A growing share of Dutch households are tackling home improvements themselves, driven not only by cost pressure but also by online tutorials and artificial intelligence. New research from Degelijke Deuren, conducted among roughly 1,000 people aged 16–69 in the Netherlands, finds that 77% consider hiring a professional too expensive and two-thirds say YouTube videos and AI give them the confidence to try jobs themselves.
Which jobs are people doing themselves?
Everyday tasks such as painting, drilling and hanging objects are now routine for most respondents: three quarters or more say they carry out these jobs themselves. More than half wallpaper on their own. As tasks grow more technical the share who do them falls, yet a notable number report fitting floors, installing doors or doing basic electrical work themselves. Tiling remains the job most often left to a professional. Only about one in ten respondents describe themselves as non-handymen who never DIY.
Money isn’t the only motive
While price is a clear factor—many turn to DIY to avoid the perceived high cost of tradespeople—respondents also cite personal satisfaction. More than two-thirds say they derive a sense of achievement from completing jobs themselves, and that influences how they value the result compared with having work done by someone else.
Friends first, but digital help is rising
Personal networks remain the primary source of advice for would-be DIYers, but online sources are rapidly moving up the list. Degelijke Deuren’s study ranks the main sources of guidance as:
- family and friends (top source)
- YouTube (clear second)
- manufacturer manuals and websites
- store staff at DIY retailers
- AI-powered search engines and assistants
Particularly notable is the rapid adoption of AI: almost one in three people who DIY now ask AI for advice before or during a job.
Younger people: less confident but more resourceful
The survey highlights generational differences. Respondents aged 16–29 are more likely to say they feel less confident doing jobs than their parents, but they are also the group most inclined to turn to videos and AI for help. Young women stand out: they seek advice on TikTok or Instagram more than twice as often as their male counterparts and use AI more frequently. That shows up in behavior too—young women report doing jobs such as laying floors more often than young men, and among people in their thirties women are often the ones installing doors.
What this means for trades and consumers
The findings suggest a shifting dynamic in the home-improvement market. Widespread access to high-quality online instruction and AI guidance lowers the barrier to entry for many tasks, which could reduce demand for some trades while expanding the pool of consumers capable of undertaking small-to-medium projects themselves. At the same time, the study underlines persistent limits: complex, specialist jobs (for example tiling) remain mostly in the hands of professionals.
"We see that people increasingly dare to get started because there is so much information available. Clear manuals, installation or instruction videos and the knowledge provided by AI give them that extra push," says Jasper Halleriet of Degelijke Deuren.
About the research
The results cited here come from a Degelijke Deuren survey of approximately 1,000 Dutch adults aged 16–69, published on 8 October 2026.
Source: Original press release
