Living in Schoolwerf
Schoolwerf is urban but not overwhelming, and the housing is dominated by single-family houses (62%), which is what draws settlers rather than passers-through.
At 9,834 residents per km² the buurt is busy without being packed.
Almere is the Netherlands' youngest city — planned, spacious and car-friendly, with newer housing stock than almost anywhere else in the country. Many residents commute: Amsterdam is around 25 minutes by train, which is exactly the trade many buyers here have chosen.
The housing market in Schoolwerf
At €287,000 average WOZ value, Schoolwerf ranks 152 out of 165 Almere neighborhoods on price — 24% cheaper than most of the city, leaving room in the budget that pricier neighborhoods would swallow. For scale: Almere's cheapest buurt averages €169,000 and its priciest €1,166,000, so Schoolwerf sits among the city's more affordable ones.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2015: €196,000 · 2016: €198,000 · 2017: €204,000 · 2018: €221,000 · 2019: €240,000 · 2020: €272,000 · 2021: €298,000 · 2022: €231,000 · 2023: €262,000 · 2024: €269,000 · 2025: €287,000
The direction of the market: between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €196,000 to €287,000, up 46% — slower than the city as a whole (+105%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Only about 1 in 4 homes here is owner-occupied (76% is social housing) — supply on Funda is structurally thin, which concentrates bidding on the few listings that appear. If you find a home here you like, being prepared (financing check done, valuation lined up) is worth more than in neighborhoods where something new lists every week.
Who lives here
Demographically, Schoolwerf is a young-adult neighborhood — the 25-to-45 group outnumbers everyone else (24% of its 525 residents), followed by 45-to-65 year olds at 24%. 41% of households have children at home, so expect school runs, playgrounds in use, and neighbors who stay put. The average household counts 2.3 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: incomes lean modest — 56% of households are among the country's lower earners.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: groceries are a non-issue — 3 large supermarkets within a kilometer; there are about 23 cafés and restaurants within walking distance — enough choice without the crowds.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 4 min walk · GP 4 min · hospital 5.9 km · library 0.7 km. None of these will decide a purchase on their own, but a GP taking new patients nearby is the kind of thing you only miss after moving.
Families and schools
For families: the nearest primary school is 10 minutes on foot; daycare is 0.8 km away — check waiting lists early, they are long everywhere in the Netherlands; secondary school is a 3-minute bike ride, which Dutch teenagers do in all weather.
Getting around
Getting around: the nearest train station is 5.4 km out, so day-to-day life here leans on the car or bus; the nearest highway on-ramp is 2.8 km away; car ownership is moderate (0.7 per household).
Energy and running costs
94% of homes were built before 2000. Two identical-looking houses on the same street can differ by hundreds of euros a month once heating is counted — the energy label tells you which one you're looking at, and lenders increasingly price it into your mortgage too.
Before you bid in Schoolwerf
Before you bid in Schoolwerf: listings are scarce here, which pushes bidding above asking more often — decide your maximum before the viewing, not during it. Also, the price gap with the rest of Almere is real, but so is the reason for it — walk the neighborhood at different times of day before committing. Beyond that, family neighborhoods like this one turn over slowly; when a good house appears it often goes to the first serious, well-prepared bidder.
None of these averages can tell you whether the specific house you found is fairly priced — that depends on its size, energy label, state of maintenance and the recent sales around it. That is exactly what a free HomeReview report checks, in about 10 seconds, for any Dutch address.
Frequently asked questions
Is Schoolwerf a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Schoolwerf suits first-time buyers, families with children and buyers after city buzz best; it's a weaker match for buyers after peace and space. The average home value is €287,000 (24% cheaper than most of Almere) and the neighborhood has 525 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Schoolwerf?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Schoolwerf, Almere is €287,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Schoolwerf mostly owner-occupied or rental?
23% of homes in Schoolwerf are owner-occupied and 77% are rentals, of which 76% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Schoolwerf rising?
Between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Schoolwerf rose from €196,000 to €287,000 (+46%); Almere as a whole moved up 105% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Schoolwerf?
94% of homes in Schoolwerf were built before 2000 and 6% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Schoolwerf?
The average distance to a train station from Schoolwerf is 5.4 km; a large supermarket is 0.5 km away on average.
Is Schoolwerf an expensive part of Almere?
No — homes here cost about 24% less than in most of Almere, making it one of the more affordable parts of the city.
Is Schoolwerf good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.8 km away and there are 1 daycare locations within a kilometer. 41% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in Schoolwerf?
Schoolwerf is not in a designated foundation attention area; the soil here is Zeekleigebied, which has adequate bearing capacity. Around 0% of homes predate 1970. According to the Klimaateffectatlas, the risk of pile rot in this neighbourhood is very low. A structural survey is still sensible for any older property.
Similar neighborhoods in Almere
Closest in price — worth a look if Schoolwerf is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU00340204) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.