Renting a Home in IJburg, Amsterdam
Artificial islands in the IJmeer, new constructions everywhere, and water as a direct neighbor. Those who rent in IJburg live in an Amsterdam that was only built in the twenty-first century.
IJburg is Amsterdam's newest district: artificial islands in the IJmeer, built starting in 2002. No historical layers, no nineteenth-century buildings, no steep stairs. Everything is new. The islands are designed as complete residential areas with their own amenities, schools, and hospitality. Anyone looking for an apartment in IJburg chooses modern living by the water, twenty minutes by tram from Central Station.
Houses in Amsterdam
IJburg consists of several islands, each with its own urban planning concept. Haveneiland West and Haveneiland Oost are the oldest and most densely built parts, constructed between 2002 and 2011. Steigereiland is the island of architectural experiments and living on the water. The Rieteilanden (Groot, Klein, and Oost) offer ground-level homes. Centrumeiland, the newest inhabited island, has had its first residents since 2020. Strandeiland is under construction. Buiteneiland is still a distant dream. IJburg has about 27,000 inhabitants (2024) and is projected to grow to 60,000 in the coming decades.
Haveneiland: The Heart of IJburg
Haveneiland is the most urban and densely built part of IJburg. Stacked construction, apartments from three to eight stories, a shopping center with supermarkets and daily amenities. It is the part where most rental properties are located. The architecture is modern and varied: each building block was designed by a different architectural firm, giving the streetscapes diversity.
Haveneiland West has the highest residential density. Haveneiland Oost is slightly more spacious with more ground-level homes. The IJburglaan connects the islands to the mainland. The atmosphere is young and family-oriented: strollers on the quay, playgrounds between the blocks, primary schools within walking distance.
Steigereiland: Living on the Water
Steigereiland is the island where Amsterdam has experimented with architecture and housing construction. Private commissioning: residents who design and build their own homes. The result is a streetscape where no two houses are alike. Water villas, floating homes, self-built terraced houses. It is the part of IJburg with the most character and variety.
The Rieteilanden, east of Steigereiland, are calmer and greener. Primarily ground-level homes with gardens. It is the most village-like part of IJburg.
Centrumeiland: Large-Scale Self-Build
Centrumeiland is the newest inhabited island, with its first residents since 2020. What's special: 60 to 70 percent of the homes are self-build. Residents have designed their own houses within an urban planning framework. The result is a neighborhood that looks like an architectural exhibition: no two facades are alike, but there is a cohesive public space. Centrumeiland will offer approximately 1,500 to 1,700 homes upon completion.
Strandeiland, the next island, began construction in 2024. Approximately 8,000 homes are planned, with completion by around 2029. It will be the largest island of IJburg.
New Builds with Lift, Balcony, and Insulation
The housing supply in IJburg is new construction. This means: good insulation, lifts in most complexes, balconies, parking garages, and an energy label that is significantly better than in pre-war neighborhoods. The apartments on Haveneiland range from compact to spacious: from two-room apartments of 50 square meters to family homes of 100 square meters or more.
In IJburg-West, approximately 57 percent of the homes are rental properties. The offer is more varied than the Amsterdam average, with more large family homes. Those renting a room in IJburg will find it in shared apartments on Haveneiland.
Houses Price Breakdown in Amsterdam
| Size | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100-150 | €2,674 | €2,500 | €1,600 - €4,500 | 10 |
150+ | €5,739 | €4,150 | €2,250 - €24,500 | 4 |
50-75 | €2,087 | €2,250 | €408 - €3,000 | 0 / 7 |
75-100 | €2,184 | €2,100 | €1,515 - €2,980 | 5 |
<50 | €3,066 | €2,550 | €1,392 - €10,000 | 4 |
Tram 26 and the IJmeer
Tram 26 is the lifeline of IJburg: every six minutes, Amsterdam Central in twenty minutes. The tram is the daily mode of transport for most residents. The city center is accessible by bike via the Zeeburgerpad, a popular cycling route along the water. Parking in IJburg is more abundant than in the city center.
Blijburg aan Zee, the city beach on the east side, is where IJburg has found its own identity: informal, alternative, with a beach bar vibe that attracts the whole city in the summer. It's proof that a new-build neighborhood doesn't have to be soulless.
Artificial Islands
IJburg is built on land that didn't exist. The islands are raised in the IJmeer, designed as complete residential areas with their own amenities. It is Amsterdam's largest new-build project in the twenty-first century.
Self-Build as an Experiment
On Steigereiland and Centrumeiland, hundreds of residents have designed their own homes. The result: streetscapes where no two facades are alike, but which together form a coherent whole. It is large-scale self-build on a scale unmatched elsewhere in the Netherlands.
Blijburg aan Zee
The city beach on the east side of IJburg is the place that gives the neighborhood its own identity. Informal, alternative, with festivals and events in the summer. It is the counterpoint to the new-build architecture: rough and unpolished.
The rental market in IJburg offers more choice than in the city center. The offer is new and varied. Respond the same day with a complete dossier. Look to Haveneiland for the most offerings, to Steigereiland for the most character, and to the Rieteilanden for ground-level homes with gardens.
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