Rent a Home in Nijmegen-South

Nijmegen-South is the district where most Nijmegen residents rent. 62% of the homes are rental properties, which is the highest percentage of all city districts outside the city center. The area has approximately 23,835 inhabitants (2025) spread across neighborhoods such as Hatert, Brakkenstein, Hatertse Hei, and Grootstal. All built in the fifties and sixties, at a time when Nijmegen was growing rapidly and needed to build quickly. Those considering renting a home in Nijmegen-South choose the affordable part of the city, with the Goffertpark as its green lung.

Hatert: The Neighborhood with the Shopping Center

Hatert is the most well-known neighborhood in Nijmegen-South. Built between 1955 and 1965, it features strict urban planning, low-rise homes with flat roofs, and rectangular gallery flats. It's functional architecture that does exactly what it needs to do: provide affordable housing for working families.

Hatert Shopping Center is the service hub, offering a supermarket, bakery, hairdresser, and a snack bar. It's the kind of shopping center that isn't trendy but is certainly convenient, within walking distance of most homes in the neighborhood. You can do your daily shopping without leaving the district.

The supply of rental properties in Hatert is the largest in all of Nijmegen-South. Gallery flats, upper floors, and terraced houses regularly become available. Rental prices are below the city average. For starters looking for their first rental home, Hatert is one of the most realistic options in Nijmegen.

Grootstal: Groosman's Reconstruction

Grootstal was designed by Rotterdam architect E.F. Groosman. Around 700 homes with flat roofs, built between 1955 and 1965. Straight roads, wide pavements, an urban layout that is more spacious than one would expect based on the construction period. Groosman gave the neighborhood breathing room. The streets are wide enough for trees, and the gardens deep enough for a shed.

The result is a post-war reconstruction neighborhood that has aged better than many of its contemporaries. The homes are compact but not cramped. The rooms are taller than in the seventies construction of Dukenburg. It's the kind of neighborhood where you live because it works, not because it's beautiful.

Hatertse Hei and Brakkenstein: The Quieter Edges

Hatertse Hei is located on the southern edge of the district. Built in the late fifties in the style of the Bossche School, designed by architects Deur and Pouderoyen. Courtyards and apartment buildings with a craftsmanship aesthetic not found elsewhere in South. It's a small neighborhood with its own character.

Brakkenstein has approximately 4,070 inhabitants (2024) and is the greenest neighborhood in South. Until the late fifties, this was undeveloped open land. The homes here are slightly newer than in Hatert, the streets quieter, and the atmosphere more suburban. It's the neighborhood for renters who want to combine the affordability of South with a greener living environment.

The Goffertpark: Stadium, Swimming Pool, and Forest

The Goffertpark is the large city park on the western edge of Nijmegen-South. The Goffertstadion, home of NEC, is located in its center. De Vereeniging swimming pool is also there. On a weekday evening, runners jog the paths through the park. On Sunday mornings, families walk their dogs there.

The park is why Nijmegen-South is more than just a collection of reconstruction blocks. It gives the district a green edge that most streets are just a five-minute cycle from. On NEC match days, the atmosphere around the stadium changes. Then the Goffertpark is no longer just a city park but a football temple.

What Renters Need to Know

Nijmegen-South is not a district with many restaurants, terraces, or nightlife. Renting a home in Nijmegen-South means choosing a residential area. Functional, affordable, and easily accessible. Nijmegen Goffert station is on the edge of the district. Bus lines 11 and 12 run to the city center and the main station. By bike, you can be there in ten to fifteen minutes.

The homes are post-war, with 45% dating from the period 1945-1965. This means varying insulation. Ask about the energy label and heating costs. An apartment in Hatert can cost significantly more to heat in winter than a new-build home in the Waalsprong.

Renting in Nijmegen-South is more realistic than in East or the city center. The supply is larger, and competition is lower. Set up notifications and respond quickly. Have your documents complete. And visit the neighborhood before you sign. The difference between Hatert and Brakkenstein is greater than the two kilometers between them.