Rent a home in Hoogvliet, Rotterdam

Hoogvliet is located in the southwest of Rotterdam, between the Oude Maas and the Botlek industrial area. The district has approximately 36,400 inhabitants (2025) and a history unlike any other in Rotterdam. In the 1950s, Hoogvliet was rapidly built to house Shell workers. Eight neighborhoods, each with three thousand homes, centered around a main shopping area. Fifty years later, the neighborhood was worn out, and one of the largest urban regeneration operations in the Netherlands began. Those who rent a home in Hoogvliet today live in a district that has been completely renewed. Rental prices are the lowest in Rotterdam.

From Shell City to WiMBY!

Hoogvliet began as a small dike village on the Oude Maas, first mentioned in 1326. In 1955, architect Milius designed the master plan for a complete workers' city next to the Shell refinery. Eight neighborhoods, standard post-war flats, facilities for the worker and his family. By the 1990s, the neighborhood was outdated.

In 1999, the municipality launched a new vision: "New life for the old New Town." In 2001, the International Building Exhibition began under the WiMBY! (Welcome into My Backyard!) program, led by Crimson Architectural Historians. Thousands of post-war homes were demolished and replaced by new construction in various typologies: for sale, mid-range rent, and social housing. The project attracted international architectural attention. Hoogvliet has since become a prime example of successful urban renewal.

The Neighborhoods: Zalmplaat, Tussenwater, Meeuwenplaat and more

Hoogvliet consists of eight neighborhoods: Hoogvliet-Noord, Hoogvliet-Zuid, Zalmplaat, Tussenwater, Boomgaardshoek, Meeuwenplaat, Oudeland and Digna Johanna. The renewed neighborhoods combine single-family homes with low-rise apartments, wide streets, and green spaces. The architecture is more varied than in the original neighborhood: no more repetitive stamps but variation in style and scale.

De Heerlijkheid Hoogvliet, developed as part of WiMBY!, is a recreational park with a pond shaped like the Netherlands, an ecological hill, and the Villa as a cultural meeting place. The Oude Maas offers waterfront recreation. The Hoogvliet shopping center provides for daily needs.

Metro, A15 and the Oude Maas

Metro line D (Calandlijn) connects Hoogvliet with the center of Rotterdam. Stations Hoogvliet, Tussenwater, Zalmplaat, and Kleiweg offer direct access. Travel time to Central Station is approximately 25 minutes. The A15 runs through the district, connecting to Botlek, Europoort, and the A29.

Parking is inexpensive and readily available. Most homes have their own parking space or are located on quiet streets. The Oude Maas offers a waterfront that gives the district an open, spacious feel. By bike, the city center is too far for daily use, but the metro compensates for that.

The rental market in Hoogvliet is one of the most affordable in Rotterdam. The renewed neighborhoods offer a mix of single-family homes and apartments. The architecture is modern, greenery is everywhere, and the metro takes you to the city. Hoogvliet suits renters who value space and affordability more than urban vibrancy.