What's up
One million houses across the Netherlands are at risk of subsidence over the coming 30 years - and insurers have warned they won’t pay out if your house collapses.
Houses across the Netherlands are collapsing
It is expected that the damage caused by low groundwater levels and rot between now and 2050 could lead to one million houses collapsing. Independent research institute Deltares has calculated that this damage could rack up bills of between 5 and 39 billion euros - if not more.
Many houses built before the 1970s were built on foundations of wooden posts. These foundations are susceptible to damage as a result of low groundwater levels, as it leads to the wood drying up and potentially rotting. Climate change means that groundwater levels across the country are dropping, and the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam are particularly vulnerable.