantageous price-performance ratios in Germany.

Return movement and stable real estate prices

Market observations show that property prices in the border area remain stable, while they are falling in other German regions, even with rising interest rates. This still attracts new buyers. Despite the abolition of the home ownership allowance in 2006, many Dutch people remain interested in buying property in the region. Freddy Heinzel, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, explains that Dutch people move often, which increases the dynamics in the real estate market.

The many sales signs from real estate companies in cities like Kranenburg prove that demand is still high. Older people are also tending to return to their homeland, while younger families and pensioners from the Netherlands are discovering the advantages of the German border area.