Renting a Home in Leidschendam
A post-war expansion village that has grown together with The Hague, with the Vliet as its backbone and the Mall of the Netherlands just around the corner.
Leidschendam was built to relieve the pressure on The Hague. In 1957, the municipality approved the Northern Expansion Plan: six new districts for 25,000 residents of The Hague who were looking for space. Those districts are still there today: De Heuvel, Prinsenhof, Amstelwijk. The municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg now has about 76,000 inhabitants (2025), roughly half of whom live in Leidschendam. Those considering renting a home in Leidschendam choose a place that is neither city nor village, but something in between. Tram 2 takes you to The Hague Central Station in 20 minutes. The A4 motorway is around the corner. And the Vliet, the canal that runs right through the center, gives the whole area a watery character that the post-war districts around it lack.
Houses in Leidschendam
The free sector rental market here is smaller than in The Hague but less overheated. The supply largely consists of single-family homes in the expansion areas and apartments around the shopping center. The difference per district is greater than you would expect based on the distances. De Heuvel is nationally recognized reconstruction heritage. Leidschendam-Zuid has 1980s terraced houses with gardens. The old center along the Vliet feels like a different village.
De Heuvel and Amstelwijk: Reconstruction with National Monument Status
De Heuvel is the district that puts Leidschendam on the map for architecture connoisseurs. Built in the 1960s as part of the Northern Expansion Plan, and designated by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage as a prime example of post-war reconstruction architecture. The motto was "light, air, and space." Multi-family homes in an open, green setting. Buildings in a double rectangular shape around large courtyards with grass and trees.
The district is being redeveloped while preserving its cultural and historical value. This means renovation, not demolition. The structure remains, comfort improves. For tenants, this results in homes that are better insulated than the original construction, in a district that is more spacious than almost anything built since.
Amstelwijk borders De Heuvel and shares the same DNA. Slightly less iconic, slightly more mixed in terms of housing types. Together, they form the largest residential area of Leidschendam.
€3,250 / month
Prinsenhof: Same Plan, Different Atmosphere
Prinsenhof is the sister district of De Heuvel, built in the same period and according to the same principle: stacked construction around large central green spaces. Here too, the National Agency has recognized its cultural-historical value. But the atmosphere is different. Prinsenhof is more compact, more introverted, with its own shopping strip and its own rhythm.
The homes are predominantly multi-family dwellings, but there are also terraced houses. The greenery in the district is not residual greenery but consciously designed as part of the urban plan. You notice this: the courtyards are spacious, the sightlines long. For those who appreciate post-war reconstruction architecture but are looking for something on a smaller scale than De Heuvel, Prinsenhof is the logical alternative.
The Old Center: Locks, Vliet, and Linear Development
The historic heart of Leidschendam lies along the Vliet, around Sluisplein and Damlaan. The Oranjesluis and Leidschendamse sluis are the defining elements: yachts and recreational boats pass through here, and in the summer, Sluisplein is one of the few places in the municipality that feels like a village with outdoor cafes.
The buildings are older than in the expansion districts. Linear development along the water, buildings from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, occasionally a city villa. The rental housing supply here is limited. Most properties are owner-occupied. But when something becomes available, it offers a living experience you won't find in De Heuvel or Prinsenhof: a village character, water at your doorstep, and a center that is quiet on Sunday mornings.
Leidschendam-Zuid: Terraced Houses with Gardens
Leidschendam-Zuid is the district for those looking for a single-family home without the post-war stamp of De Heuvel or Prinsenhof. The buildings are newer, predominantly from the 1980s and 1990s. Terraced houses, semi-detached homes, front and back gardens. The streetscape is recognizable to anyone who has ever cycled through a Dutch expansion district.
What distinguishes the district is the combination of space and accessibility. The A4 motorway towards Amsterdam and Schiphol is nearby. Tram 2 stops in the vicinity. And the distance to the Mall of the Netherlands is short enough to walk. For families who want a house with a garden within cycling distance of The Hague, Leidschendam-Zuid is one of the more realistic options in the region.
Houses Price Breakdown in Leidschendam
| Bedrooms | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | €1,758 | €1,408 | €1,345 - €2,850 | 0 / 6 |
4+ | €3,838 | €3,425 | €2,575 - €5,500 | 1 |
Leidsenhage: Living Next to the Largest Shopping Center in the Netherlands
The Mall of the Netherlands, opened in 2022 on the site of the former Leidsenhage shopping center, is the largest indoor shopping center in the Netherlands with 117,000 square meters and 230 shops. The immediate surroundings are a residential area with buildings from the 1970s and 1980s. Tram 2 has its final stop here.
Living next to a mega-mall is not for everyone. Traffic around the shopping center is busy, especially on weekends. But the practical advantages are tangible: groceries, shops, restaurants, cinema, all within walking distance. And the tram stop makes The Hague accessible without a car. For those who value amenities on their doorstep over peace and quiet and views, this is a logical location.
National-level Reconstruction Heritage
De Heuvel and Prinsenhof have been designated by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage as prime examples of post-war urban planning. These are districts where "light, air, and space" was not a slogan but a design principle. This is rare for a place of this size, and it gives the districts a spaciousness that is rarely found in more recent construction.
The Vliet as a Quiet Backbone
The Vliet, the canal connecting Leiden with The Hague, runs right through Leidschendam. The locks near the old center are still in use for recreational boating. Along the water are cycling routes that take you to Leiden or Scheveningen in half an hour. It is the reason why Leidschendam, despite its post-war districts, does not feel like a suburb of The Hague.
Tram 2 to The Hague Central Station
Tram line 2 connects Leidschendam (final stop Leidsenhage) with The Hague Central Station in approximately twenty minutes. Tram 6 serves the northern part. There is no train station, but for daily commuting to The Hague, the tram is a serious alternative to the car.
Anyone looking for a house in Leidschendam has a manageable market before them. The supply is not large, but the competition is less fierce than in The Hague itself. Have documents ready: employer's statement, payslips, copy of ID. Set up a search alert so you receive a notification of new listings directly. And drive or cycle through De Heuvel once before you decide. The space between the buildings, the greenery in the courtyards, the sightlines: it's different from what you'd expect from a 1960s district.
View Listings in Leidschendam
Filter by district, property type, and price.
View Rental Homes in Leidschendam