The housing shortage in the Netherlands is greater than ever. Municipalities, housing associations, and project developers are frantically looking for solutions to make affordable, sustainable, and quickly buildable homes available. In this area of tension, ‘flex-homes’ have emerged as an important tool. But what makes the production of flex-homes so efficient and future-oriented? The answer lies in modular construction.
What are flexhomes?
Flex-homes are temporary or semi-permanent residences that can be built in a short period of time. They are intended to quickly respond to urgent housing demands, such as accommodation for first-time buyers, students, refugees, or migrant workers. Flex-homes combine affordability with functionality, and thanks to their smart design, they fully comply with the requirements of the Dutch Building Decree.
Modular building: the driving force behind flexhomes
The key to the success of flex-homes is the construction method. With modular construction, complete housing units are produced in a factory beforehand. These units are already equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and technical installations. On-site, these modules only need to be placed and connected.
The advantages at a glance:
Rapid realization: Construction time is up to 50% shorter than traditional housing construction.
Scalability: Flex-homes can be easily scaled up to dozens or hundreds of homes.
Quality and safety: Production in a controlled factory environment ensures consistently high quality, and the homes meet all standards.
Flexibility: The units are movable, expandable, and reusable.
Sustainable and circular construction
Another important aspect is sustainability. Flex-homes built with modular techniques have a significantly lower environmental impact:
Less material waste due to efficient production.
Up to 50% less CO₂ emissions during the construction phase.
Reusable materials and movable modules contribute to a circular economy.
For municipalities and housing associations, this means not only a solution to the housing shortage but also a contribution to climate goals.
A practical example
The future of flex-housing is modular
The combination of speed, sustainability, and flexibility makes modular construction the ultimate solution for producing flex-homes. It offers municipalities, housing associations, and project developers the opportunity to respond quickly and responsibly to the housing shortage, without compromising on quality or comfort.
At Van den Nagel Modular Building, we believe that modular construction and flex-homes go hand in hand in the future of the Dutch housing market. Together, we are building solutions that work—today and tomorrow.
Flex housing refers to quickly realized, temporary or semi-permanent homes that fully comply with the Building Decree and can be relocated or expanded.
Because modules are built in the factory while groundwork is done on-site, projects can be completed up to 50% faster than traditional construction.
Yes. Modular production reduces waste, lowers CO₂ and nitrogen emissions, and allows materials and modules to be reused, creating a circular building process.
Absolutely. Depending on the design and permit, modular flex homes can serve as temporary or permanent housing and can be adapted over time.
Yes. Shorter build times, fewer errors, and efficient use of materials reduce costs. In large-scale projects, economies of scale bring further savings.
