Rent a Home in Groningen East

Groningen East is located beyond the ring road, on the northeastern edge of the city. Beijum and Lewenborg are the two large residential areas, built in the 1970s and 1980s as a response to the housing shortage of that time. Ten thousand homes were built in just a few years. In between lies Kardinge: nature, sports, and a P+R facility. Those considering renting a home in Groningen East choose spacious family homes, affordable rents, and the surrounding countryside as a neighbor.

Beijum: Garden City District with 43 'Heerden'

Beijum was built starting in 1978 with the motto 'variation in housing types'. The district has approximately 12,750 inhabitants (2024), divided into 43 so-called 'heerden' (courts/neighborhood units): small neighborhood units each with its own character. Semi-detached single-family houses, upper and lower floor apartments, apartments, and senior dwellings. The mix is intentional. No endless rows of identical houses, but variation within a planned structure.

Greenery is everywhere. Wide green strips, the Beijumse Bos (Beijum Forest) on the edge, playgrounds scattered throughout the district. Two shopping centers cover daily groceries. There are primary schools, a health center, and community facilities. The residents' organization is active and keeps the neighborhood connected via beijum.org.

The rental supply is larger than in most other districts outside the city center. Rental homes, apartments, and upper floor dwellings regularly become available here. Rents are below the city average. Beijum has historically been a priority district, but the neighborhood identity is strong, and the situation has improved.

Lewenborg: The Quiet Neighbor

Lewenborg is located directly south of Beijum and was built during the same period. The layout is similar: single-family houses, terraced houses, and flats in a green setting. The character is slightly calmer than Beijum. Fewer amenities, more tranquility.

The district borders the Kardinge nature reserve and the outlying area towards Meerstad. The houses are from the seventies and eighties: functional, not spectacular, but spacious. Gardens large enough for a trampoline. Streets where children play outside.

The rental market is mixed. Single-family homes and apartments in a mix of owner-occupied and rental. Studios and rooms are scarce. This is a district of family homes. Those who find a rental home here live quietly and affordably, a fifteen-minute bike ride from the center.

Kardinge: Swimming Pool, Ice Rink, and Scottish Highlanders

Kardinge is the surprise of Groningen East. A nature and recreation area between Beijum and Lewenborg, with a sports center that is disproportionate to the scale of the neighborhood.

Sports Center Kardinge has three swimming pools (including a wave pool), a 400-meter ice rink, an ice hockey rink, a climbing wall, an indoor ski center, and a mountain bike trail. The municipality has plans for a new sports center to replace the current one. It is a regional-level facility, right in a residential area.

The adjacent nature reserve offers meadows, marshes, and forest. Scottish Highlanders graze in a fenced area. Walking and cycling routes lead directly into the greenery from Beijum and Lewenborg. P+R Kardinge, on the ring road, connects the area with bus lines 4, 61, 65, 107, and 163 towards the center.

Oosterhoogebrug: Small and Owner-Occupied Dominated

Oosterhoogebrug and the adjacent Ulgersmaborg are located further south, on the other side of the Van Starkenborghkanaal. Smaller districts, predominantly owner-occupied homes, with a village-like character. The rental supply is limited. Those who find a rental home here live a ten-minute bike ride from the center, in a neighborhood that consistently scores well on liveability.

These districts are less known than Beijum or Lewenborg. They rarely appear in housing magazines or on lists. But that's precisely what residents appreciate: peace, proximity, and anonymity in a city of 235,000 inhabitants (2025).

What Renters Should Know

Groningen East is the district for residents who prioritize space and affordability over proximity and atmosphere. The city center is a fifteen to twenty-minute bike ride away. There are no catering or cultural venues in the district. The amenities are practical: supermarkets, schools, a health center.

The houses are post-war and not always well-insulated. Ask for the energy label. A house from the seventies without renovations will cost more in heating than the basic rent suggests. Pay attention to the difference between renovated and non-renovated blocks.

Renting a home in Groningen East is fastest in Beijum. The supply of rental homes is largest there. Lewenborg follows. Respond quickly and have your documents ready. Competition is lower here than in the city center or the Korrewegwijk, but a good home is gone within a day here too.