Rent an Apartment in Lelystad
A city where apartments mean new construction, the station is within walking distance, and the train to Almere takes thirteen minutes.
Lelystad is not a city of canal houses and divided mansions. Its city center only dates back to the 1970s. Almost every apartment complex was built after 1980, many after 2000. Anyone considering renting an apartment in Lelystad opts for new construction or recently built complexes with an elevator, balcony, and modern insulation. No steep stairs, no crooked floors, no surprises behind the wallpaper. What you see is what you get.
Apartments in Lelystad
The city has approximately 84,000 inhabitants (2024) and is steadily growing towards 100,000. The apartment market concentrates in two places: the Stadshart (city center) around the station, and the Bataviahaven (Batavia Port) on the waterfront. Surrounding these are the residential areas where single-family homes dominate. Our housing page covers those. Here we focus on the areas with apartments: the center, the waterfront, and the new construction projects that will increase the supply in the coming years.
The Stadshart: Station, Shops, and the Only True Urban Atmosphere
The Stadshart is the center of Lelystad. Station, shops, restaurants, cinema, library. It’s also the only place in the city that feels like a city. The rest of Lelystad consists of neighborhoods. Most apartment complexes are located here: modern buildings of four to eight stories, often with commercial functions on the ground floor.
The location near the station is the biggest advantage. The train to Almere takes thirteen to sixteen minutes, four times an hour. Amsterdam Central is 57 minutes away. Since 2025, there has been a night train to Amsterdam, Schiphol, and Zwolle. For commuters who accept the travel time in exchange for lower living costs, the Stadshart is the logical place. You walk from your apartment to the platform.
The availability varies. Apartments in the Stadshart are popular with singles, couples, and older residents who want to do without a car. The complexes are predominantly well-maintained and equipped with an elevator and balcony.
€1,195 / month
€1,695 / month
€2,200 / month
€1,095 / month
€1,430 / month
Bataviahaven: Apartments with Harbor Views
The Bataviahaven, on the northwest side of the city, is Lelystad's waterfront. Historic ships, Batavialand, the Fashion Outlet, and a growing number of residential blocks. It's the place where Lelystad least resembles Lelystad: water, catering, a boulevard, and apartments with harbor views.
Construction is still underway. Blocks 3, 4, and 5 are in preparation or tender. This means that the supply will grow in the coming years. The existing homes are modern, often with spacious balconies facing the water. The flip side: the harbor is not within walking distance of the station. You need a bike or bus to get to the Stadshart. But for those looking for water and willing to cycle a bit, the Bataviahaven offers a living experience that the polder neighborhoods cannot match.
Theater District and Former Post Office: New Builds in the Core
The Stadshart is densifying. New apartments will be added in the coming years at two locations. The Theaterkwartier (Theater District, project SPOT) will deliver 93 homes, on top of earlier plans. The former Post Office will be transformed into approximately 140 homes. Both projects are located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of the station.
This type of urban densification is new for Lelystad. The city was built on expansion: always a new neighborhood at the edge. Now, for the first time, serious additional construction is taking place in the existing center. For those who want to rent an apartment in Lelystad and prefer new construction, these are the projects to watch. A portion will be available in the free sector rental market.
The Residential Areas: Low-rise with Garden or Balcony
Outside the Stadshart and the Bataviahaven, there are also apartments, but in a different guise. In the Atolwijk, Boswijk, and Zuiderzeewijk, you'll find low-rise complexes of three to four stories. Gallery and porch flats from the seventies to nineties, renovated or in their original state.
These are not apartments you choose for the view or the architecture. You choose them for the space around them. The complexes are located in green neighborhoods with wide streets and playgrounds. Ground-floor apartments often have their own garden. Rents are lower than in the Stadshart or the Bataviahaven. For those looking for an affordable apartment and who can do without the urban atmosphere, the residential areas are a sober alternative.
Apartments Price Breakdown in Lelystad
| Bedrooms | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | €1,675 | €1,675 | €1,675 - €1,675 | 0 / 1 |
2 | €1,679 | €1,800 | €1,300 - €1,950 | 0 / 5 |
Warande: Also Apartments in the Newest District
De Warande, the sustainable new development in the south, is primarily known for its single-family homes. But there will also be apartments. Project Schutterij Warande will deliver 36 apartments. These are homes of a different caliber than the low-rise buildings in the older neighborhoods: energy-efficient, modern layouts, in a district designed with water and greenery as structuring elements.
The supply is small. De Warande is primarily a family neighborhood. But for those looking for the combination of renting an apartment in Lelystad and living in a new, green environment on the Markermeer, it's worth following this project.
Night Train since 2025
Since March 2025, Lelystad has a night train to Amsterdam Central, Schiphol, and Zwolle. For residents who want to go to the city in the evenings without a car, this is a concrete improvement. It makes the Stadshart a more attractive residential location for commuters and nightlife enthusiasts than it was five years ago.
Batavia City and the Harbor as Daily Scenery
The Fashion Outlet with 150 stores, Batavialand with its reconstructed VOC ship, the historic shipyard: the Bataviahaven combines commerce, culture, and living. For residents of the harbor blocks, this is the daily scenery. A coffee shop by the water, a museum around the corner, boats outside the window.
A City That Densifies Instead of Just Expands
Lelystad is not only building on its edges (Warande, Zuiderhage) but also in its existing center. The Theaterkwartier and the former Post Office are being converted into residential housing. This is a turning point for a city that always grew outwards. It will eventually make the Stadshart more vibrant and increase the supply of apartments.
Anyone looking for an apartment in Lelystad focuses on two areas: the Stadshart for its station location and daily amenities, or the Bataviahaven for the water and space. Have your documents ready: employer's statement, pay slips, copy of ID. Set up a search alert so you get a notification immediately when new offers arrive. And take the train there once. The city looks different from the inside than from the A6.
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