Rent a Home in Transvaal, Leiden
A small neighborhood between the station and the Rhine, with townhouses from 1880, streets named after the Boer War, and a direct cycling route to the city center.
Transvaal is located between Leiden Centraal and the Rhine, in the Mors district west of the city center. The neighborhood has 1,850 inhabitants (2025) and was developed in several phases: townhouses from the period 1880 to 1910, low-rise homes from the 1930s and 1940s, and gallery flats from the 1960s to 1980s. The streets are named after figures and places from the Boer War, the war between the British and the Afrikaners in South Africa around 1900. In the Netherlands, sympathy was broadly on the side of the Boers, and that name has stuck in the streets of Transvaal.
Morsweg and the Townhouses
The Morsweg is the most representative street in the neighborhood. The townhouses built here at the end of the nineteenth century were intended for Leiden's elite of that time. Wide facades, large windows, gardens. These are the oldest and most characteristic properties in Transvaal, and still the most sought-after addresses in the neighborhood.
The streets in the core of the neighborhood — named after generals, battles, and places from the Boer War — are narrower and more compact. The low-rise homes from the 1930s and 1940s give the central part a quiet, residential character that contrasts with the townhouses on Morsweg and the gallery flats on the edges.
What You Can Rent
The offering in Transvaal is more varied than the size of the neighborhood suggests. Upper floors in nineteenth-century townhouses, homes in 1930s low-rise buildings, and apartments in 1960s gallery flats. The flats offer the most free-sector rental opportunities: larger numbers, more turnover, which reduces competition compared to the city center.
The neighborhood attracts a young population: 24 percent are between 15 and 25 years old, 35 percent between 25 and 45. The proximity to the station and the lower price compared to the city center make it attractive for starters and students who don't necessarily want to live in the center but want to be able to get there quickly.
Apartments Price Breakdown in Leiden
| Size | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100-150 | €2,445 | €2,500 | €1,485 - €2,995 | 14 |
150+ | €3,133 | €3,133 | €3,090 - €3,175 | 2 |
50-75 | €1,603 | €1,495 | €932 - €2,700 | 11 |
75-100 | €1,891 | €1,923 | €1,050 - €2,950 | 11 |
<50 | €1,578 | €1,492 | €678 - €3,250 | 9 |
Accessibility and Daily Life
Leiden Centraal Station is a five-minute walk away. This is Transvaal's biggest advantage over other Leiden neighborhoods: those who take the train daily to Amsterdam, Schiphol, or The Hague will be on the platform from Transvaal before residents of Stevenshof or Merenwijk have even picked up their bicycles.
The city center is a five-minute cycle away. The daily amenities on Morsweg and its side streets are limited. For a full supermarket selection, you'll go to the city center or the shops along the Rijnsburgseweg.
€2,995 / month
Price on request
€1,010 / month
€2,100 / month
€3,090 / month
€1,950 / month
Five Minutes from the Station
Transvaal borders directly on Leiden Centraal. Schiphol is 20 minutes, Amsterdam 35 minutes, The Hague 20 minutes. For commuters who take the train daily, Transvaal's location is hard to beat within Leiden.
Streets from the Boer War
The neighborhood is named after the Transvaal, the South African region where the Boer War was fought around 1900. The Netherlands broadly supported the Boers at the time. The street names are a direct relic of that sympathy, preserved in a neighborhood that has since fully developed.
Three Building Periods Side by Side
Townhouses from 1880, low-rise homes from the 1930s, and gallery flats from the 1960s are all located a short distance from each other in Transvaal. The diversity in housing types makes the neighborhood accessible to different types of tenants.
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