Renting a Home in Almere

Almere only dates back to 1976. The first home was completed in Almere Haven, on land that was still water seventeen years earlier. That is the story of Almere in one sentence: a city that wasn't there and now is. No centuries of history, no canal belt, no heritage to fall back on. Everything has been conceived, drawn, and built. Those considering renting a home in Almere will find a city of about 230,000 inhabitants (2025) that is now among the top seven in the Netherlands. Amsterdam Centraal is twenty minutes away by intercity train. And the housing stock is younger, more spacious, and better insulated than in almost any other city of this size.

Almere consists of five districts, each built at a different time and each with its own character. Haven is the oldest and most village-like. Stad is the city center. Buiten is the green family neighborhood. Poort is the new development area towards Amsterdam. Hout is the rural experiment on the east side. The choice of district determines not only the type of housing but also the pace, atmosphere, and travel time to the station.

Almere Haven: Where It All Began

Haven is the oldest district. The first homes have been here since 1976. The character is village-like: small-scale, manageable, located on the Gooimeer. There is a marina, a compact center with shops and catering, and an atmosphere closer to Muiden than to Amsterdam.

The neighborhoods of De Gouwen, De Hoven, and De Velden together form Haven. De Velden Zuid scores high on peace and safety. The homes are older than in the rest of Almere, but that also means: more character than the new-build neighborhoods. Gardens, low-rise buildings, mature greenery. Haven does not have its own intercity station. Bus lines connect the district to Almere Centrum. You can reach it by bike in fifteen minutes.

Bright house with mezzanine in Almere Poort

€2,875 / month

Aresstraat 13, Almere Stad

4

168 m²

Immediately

Semi-detached House

Spacious home (156 m²) in Muziekwijk

€1,582 / month

Toccatastraat 77, Almere Stad

4

156 m²

Immediately

Townhouse

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Residential House on Melica in Almere Stad

€1,530 / month

Melica 324, Almere Stad

Immediately

House

Spacious house with garden 200m from the beach

€1,950 / month

Zandwierde 60, Almere Stad

4

103 m²

3/1/2026

Townhouse

Detached Living in Parkwijk: 200 m²

€3,000 / month

Citroenstraat 7, Almere Stad

4

200 m²

3/1/2026

Detached House

Spacious house (120m²) with private driveway

€2,000 / month

Rondostraat 49, Almere Stad

3

120 m²

3/1/2026

Townhouse

Almere Stad: The Center That Is Still Growing

Almere Stad is the largest district, with about 100,000 inhabitants. The Stadshart is the shopping and entertainment center: shops, cinema, theater, hospital. Almere Centrum Station is located right in the middle. The intercity to Amsterdam departs from here.

The residential areas around the center are named after themes. The Filmwijk (Film District), the Muziekwijk (Music District), the Literatuurwijk (Literature District), the Stedenwijk (Cities District). The street names follow the theme. It's typical Almere: everything thought out, down to the naming. The homes date from the eighties and nineties. Terraced houses with gardens, porch apartments, and here and there an apartment complex. The Weerwater, the large lake in the middle of the city, is the structuring element. The former Floriade site on the Weerwater is now being further developed as a residential area.

For renters who want amenities within walking distance and the shortest travel time to Amsterdam, Almere Stad is the most obvious choice.

Almere Buiten: The Green Family Neighborhood

Almere Buiten is the district for those who prioritize space over urbanity. It is the greenest part of Almere: wide streets, large gardens, cycle paths through greenery. The Eilandenbuurt (Islands Neighborhood), the Sieradenbuurt (Jewelry Neighborhood), and the Indischebuurt (Indonesian Neighborhood) are the best-known areas. The homes are predominantly single-family houses from the eighties and nineties, built for families.

Almere Buiten Station gives the district its own train connection. That is an advantage that Haven and Poort do not have. The sprinter to Amsterdam stops here. The shopping offer is functional but not extensive. For major purchases or going out, you go to the Stadshart. But daily life takes place in the neighborhood itself: schools, sports, playgrounds, all within cycling distance. Buiten is the choice for renters who seek the most square meters per euro in a quiet environment.

Almere Poort: The New-Build Edge Towards Amsterdam

Almere Poort is the district closest to Amsterdam. The A6 runs along it, and the travel time to the capital is the shortest. The neighborhood has been built since the 2000s and is still growing. DUIN is the largest sub-project: about 3,000 homes in a water-rich and wooded area. Stadstuinen adds another 3,600 homes.

The homes are the newest in all of Almere. Best energy labels, most modern finishes, sleekest architecture. Poort attracts renters looking for new construction in a location closest to Amsterdam without actually living in Amsterdam. The disadvantage: the district does not yet have its own train station. Bus lines connect Poort to Almere Centrum and the rest of the city.

Almere Hout: The Rural Experiment

Almere Hout is the most unique district. Nobelhorst is a new-build neighborhood of 4,000 homes in a green setting. But the real experiment is Oosterwold: an area of 4,300 hectares where residents buy their own plot and decide for themselves what they build. Homes next to vegetable gardens next to tiny houses next to farms. It is radically different from the rest of Almere and radically different from the rest of the Netherlands.

For the free-sector rental market, Hout is a niche segment. The supply is limited. But whoever is looking for a new-build home in a rural setting within cycling distance of the city will find something in Nobelhorst that does not exist elsewhere in Almere.

The Sleepy Town That Became a City

Almere has a reputation. "Sleepy town" is the word outsiders use. And it's true that many residents work in Amsterdam. But the city of 2025 is different from that of 2005. The Stadshart has expanded. There are theaters, festivals, and a growing range of catering options. The city is seeking its own identity and, frankly, is not yet finished with it.

That doesn't have to be an objection. Almere offers what Amsterdam can no longer: space, affordability, and new construction. A single-family home with a garden for a rent that would only get an upper floor in Amsterdam. Those who seek that and are willing to accept the commute will find the widest range of options in the region in Almere. Set up a search alert on our platform and respond quickly when something appears. Ensure income proof and identification are ready. The market is less tight than in Amsterdam, but good family homes in popular neighborhoods also go quickly here.