Fabel Friet queues linked to lower Amsterdam home prices
Properties located near the popular Amsterdam snack shop Fabel Friet sell for lower prices than comparable homes situated further away. Research from TU Delft links this price difference to the long queues that form outside the establishment almost every day.
Fabel Friet, located on the Runstraat, has grown into a major tourist attraction in recent years due to its popularity on TikTok, drawing crowds waiting for a portion of fries. Local residents have long complained about the crowds and associated nuisance.
TU Delft Research Findings on Home Prices
Rosa van der Drift, a researcher at TU Delft, analyzed the sales prices of 6,233 homes in Amsterdam between 2015 and 2023 by comparing properties near the fry shop with similar houses located further away. The study reveals that homes within a 500-meter radius of Fabel Friet sold for an average of 4.9 percent less than comparable houses at a greater distance, translating to a difference of 41,000 euros.
The price discrepancy becomes more pronounced the closer a property is located to the queue. Homes situated within 70 meters of the business were sold for an average of 11.4 percent cheaper than comparable residences elsewhere in the neighborhood.
Potential Causes and Legal Action
While Van der Drift did not definitively establish the exact cause behind the lower sales prices, potential explanations include street congestion, noise pollution, the presence of the waiting line itself, and litter left behind by visitors.
Meanwhile, local residents have continued efforts to address the disturbance. Residents, the municipality of Amsterdam, and representatives of Fabel Friet recently faced each other in court regarding a lawsuit initiated by residents over the ongoing nuisance, with the judge scheduled to issue a ruling in a few weeks.