Rent a Home in Nijmegen City Centre

Nijmegen received city rights from Emperor Trajan in the year 98. This makes it the oldest city in the Netherlands, older than Maastricht, older than Utrecht. Little of the Roman Noviomagus is visible in today's streetscape. The bombing of February 22, 1944, virtually completely destroyed the city centre. 773 dead, a barren plain that lay untouched for seven years. Reconstruction continued into the seventies. Those considering renting a home in Nijmegen City Centre choose a city centre that is old in name and young in bricks.

Grote Markt and Stevenskerk

The city centre has about 12,965 inhabitants (2025). The Grote Markt is its heart, with the 17th-century Waaggebouw as one of the few buildings that survived the bombing. Surrounding it is post-war reconstruction architecture from the 1950s: functional facades, wide windows, a style that was modern at the time and has now acquired its own charm.

The Stevenskerk is the iconic landmark. Gothic, heavily damaged in 1944, restored and reopened in 1969 by Prince Claus. The church stands again, and the streets around it have been re-planned. The result is a centre that is more compact and functional than most historic city centres. Fewer canal houses, more efficient post-war construction.

The homes in the city centre are predominantly upper floors above shops and hospitality venues. Studios, rooms, and apartments for students and young professionals. The average household size is 1.5 people. This is a neighbourhood for singles and couples, not for families with three children.

Valkhof and the Waal

The Valkhof is the park on the hill above the Waal river. The place where Charlemagne built his palatinate, where the Carolingian chapel still stands. On a weekday afternoon, students sit on the grass with a view of the river. The Waal flows wide and slowly under the Waalbrug, towards Rotterdam and the North Sea.

The Valkhofpark is one of the reasons the city centre is more than just a shopping area. It is the city's vantage point. The combination of Roman history, medieval remains, and a river wider than the Seine makes the Valkhof the kind of place you don't forget.

The Waalfront, the former industrial area between the city centre and the river, is being redeveloped into a residential area. Apartments and rental homes by the water. The first projects are already built. Supply is growing.

Molenstraat, Koningsplein, and Nightlife

The Molenstraat is the heart of the nightlife. Cafes, restaurants, and a square that fills up during events. The Koningsplein, a pedestrian area with terraces, connects to it. The Burchtstraat connects the Grote Markt with the south of the city centre. On Mondays and Saturdays, there is a market.

The Lange Hezelstraat is the oldest shopping street in the Netherlands. Narrow buildings, specialty shops, an atmosphere you won't find in the post-war reconstruction streets. It's the part of the city centre that comes closest to pre-war Nijmegen.

For tenants, this means: living above catering establishments is the norm here. The Molenstraat and Koningsplein are noisy on Thursday evenings and weekends. Those seeking peace and quiet should look towards the edges of the city centre or to Nijmegen-Oost.

45,000 Students and the Rental Market

Radboud University and HAN University of Applied Sciences together attract about 45,000 students to Nijmegen. Not everyone lives in the city, but half do. This makes the rental market in the city centre one of the tightest in the East of the Netherlands. In August and September, competition for rooms and studios is highest.

The Kronenburgerpark, the city park on the edge of the city centre, is dotted with students on summer days. The park borders the singels and forms the transition to Nijmegen-Oost. It is the green anchor of a city centre that is otherwise mostly stone and street.

What Tenants Need to Know

The centre of Nijmegen is compact and student-dominated. The rental offer consists of upper floors, studios, rooms, and apartments in reconstruction buildings. New constructions are being added at the Waalfront. The historic core features functional post-war architecture, not canal houses.

Nijmegen Station is a ten to fifteen-minute walk from the Grote Markt. Intercity trains run to Arnhem, Utrecht, and Den Bosch. The city centre is largely a pedestrian zone. Parking is available in garages, but a bicycle is the most practical means of transport.

Renting an apartment in Nijmegen City Centre requires speed and preparation. Competition is highest in the summer when new students arrive. There is more availability in spring. Set up notifications, have your documents ready, and respond on the same day. A rental home in the city centre can be gone within hours.