Rent a Home in Bos en Lommer, Amsterdam

Bos en Lommer is wedged between the Haarlemmerweg to the north, the Jan van Galenstraat to the south, the Centrale Markthallen to the east, and the Ringspoorbaan (ring railway) to the west. Four neighborhoods make up the district: Landlust, the Erasmusparkbuurt, the Gulden Winckelbuurt, and the Kolenkitbuurt. Those looking for an apartment in Bos en Lommer choose a neighborhood that is more affordable than De Baarsjes and Oud-West, is easily accessible, and has undergone a quiet transformation in recent years.

Bos en Lommer was built as part of the General Expansion Plan (AUP) of 1934, the urban development plan that expanded Amsterdam to the west after World War II. Landlust, the oldest part, was built from 1936 onwards: gallery access apartments in closed building blocks, a maximum of four stories high. The Kolenkitbuurt is post-war and more austere. Bos en Lommerplein, the central square of the district, has recently been renovated and functions as its commercial heart. The district has about 42,000 inhabitants (2023) with an average age of 34, making it one of Amsterdam's youngest neighborhoods.

Landlust and the Gulden Winckelbuurt

Landlust is the oldest neighborhood in Bos en Lommer. The 1930s gallery access apartments feature closed building blocks, brick facades, and inner courtyards that are not visible from the street. The homes are compact but functional: two to three rooms, a shared entrance, and balconies at the rear. It is the neighborhood that most resembles De Baarsjes: the same construction period, the same architecture, the same scale.

The Gulden Winckelbuurt, south of Landlust, has pre-war closed building blocks along the Jan van Galenstraat. De Vlugtlaan runs as a north-south axis through the neighborhood and connects the internal areas. The homes are comparable to Landlust. The Jan van Galenstraat itself is a busy traffic street with tram traffic, but the side streets are quiet.

The Kolenkitbuurt: From Problem Area to New Development

The Kolenkitbuurt, on the west side of Bos en Lommer, has undergone one of Amsterdam's largest urban renewal operations over the past fifteen years. In 2007, the neighborhood was designated a "problem area." Since then, a large part of the post-war buildings has been demolished and replaced by new construction. The Rhapsody complex offers 239 modern rental homes. The streets have been redesigned, and public spaces renewed.

The result is a neighborhood with two faces: post-war gallery flats still awaiting renovation next to sleek new-build complexes with elevators, balconies, and good insulation. For tenants seeking modern comfort in an affordable neighborhood, the Kolenkitbuurt is one of the strongest options in Amsterdam-West.

Erasmusparkbuurt: Green in the City

The Erasmusparkbuurt is located around the Erasmuspark, the large city park that Bos en Lommer shares with De Baarsjes. The park offers lawns, playgrounds, sports facilities, and a pond. It's busy on summer days, yet quiet enough for a run on weekday mornings.

The homes around the park are a mix of pre-war gallery access apartments and renovated blocks. The proximity to the park makes the Erasmusparkbuurt the most sought-after neighborhood in Bos en Lommer. Rental prices are slightly higher here than in Landlust or the Kolenkitbuurt, but the living experience noticeably differs.

Bos en Lommerplein and Daily Life

Bos en Lommerplein is the central square of the district: a recently renovated shopping and residential complex with supermarkets, local shops, and catering establishments. It's where you do your daily shopping. Bos en Lommerweg, the main street of the district, offers local shops, bakeries, butchers, and multicultural eateries. Moroccan, Turkish, and Surinamese restaurants and cafes give the street its character.

The atmosphere is multicultural and direct. Bos en Lommer is a neighborhood where more than a hundred nationalities coexist. This is visible in the shops, on the streets, and in the schools. It is less hip than De Baarsjes, less polished than Oud-West, but more authentic than both.

Tram, Metro, and the Ring Road

The accessibility of Bos en Lommer is better than most people expect. Tram line 7 runs via Jan van Galenstraat to the city center. Line 13 stops at Bos en Lommerplein. Metro station De Vlugtlaan (line 50) provides connections to Sloterdijk and the rest of the network. Sloterdijk station itself is within cycling distance and offers intercity connections to Schiphol, Haarlem, and Utrecht.

By bike, Leidseplein is fifteen to twenty minutes away. The city center is fifteen minutes. Oud-West is ten minutes. The A10 ring road is close by for motorists. Parking is paid throughout the district.

The rental market in Bos en Lommer offers more choice than in the more popular neighboring districts. Respond the same day with a complete dossier. Look to the Kolenkitbuurt for new construction, to Landlust for pre-war gallery access apartments, and to the Erasmusparkbuurt if you want greenery within walking distance.