Rent a Home in Arnhem
The Gelderland capital between the Rhine and Veluwe.
Arnhem is a city of contrasts. A city center that had to be largely rebuilt after the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, surrounded by nineteenth-century villa districts that did survive the war. A provincial capital where Audrey Hepburn grew up and where Loesje was created, but which still sits tens of euros per square meter below Amsterdam in terms of rental prices. This combination — the cultural ambition of a big city, the rental prices of a medium-sized one — makes Arnhem interesting for renters looking to leave the Randstad.
Houses in Arnhem
But it's not easy. The demand for rental properties in Arnhem has been rising for years, the supply in the free sector is shrinking, and popular neighborhoods like Spijkerkwartier or Klarendal are just as competitive as many Randstad areas. Anyone looking to rent a home here needs to know the city — and act quickly.
A City Built in Layers
Arnhem reads like a history book as you drive from north to south. The oldest neighborhoods — Spijkerkwartier, Burgemeesterswijk, Sint Marten — are located on the push moraines north of the Rhine, built in the nineteenth century for wealthy citizens and later for workers. South of the river, real growth only began after 1935, when Mayor De Monchy advocated for housing construction in the Malburgen polder. Since then, Arnhem has been a dual city: North and South, separated by the Rhine, connected by the John Frost Bridge and the Nelson Mandela Bridge.
This history determines the rental property supply. In Arnhem-North, you'll find pre-war mansions with high ceilings on tree-lined avenues, while in the South, there are post-war single-family homes with gardens and recent Vinex new-builds. The choice of a neighborhood here isn't just a matter of taste — it's a choice between two fundamentally different ways of living.
Moraine City
Arnhem is located on an ice-age moraine. Neighborhoods like Geitenkamp and Monnikenhuizen have elevation differences of tens of meters — unique in the Netherlands.
East Netherlands Hub
Arnhem Centraal is an intercity station with direct connections to Utrecht (40 min), Amsterdam (70 min), and Nijmegen (15 min).
Sonsbeek Park Nearby
One of the most beautiful city parks in the Netherlands borders directly on the residential areas of Arnhem-North. Veluwezoom begins at the city's edge.
The North Side: Where the City Began
Spijkerkwartier — The Protected Cityscape
In 1853, city architect Heuvelink designed Spijkerkwartier as an expansion district for the affluent bourgeoisie. The monumental mansions on streets like Parkstraat and Prins Hendrikstraat still stand, now as a nationally protected cityscape. Many properties have been divided into upper and lower dwellings — the typical rental format in this neighborhood. Expect high ceilings, original stucco work, and narrow, steep stairs.
Spijkerkwartier has a tumultuous recent history. Until 2006, it was partly known as a red-light district. That era is over: the neighborhood is now one of Arnhem's most sought-after, with cafes, boutiques, and a vibrant community. This popularity has a downside. Homes rarely become available and are rented out quickly. Anyone looking to rent here would do well to set up a notification on our platform to receive immediate alerts for new listings.
Klarendal — From Valley of Tears to Fashion Quarter
Klarendal's history begins in 1830 as Arnhem's first working-class neighborhood outside the fortifications. Workers' homes, built without sewage or hygiene supervision. In the decades that followed, the neighborhood was redeveloped several times, but real problems persisted: in the seventies and eighties, it was called "Tranendal" (Valley of Tears), and in 1989, drug nuisance and prostitution led to riots. The turnaround came at the beginning of this century, when housing corporation Volkshuisvesting bought dilapidated properties and converted them into studios for fashion designers. In 2008, Station Klarendal — the former postal distribution center of the old station, moved brick by brick — opened as the heart of the Fashion Quarter.
Today, Klarendal is a mix of renovated workers' homes, urban renewal construction from the seventies, and newer infill projects. The homes are compact, the atmosphere is both working-class and creative. For renters seeking a more affordable entry than Spijkerkwartier, with more character than new construction, Klarendal is the logical alternative.
Burgemeesterswijk & Hoogkamp — The Green Villa District
Right next to Park Sonsbeek, one of the most beautiful city parks in the Netherlands, lies Burgemeesterswijk. Originally a villa district from the early twentieth century, with villas in styles ranging from Art Nouveau to chalet style. On Burgemeestersplein stands a bust of Audrey Hepburn, who attended school here as a child. At the same kitchen table in this neighborhood, six young people conceived the phenomenon of Loesje in 1983.
Many original villas have been demolished over the decades and replaced by apartment buildings from the 1930s. The result is a neighborhood with an unusual mix: monumental mansions next to sober communal stairwell apartments. Rental homes here are scarce and are mainly offered as spacious apartments or upper floors in the larger properties. The Izaak Evertslaan and Van Lawick van Pabststraat are the most requested streets.
The South Side: Space and New Builds Across the Rhine
Schuytgraaf — Arnhem's Youngest Neighborhood
Where Betuwe fields and orchards lay until 2004, a small city of over 16,000 people now resides. Schuytgraaf is Arnhem's Vinex-district: spaciously laid out, with water features, its own schools, and its own NS train station (Arnhem Zuid). The average WOZ value is €476,000, well above the Arnhem average of €350,000 — this is where the more expensive single-family homes are located.
The rental supply in Schuytgraaf primarily consists of recent terraced houses and semi-detached homes. The neighborhood attracts families: the average household size is 2.7 people, significantly higher than the Arnhem average of 1.9. Those looking for a single-family home with a garden, modern insulation, and space for children will find the most options here. The downside: Schuytgraaf is kilometers from the city center and has limited cultural offerings.
Elden — The Village in the City
Elden was an independent village until 1966, and you can still tell. Wide avenues, the white Bonifatius Church, and a village feel you won't find anywhere else in Arnhem. The historic core features homes from various periods: from nineteenth-century properties to the new residential area "De Tuin van Elden". The Gelredome and Kronenburg Shopping Center are nearby but hardly disturb the village character.
Malburgen — The Neighborhood in Transition
For decades, Malburgen has had a reputation that was not always positive. Built as post-war emergency neighborhoods — communal stairwell apartments instead of the originally planned garden village — the neighborhood has struggled with disadvantages for years. But significant investments are being made: renovations, new construction, and restructuring are changing the streetscape. For renters with a more limited budget, Malburgen offers the most affordable entry into Arnhem-South, with direct connections over the John Frost Bridge to the city center.
€1,975 / month
€2,450 / month
€1,370 / month
€2,895 / month
€1,625 / month
€1,600 / month
What Renting a Home in Arnhem Really Costs
Rental prices in Arnhem are significantly below the Randstad but are rising rapidly. The average price per square meter in the free sector hovers around €17, compared to over €28 in Amsterdam and €21 in Utrecht. That sounds attractive, but the increase is substantial: Arnhem is among the fastest-rising cities in the Netherlands.
Landlords almost always apply an income requirement of three times the gross monthly rent. For a rent of €1,200 per month — realistic for a single-family home in the free sector — this means a minimum gross income of €3,600. Have your income documentation (pay slips, employment contract, possibly an employer's statement) ready before you respond — it saves days in the process.
Houses Price Breakdown in Arnhem
| Bedrooms | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | €1,667 | €1,800 | €550 - €2,450 | 1 |
3 | €1,779 | €1,613 | €1,370 - €2,650 | 6 |
4+ | €2,082 | €1,950 | €1,348 - €3,500 | 3 |
The Invisible Divide: North vs. South
In Arnhem, the Rhine determines more than just geography. The two halves of the city have completely different housing markets. Arnhem-North — the neighborhoods on the moraines — has an older housing stock, smaller homes, higher square meter prices, and a bohemian-like atmosphere. Arnhem-South offers more square meters per euro, larger gardens, newer homes, but less urban vivacity.
The choice depends on your priorities. Do you work in Arnhem itself and want to cycle to the office? North is more central. Do you work in Nijmegen or the region and want space for a family? South has more to offer. Do you commute to the Randstad? Both sides are within cycling distance of Arnhem Centraal — the difference is in the atmosphere, not the travel time.
A Garden Village on an Ice-Age Moraine
There is one neighborhood that doesn't appear in any standard story about Arnhem but is remarkably interesting for renters: Geitenkamp. Built between 1920 and 1930 as one of the first garden villages in the Netherlands, on the moraines in the city's northeast. The elevation differences are spectacular by Dutch standards — the terrain is literally terraced. The architecture is Amsterdam School: ornamental brickwork, characteristic gates, and an iconic market square.
Geitenkamp has 2,220 homes, 89% of which are rental properties. The average WOZ value is €258,000, well below the city average. The atmosphere is working-class, close-knit, and village-like. It's not a trendy neighborhood, and that keeps rental prices relatively modest. Those willing to prioritize atmosphere and architecture over location can sometimes find opportunities here that are long gone in the rest of the city.
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