Living in Don Bosco
Don Bosco is city living in its most compact form, and living here overwhelmingly means apartment living — 85% of the stock is flats.
With 13,987 residents per km², you will know your streets are alive — and so will your ears; visit on a Friday evening before you commit.
Amsterdam is the tightest housing market in the Netherlands: international workers, students and families chase the same limited stock, overbidding is routine in popular price bands, and a large social-housing sector keeps much of the city permanently off the open market. Where a buurt sits relative to the ring road (A10) and a metro or tram line explains a surprising share of its price.
The housing market in Don Bosco
At €649,000 average WOZ value, Don Bosco ranks 94 out of 426 Amsterdam neighborhoods on price — 29% pricier than most of the city. You pay for the location here. For scale: Amsterdam's cheapest buurt averages €42,000 and its priciest €2,286,000, so Don Bosco sits among the city's pricier neighbourhoods.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2023: €667,000 · 2024: €626,000 · 2025: €649,000
The direction of the market: between 2023 and 2025 the average WOZ value here fell from €667,000 to €649,000, down 3% — roughly in step with the rest of the city. WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 44% owner-occupied against 56% rental, including 28% social housing. Enough homes trade hands to give you comparable sales, but check what's actually for sale versus rented in the specific block you're eyeing — the mix can flip from one street to the next.
Who lives here
Demographically, Don Bosco is a young-adult neighborhood — the 25-to-45 group outnumbers everyone else (35% of its 2,195 residents), followed by 45-to-65 year olds at 23%. Households split into 46% singles and 29% families with children — a real mix rather than one lifestyle. The average household counts 2.0 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: incomes lean modest — 39% of households are among the country's lower earners.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: groceries are a non-issue — 8 large supermarkets within a kilometer; with roughly 43 cafés and restaurants within a kilometer, you will never cook out of necessity.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 11 min walk · GP 5 min · hospital 1.7 km · library 1.0 km · 7 cinemas within 5 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: 3 primary schools within a kilometer means real choice — and short bike rides; daycare is well covered (9 locations nearby) — though Dutch waiting lists mean you register the week you know you're expecting, not the week you need it; secondary school is a 2-minute bike ride, which Dutch teenagers do in all weather.
Getting around
Getting around: the station is a 5-minute cycle, standard Dutch commuting range; the nearest highway on-ramp is 2.6 km away; and at 0.5 cars per household, most residents simply don't own one — if you do, factor in permit costs and waiting lists before you buy.
Energy and running costs
98% 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 Don Bosco
Before you bid in Don Bosco: the national soil map leaves built-up areas unclassified, and city centres like this one often sit on peat, and pre-1970 homes may stand on wooden piles — since the 2026 appraisal rules, a foundation risk class (A–E) appears in every valuation, so check it before you bid, not after the deal is already emotional. Also, in a premium buurt the risk isn't buying a bad home, it's overpaying for a good one — anchor your bid on recent sales of comparable homes, not on the asking price.
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 Don Bosco a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Don Bosco suits buyers after city buzz best; it's a weaker match for first-time buyers, families with children and buyers after peace and space. The average home value is €649,000 (29% pricier than most of Amsterdam) and the neighborhood has 2,195 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Don Bosco?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Don Bosco, Amsterdam is €649,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Don Bosco mostly owner-occupied or rental?
44% of homes in Don Bosco are owner-occupied and 56% are rentals, of which 28% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Don Bosco rising?
Between 2023 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Don Bosco fell from €667,000 to €649,000 (−3%); Amsterdam as a whole moved up 0% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Don Bosco?
98% of homes in Don Bosco were built before 2000 and 2% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Don Bosco?
The average distance to a train station from Don Bosco is 1.3 km; a large supermarket is 0.4 km away on average.
Is Don Bosco an expensive part of Amsterdam?
Yes — homes in Don Bosco cost about 29% more than in most of Amsterdam, so budget for competition and possible overbidding.
Is Don Bosco good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.8 km away and there are 9 daycare locations within a kilometer. 29% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in Don Bosco?
Don Bosco stands out for foundation risk — in built-up areas the national soil map doesn't classify the ground, and city centres often sit on peat. Around 90% of homes here predate 1970, the era when wooden or shallow foundations were common. According to the Klimaateffectatlas, the risk of pile rot in this neighbourhood is low. This says nothing about any individual property: only a physical foundation inspection can establish its condition. Ask for the foundation risk class (A–E) in the valuation report.
Similar neighborhoods in Amsterdam
Closest in price — worth a look if Don Bosco is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU0363MM03) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.