Renting an Apartment in Amstelveen: The Most International City in the Netherlands

One in five residents of Amstelveen holds a non-Dutch passport. The Indian community numbers 4,700 people, the Japanese 1,600, and there are Chinese, British, Americans, and dozens of other nationalities living here. Canon, Mitsubishi, and LG have their headquarters here. There are three international schools and a Japanese kindergarten. Diwali is celebrated in the Stadshart, and a Japanese festival in the Oude Dorp. Amstelveen is not a suburb of Amsterdam — it is its own city with 95,000 inhabitants, 139 nationalities, and an identity that exists nowhere else in the Netherlands.

At the same time, it is green, safe (consistently the safest large municipality in the Netherlands), and spacious. The Amsterdamse Bos — 1,000 hectares, twenty times larger than the Vondelpark — literally starts at the city's edge. Schiphol is a ten-minute drive away. The VU and Amsterdam UMC are directly accessible via the Beneluxbaan. And the center of Amsterdam is half an hour by bus or car. It is this combination of international, green, and accessible that makes Amstelveen one of the most popular rental cities in the Randstad.

What Kind of Apartments Are Here?

The offering in Amstelveen is broad but fundamentally differs by neighborhood. In the Stadshart, you live in modern towers above the region's largest shopping center — elevators, parking garage, glass facades. In Elsrijk, you live on a floor in a 1930s building on an avenue with a protected cityscape. In Keizer Karelpark, you'll find everything: a pre-war upstairs apartment, post-war porch-access apartment, a recently built new-build complex. The spectrum ranges from studios to spacious three-room apartments with a view of the Poel.

Lovely apartment with balcony in Amstelveen

€1,077 / month

Schokland 117, Amstelveen

1

52 m²

3/19/2026

Apartment

Sunny living on the 16th floor

€1,800 / month

Biesbosch 739, Amstelveen

56 m²

Immediately

Apartment

Bright 4-room apartment surrounded by greenery

Price on request

Maarten Lutherweg, Amstelveen

3

93 m²

4/1/2026

Apartment

Renovated apartment with a view

€2,100 / month

Kostverlorenhof 146, Amstelveen

3

116 m²

Immediately

Apartment

Modern apartment with energy label A

€2,200 / month

Kierkegaardstraat 31, Amstelveen

3

85 m²

In consultation

Apartment

Spacious apartment (97 m²) in Westwijk

€1,710 / month

Westwijkplein 38, Amstelveen

2

97 m²

3/19/2026

Apartment

The Neighborhoods: Seven Faces of One City

Amstelveen has fourteen official neighborhoods. For apartment seekers, there are seven areas that truly matter — each with its own price level, architectural style, and type of resident.

Stadshart — Living Above the City

The commercial and cultural heart of Amstelveen. Shopping center Stadshart is the largest in the region, with Theater Amstelveen, the central library, and a wide range of catering establishments around it. The apartments here are predominantly modern, in higher complexes, with elevators, parking garages, and often views. It is the most expensive segment of Amstelveen — the average household income is above €51,000. Ideal if you like urban convenience without the chaos of Amsterdam's city center. Disadvantage: limited green space in the immediate vicinity and a somewhat anonymous atmosphere.

Elsrijk — Protected Cityscape with Avenues and Churches

The oldest true residential neighborhood of Amstelveen, named after a former country estate. Charlotte van Montpensierlaan — the central axis with water, trees, and a sightline to the Kruiskerk — is a protected cityscape. The buildings are predominantly 1930s: brick, pitched roofs, green spaces on the elevation differences between polder and dike. The apartment offering consists of floors in these pre-war buildings — compact but with character. Elsrijk is one of the most affluent neighborhoods (average income €61,600) and homes sell quickly. Popular with families and couples who prioritize character over square meters.

Keizer Karelpark — The Most Versatile Neighborhood

The largest neighborhood in Amstelveen after Westwijk, with 14,000 inhabitants and a remarkable story. The oldest homes date from 1925 (Bovenkerkerkade, Fokkerlaan), the newest are complexes like Lindepark and Vijverpark. In between: post-war low-rise buildings around green courtyards, porch-access flats from the 1950s and 60s, and Oakpark with winding apartment buildings along Kastanjelaan. The streets are named after trees — and those trees are actually there. The neighborhood is split by Van der Hooplaan: the western part is older and more expensive, the eastern part is closer to the Stadshart. With 58% rental properties, this is the neighborhood where most free-sector offerings can be found. The average income (€43,200) is the lowest in Amstelveen — which translates into the most affordable apartments.

Randwijck — The Northern Border with Amsterdam

Directly adjacent to Amsterdam-Zuid, with the VU and Amsterdam UMC within walking distance. Randwijck combines tranquility with the shortest route to the city. It is one of the most affluent neighborhoods (average income €58,400) with spacious homes and plenty of greenery. The apartment supply is more limited than in Keizer Karelpark but of high quality. Popular with medical staff from the UMC, academics from the VU, and expats who want to be close to Amsterdam without living there.

Westwijk — The Newest and Most Spacious Neighborhood

The southwesternmost neighborhood, the last major expansion of Amstelveen. Spaciously designed, lots of greenery, modern apartments in low and mid-rise complexes. The neighborhood is not yet entirely finished — hundreds of homes will be built in the coming years. Westwijk-Zuid is the most affluent part (average income €62,900). The neighborhood attracts families due to its space, schools, and playgrounds. For apartment seekers who want to live modern, spacious, and green and don't necessarily need to be close to the center.

Bankras-Kostverloren and Middenhoven — The Affordable Middle Ground

Two post-war neighborhoods south of the Stadshart, with a mix of porch-access flats, gallery flats, and single-family homes. The offering is larger and more affordable than in Elsrijk or the Stadshart. The buildings are older — energy labels vary — but the location is good: close to amenities, the Amsterdamse Bos, and the Beneluxbaan. Middenhoven (part of Waardhuizen-Middenhoven, average income €46,300) offers the most apartments in the mid-range segment. No glamour, but practical.

Bovenkerk — Village-like on the Amstel

The southernmost part of Amstelveen, with its own village character. Bovenkerk feels different from the rest: ribbon development along the Amsteldijk, its own church, a quieter streetscape. The apartment offering is limited but what is available often offers more space for less money. WOZ value average €555,000 — high, but that is due to the single-family homes. The apartments are noticeably cheaper than in the Stadshart or Elsrijk.

What Does It Cost?

Amstelveen is more expensive than most cities outside Amsterdam but cheaper than Amsterdam itself. The spread within the city is wide: a studio in Keizer Karelpark is in a different world than a three-room apartment in the Stadshart. The neighborhood determines the price at least as much as the number of square meters.

Landlords typically apply an income requirement of three to four times the basic rent (gross). For dual-income earners, the joint income counts. A deposit of one to two months' rent is standard.

The Expat Factor

Amstelveen is geared towards internationals in a way that no other Dutch city outside The Hague equals. There are three international schools (ISA, Amity, Amstelland), a Japanese kindergarten (Tulip Gakuen), Japanese supermarkets, Indian restaurants, English-speaking GP practices, and a municipality that publishes its annual Facts & Figures bilingually. One in five homes sold goes to an expat.

For international tenants, this means: you are not the exception here. Landlords and real estate agents are accustomed to English-language communication, foreign income statements, and temporary contracts. The supply of furnished apartments — ready to move in, with or without a minimum rental period — is greater in Amstelveen than in almost any other city of this size.

How to Find an Apartment

The Amstelveen market is competitive. Apartments in Elsrijk or the Stadshart can be gone within a day. What works:

Set up alerts. Filter by neighborhood, rooms, and maximum rent. You'll receive a notification as soon as something new is online — and in this market, every hour counts.

Have your documents ready. Copy of ID or passport, three recent pay stubs, employment contract. For expats: 30% ruling decision if you have one, employer letter. The quicker you respond with complete documents, the greater your advantage.

Consider Keizer Karelpark. Most searchers focus on Elsrijk and the Stadshart. Keizer Karelpark has the widest selection, the lowest prices, and a surprisingly pleasant living environment with green courtyards and good schools. It is Amstelveen's most underestimated neighborhood.

Also look in Bovenkerk and Middenhoven. Less glamorous, but you get more square meters for your budget and distances in Amstelveen are short.