Living in De Reef
De Reef is town feel without the crowds — amenities close by, calm on the street, and the stock is a genuine mix of apartments and family houses (33% houses).
With just 1,569 residents per km², this is space by Dutch standards. Water makes up 16% of its surface — canals and waterfront are part of daily scenery here, and so are the price tags of homes that face them.
Den Haag combines government and expat demand — ministries, embassies, international courts and Shell — with one of the widest price ranges of any Dutch city: stately streets near the dunes at one end, dense and affordable neighborhoods a couple of kilometers inland at the other.
The housing market in De Reef
At €422,000 average WOZ value, De Reef ranks 48 out of 110 Den Haag neighborhoods on price — 4% pricier than most of the city. That premium is the location speaking. For scale: Den Haag's cheapest buurt averages €88,000 and its priciest €979,000, so De Reef sits in the middle of the pack.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2020: €430,000 · 2022: €276,000 · 2023: €378,000 · 2024: €400,000 · 2025: €422,000
The direction of the market: between 2020 and 2025 the average WOZ value here fell from €430,000 to €422,000, down 2% — slower than the city as a whole (+45%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 37% owner-occupied against 63% rental, including 54% 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, De Reef is shaped by people in their late twenties to early forties (42% of its 810 residents), followed by children under 15 at 24%. Households split into 51% singles and 36% families with children — a real mix rather than one lifestyle. The average household counts 2.2 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: incomes lean modest — 55% of households are among the country's lower earners.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: plan your groceries: the nearest large supermarket is 1.7 km away; dining out means a short trip: only 1 café or restaurant sit within a kilometer.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 12 min walk · GP 12 min · hospital 5.6 km · library 2.1 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 12 minutes on foot; daycare is 0.9 km away — check waiting lists early, they are long everywhere in the Netherlands; secondary school is a 4-minute bike ride, which Dutch teenagers do in all weather.
Getting around
Getting around: the station is a 6-minute cycle, standard Dutch commuting range; the nearest highway on-ramp is 2.1 km away; car ownership is moderate (0.9 per household).
Energy and running costs
With 100% of homes built after 2000, insulation standards here are decent by default — but newer also means VvE service costs for apartments and less room to add value through renovation. Different math, not automatically better.
Before you bid in De Reef
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 De Reef a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. De Reef suits buyers after peace and space best; it's a weaker match for buyers after city buzz. The average home value is €422,000 (4% pricier than most of Den Haag) and the neighborhood has 810 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in De Reef?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in De Reef, Den Haag is €422,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is De Reef mostly owner-occupied or rental?
37% of homes in De Reef are owner-occupied and 63% are rentals, of which 54% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in De Reef rising?
Between 2020 and 2025 the average WOZ value in De Reef fell from €430,000 to €422,000 (−2%); Den Haag as a whole moved up 45% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in De Reef?
0% of homes in De Reef were built before 2000 and 100% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from De Reef?
The average distance to a train station from De Reef is 1.6 km; a large supermarket is 1.7 km away on average.
Is De Reef an expensive part of Den Haag?
Prices sit close to what most of Den Haag costs: neither a pricey area nor a bargain.
Is De Reef good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 1.0 km away and there are 1 daycare locations within a kilometer. 36% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in De Reef?
De Reef is not in a designated foundation attention area; the soil here is Zeekleigebied, which has adequate bearing capacity. Around 5% 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 Den Haag
Closest in price — worth a look if De Reef is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU05184110) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.