Renting a Home in Hilversum
The media city of the Netherlands, built on four hills in the Gooi region, surrounded by heath and forest, twenty minutes from Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Hilversum is the city where the Netherlands learns to make television. The Mediapark hosts the NPO, NOS, and virtually all public broadcasters. Beeld en Geluid is there. RTL is there. But those considering renting a home in Hilversum don't come for the studios. They come for a city of 94,500 inhabitants (2026) built on four hills, surrounded by heath and beech forest, with its own architectural history starting with Willem Dudok. And for its location: twenty minutes by intercity train to Amsterdam, seventeen minutes to Utrecht.
Houses in Hilversum
The offerings in the free sector are mixed. Hilversum has single-family homes in pre-war neighborhoods, villas on the hills that are sometimes divided into apartments, post-war terraced houses in the suburbs, and gallery-access flats in the 1960s neighborhoods. The distribution across the city is wide. The choice of neighborhood not only determines the type of home but also the surrounding landscape.
The Schilderswijk: Dudok for Ordinary People
The Schilderswijk, or Schilderskwartier, was built in the 1920s and 1930s as an expansion for workers and the middle class. What's special is that Willem Dudok not only designed the town hall there but also entire housing blocks. The houses are recognizable: yellow brick, clean lines, flat roofs or low-pitched roofs. They are terraced houses with small gardens, built with more attention to proportions than was typical for that period.
The neighborhood is popular and has been renovated. The streets are narrow, the greenery is mature, and the atmosphere is village-like despite its central location. The station is a ten-minute walk away. The supply of rental properties is limited, precisely because the neighborhood is so sought after. Those who find a home here live in architectural history within walking distance of the center.
€3,250 / month
€3,950 / month
€2,500 / month
€2,100 / month
€3,000 / month
Bloemenbuurt: The Quiet Family Neighborhood
Directly north of the Schilderswijk lies the Bloemenbuurt, built between the 1920s and 1950s. The character is calmer. Gallery-access homes and small terraced houses dominate the streetscape. The streets are named after flowers, the layout is clear, and the pace is slow. It's a neighborhood where children cycle in the street and where you know your neighbors.
The Bloemenbuurt has two parts: North and South. Both are family neighborhoods with a similar profile. The homes are not large but functional. Rents are lower than in the Schilderswijk or the center. For renters with a family looking for a quiet street within cycling distance of the station, the Bloemenbuurt is a logical choice.
Boombergkwartier and Trompenberg: The Villa Hills
Hilversum has four hills, and two of them feature villa districts. The Boombergkwartier and Trompenberg were built between the 1920s and 1960s. Detached houses on spacious plots, green avenues, hilly terrain. Trompenberg is the most exclusive: large villas, old trees, silence.
For the free-sector rental market, these neighborhoods are relevant because villas are sometimes split into multiple residential units. A floor of a Boomberg villa offers more space and character than a standard apartment. Rents are higher than elsewhere in Hilversum. But for those with the budget, living here offers a green environment that feels like the countryside within the built-up area.
Kerkelanden and Liebergen: The Post-War Ring
South and east of the center are Kerkelanden and Liebergen, two neighborhoods from the 1960s to 1980s. Terraced houses with front and back gardens, four-story gallery-access flats, wide streets with lots of greenery. The layout is functional. Schools, sports fields, and shops are located within the neighborhood itself.
These are the neighborhoods where the rental housing supply is widest. The homes are larger than in the pre-war neighborhoods, the gardens more spacious, and parking better. The architecture is more sober. For renters looking for square meters and a garden without the price tag of the villa districts, Kerkelanden and Liebergen are the most obvious options.
Hilversum-Zuid: Around the Gijsbrecht
Hilversum-Zuid, the area around the Gijsbrecht van Amstelstraat, has its own shopping area and a mixed character. Terraced houses from the 1950s to 1980s, scattered gallery-access flats, and an atmosphere that is more laid-back than the center. It is a district that functions independently: groceries, schools, and catering are available without needing to go to the center.
The rental housing supply here is varied. Single-family homes with gardens next to flats with apartments. Rents are in the mid-segment. The distance to the station is greater than from the Schilderswijk or the center, but you can get there in ten minutes by bike.
Houses Price Breakdown in Hilversum
| Size | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100-150 | €2,422 | €2,400 | €1,800 - €4,000 | 3 |
150+ | €3,913 | €3,950 | €3,500 - €4,250 | 1 |
50-75 | €1,650 | €1,650 | €1,650 - €1,650 | 0 / 1 |
75-100 | €2,400 | €2,200 | €1,650 - €3,750 | 1 |
<50 | €2,728 | €2,750 | €1,600 - €4,500 | 0 / 7 |
Hilversum-Noord: In Transition
Hilversum-Noord is the neighborhood that is most in motion. The construction is mixed: workers' homes from the 1930s, gallery-access flats from the post-war period, and scattered new constructions. The neighborhood is more multicultural than the rest of Hilversum and has a livelier streetscape.
The rental housing supply here is the most spacious and affordable. The homes are older, and the energy labels vary. Inspect thoroughly and ask about maintenance. But for renters willing to look past its reputation, Noord offers homes that don't exist in the same price range elsewhere in Hilversum.
75 Dudok Buildings
Willem Dudok was Hilversum's municipal architect from 1915 to 1954 and designed 75 buildings for the city. The town hall from 1931 is his masterpiece: yellow brick, a 48-meter clock tower, business expressionism inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. But Dudok also designed schools, a cemetery, and entire residential blocks in the Schilderswijk. There is an architectural center and walking routes along his buildings.
Heath and Forest on All Sides
Hilversum is located in the Gooi Nature Reserve. The Bussumerheide and Westerheide are to the north, the Hoorneboeg to the south, the Spanderswoud towards Bussum. The Voetstappenpad runs 26 kilometers around the city through forest and heath. From almost every suburb, you can walk into nature within ten minutes.
Media Park with its Own Station
The Media Park on Sumatralaan houses the NPO, NOS, BNNVARA, VPRO, KRO-NCRV, and Beeld en Geluid. It has its own train station: Hilversum Mediapark, on the line to Naarden-Bussum. Hilversum has been broadcasting radio since the 1920s and television since the 1950s.
A Gooi Market
The rental market in Hilversum is tighter than its population might suggest. The city attracts commuters who work in Amsterdam or Utrecht but want to live greener. Competition in popular neighborhoods is strong, especially in the Schilderswijk and Bloemenbuurt.
The difference lies in the neighborhood. The pre-war shell offers character and a central location at higher rents. The villa hills offer space and greenery for those with the budget. Kerkelanden, Liebergen, and Hilversum-Zuid offer the widest selection in the mid-segment. Noord offers the lowest entry point. Make sure your proof of income and identification are ready, and set up a search on our platform. In a market where good homes are quickly taken, speed makes all the difference.
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