Renting a Home in Laakkwartier and the Binckhorst, The Hague

Together, Laakkwartier and Spoorwijk form The Hague's largest district: approximately 44,700 inhabitants (2025) spread across six neighborhoods. It is a working-class neighborhood with pre-war laborers' homes, portico apartments, and a multicultural streetscape. Seventy percent of the homes are rental properties. Additionally, the Binckhorst is growing: a former industrial area being transformed into a mixed-use urban district with thousands of new homes. Those who rent an apartment in Laakkwartier live in one of The Hague's most accessible and affordable districts.

De Haagse Markt: 500 Stalls on Herman Costerstraat

De Haagse Markt is the largest market in the Netherlands. More than 500 stalls, four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday). Fresh vegetables, herbs, meat, fish, textiles, household goods. The stalls are located on Herman Costerstraat, between Hobbemaplein and Hoefkade.

It is a market that reflects the composition of the neighborhood. Turkish bakers next to Surinamese vegetable stalls, Moroccan spices next to Dutch herring. De Haagse Markt is not just a place to do groceries; it is the living room of Laakkwartier.

Laakkwartier-West, East, and Spoorwijk

Laakkwartier consists of multiple neighborhoods. Laakkwartier-West and East form the core: pre-war portico homes, narrow streets, high density. Spoorwijk is located along the railway line towards Hollands Spoor. The Neherkade runs along the water and connects the district to the rest of the city.

The Laakhaven, the waterfront area between Laakkwartier and the Binckhorst, is a transition zone. Here, the first new residential buildings are already present. The Noordpolderbuurt borders Hollands Spoor and directly benefits from the station's proximity. It is the part of the district where the transformation is most advanced.

Binckhorst: From Factories to Residential Towers

The Binckhorst is the story of the next twenty years. A former industrial area of 130 hectares being transformed into a mixed-use urban district. The municipality, together with the Central Innovation District, aims to realize more than 30,000 homes here. The first phase includes 5,000 homes.

Binck City Park, a project with four residential towers and 896 apartments, reached its highest point in 2024. Sixty percent of the homes are planned in the affordable segment. Along the Binckhorstlaan, BoogieWood is emerging: new construction with an industrial character. Creative incubators and studios in the existing buildings create a raw-urban atmosphere reminiscent of the early NDSM in Amsterdam.

Portico Homes and New-Build Apartments

The contrast in housing supply is significant. In Laakkwartier, there are pre-war portico homes: compact, functional, affordable. The average WOZ value is around 249,000 euros (2025), the lowest of the districts on these pages. In the Binckhorst, new construction is emerging in a different segment: modern apartments with balconies, bicycle storage, and communal outdoor space.

For tenants, this means choice. Laakkwartier offers the lowest entry price. The Binckhorst offers new-build quality at mid-range rental prices. Both are within walking distance of Hollands Spoor.

Hollands Spoor Within Walking Distance

Den Haag Hollands Spoor station directly borders Laakkwartier. Intercity trains to Rotterdam (15 minutes), Amsterdam (50 minutes), Leiden (15 minutes). It is the oldest station in The Hague and one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Tram lines 6, 11, and 12 serve the district. Tram 12 runs from Hollands Spoor to De Haagse Markt. Bus lines 25, 50, and 51 run along Hoefkade.

The Binckhorst is accessible by bicycle via Binckhorstlaan. The Neherkade connects the district to the A4 and A12 for motorists. By bike, you can reach the city center in ten minutes. Laakkwartier, despite its working-class character, is one of The Hague's most accessible districts.

Laakkwartier is not a district for those seeking peace and quiet. It is busy, densely built, and sometimes messy. But it is also honest, accessible, and affordable. The Binckhorst adds a new chapter to this: modern new-build in an environment still under construction. Together, they form the district with the widest range in The Hague.