Rent an Apartment in Groningen

Groningen originated on the northern tip of the Hondsrug, the sand ridge that runs north from Drenthe. Where the Drentsche Aa and the Hunze rivers converged into the Reitdiep, a settlement grew that was already considered a city in the thirteenth century. The Martinitoren — 96 meters, called 'd'Olle Grieze' by Groningers — marks its center. The Diepenring, the system of canals enclosing the medieval city center, is still fully intact and forms the sharp boundary between the center and the surrounding districts.

Groningen has over 240,000 inhabitants since the reclassification with Haren and Ten Boer in 2019. Of these, about 54,000 are between fifteen and twenty-five years old — students at the University of Groningen and Hanze University of Applied Sciences who together give the city its character. Sixty percent of the housing stock is rental, the highest percentage of all major cities outside the Randstad. Those considering renting an apartment in Groningen enter a market dominated by rental properties — but where competition, precisely because of this student population, is fierce.

Inside the Diepenring: the City Center

The city center is divided into four neighborhoods — North, East, West, and South — and is bordered by the canals of the Diepenring. The Grote Markt with the Forum (the cultural building that opened in 2019), the Vismarkt, the Herestraat, the Zwanestraat, and the Folkingestraat form its heart. The Groninger Museum is located across from the Hoofdstation, on an island in the Verbindingskanaal.

Renting an apartment in the city center of Groningen means upper floors in monumental buildings, floors above shops in the Herestraat or Oosterstraat, and occasionally a canal house on the Hoge or Lage der A. The offer is limited and rents are above the city average. Parking is difficult — residents can get a garage parking subscription, but street parking is scarce. The advantage is total: everything is within walking distance, from the Martinikerk to the station.

Top floor with Reitdiep views

€1,450 / month

Van Goghstraat 107, Groningen

2

80 m²

6/3/2026

Apartment

2-room apartment by the water

€1,167 / month

Steenhouwerskade 153, Groningen

1

76 m²

5/15/2026

Apartment

Studio eligible for housing benefit near Westerhaven

€802 / month

Paterswoldseweg, Groningen

1

20 m²

5/1/2026

Studio

Modern 3-room apartment of 104 m² in Lewenborg

€1,295 / month

Kajuit 415, Groningen

2

104 m²

6/15/2026

Apartment

Renovated ground-floor apartment with garden

€2,100 / month

Visserstraat, Groningen

2

90 m²

5/1/2026

Apartment

Furnished Waterfront Apartment

€1,600 / month

Van Goghstraat, Groningen

2

90 m²

5/8/2026

Apartment

The Western Outer Districts: Schildersbuurt, Noorderplantsoenbuurt and Surroundings

Immediately west of the Diepenring are the districts that Groningers collectively call 'Oud-West': the Schildersbuurt, the Oranjebuurt, the Zeeheldenbuurt, and the Noorderplantsoenbuurt. These neighborhoods were built around 1900 as the first city expansion and are among the most popular residential addresses in the city. The streets are narrow, the houses pre-war, the facades tall. The Noorderplantsoen — the green lung of this district, where the Noorderzon theater festival takes place in August — runs through the neighborhoods like a park.

The apartment offerings in Oud-West consist of floors in mansions, upper floors with gardens (a rarity in the center), and smaller apartments in divided buildings. The atmosphere is a mix of students, young professionals, and couples. The Schildersbuurt scores high on community spirit — local shops, eateries, the Saturday market in the Noorderplantsoen in summer. Those looking for a rental apartment here compete with everyone who wants the city center without the hustle and bustle of the Diepenring.

Korrewegwijk and the Indische Buurt

Northeast of the center, on the other side of the Boterdiep, lies the Korrewegwijk — the neighborhood that many Groningers consider the student district. The Korrewegwijk consists of two parts: the Indische Buurt and the Professorenbuurt. The buildings are pre-war, the streets are narrower than in Oud-West, and the atmosphere is livelier and rawer. Groningen's largest Asian supermarket is here, as are a series of eateries and pubs along the Korreweg itself.

Renting an apartment in the Korrewegwijk is cheaper than in the city center or Oud-West, while the distance to the center is a five to ten-minute bike ride. The offer consists of upper floors, partitioned floors, and divided mansions. Many young professionals who moved to the neighborhood as students stay there after graduation. The Indische Buurt is somewhat more affordable than the Professorenbuurt, but both parts benefit from the proximity of the Noorderplantsoen on the west side.

Oosterpoort and Europapark

The Oosterpoort, southeast of the city center, is a district of skipper's houses, small pre-war buildings, and a mix of students, starters, and young couples. The theater De Oosterpoort — now Spot Groningen — is located in the neighborhood. It is one of the most sought-after locations to rent an apartment in Groningen: the combination of a village-like atmosphere, old character, and proximity to both the center and the Hoofdstation makes the neighborhood attractive to anyone who wants to live compactly and centrally.

Adjoining the Oosterpoort is Europapark, a younger neighborhood around the FC Groningen stadium and the train station of the same name. Originally conceived as an office location, it is developing into a mixed urban area with over 1,100 homes. Between Oosterpoort and Helpman, the Zuiderplantsoen — the sister of the Noorderplantsoen — will emerge in the coming years as a new green connection.

Helpman: The Former Village

Helpman was once an independent village between Groningen and Haren. It is now a stately neighborhood in Groningen-South, a ten to fifteen-minute bike ride from the center. The architecture is more varied than in the surrounding districts: 1930s mansions alongside new constructions in Helpermaar and the Engelse Park. The Sterrebos, the Martiniziekenhuis, and good schools make Helpman popular with families — but starters and seniors also find new build apartments here.

Those looking for an affordable apartment in Helpman usually look in De Wijert — the adjoining neighborhood from the 1960s and 1970s. The northern part of De Wijert mainly consists of apartment complexes, the southern part of single-family homes. The street names are named after Dutch writers. De Wijert offers more square meters for less money than Helpman, with its own shops, schools, and bus connections.

Paddepoel, Selwerd and the Zernikecampus

Paddepoel and Selwerd, northwest of the center, are the districts closest to the Zernikecampus — the location where the University of Groningen and Hanze University of Applied Sciences house their science faculties, the ACLO sports complex, and the University Library. Paddepoel has Groningen's largest indoor shopping center (more than eighty shops) and two large international student flats on Kornoeljestraat and in the Bisschop Nierman Centrum.

Selwerd, built in the 1960s, is undergoing renovation and new construction. The neighborhood offers a mix of single-family homes and apartments and is a five-minute bike ride from the city center. For those looking for a cheaper rental apartment in Groningen and for whom proximity to the university is more important than the atmosphere of the surrounding districts, Paddepoel and Selwerd are the logical choice.

Renting an Apartment in Groningen: Market Logic

The Groningen apartment market is layered. Within the Diepenring, you pay top price for the fewest square meters. The surrounding districts — Oud-West, Korrewegwijk, Oosterpoort — offer the best balance between atmosphere, location, and price, but competition is fierce. Paddepoel, Selwerd, and De Wijert are the cheapest but also the least popular among non-students. De Suikerzijde will eventually add a new segment, but the first apartments have only recently begun construction.

For those who want to rent an apartment in Groningen: start early (especially as a student, well before the academic year), respond quickly, and look beyond the city center. The city is compact enough to reach the Grote Markt from any neighborhood within fifteen minutes. This relativizes the difference between an apartment on Herestraat and one in Paddepoel — it's about atmosphere and neighbors, not accessibility.