Living in Houtwijk
Houtwijk is densely built and genuinely urban, and the stock is a genuine mix of apartments and family houses (48% houses).
At 8,928 residents per km² the buurt is busy without being packed.
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 Houtwijk
At €363,000 average WOZ value, Houtwijk ranks 62 out of 110 Den Haag neighborhoods on price — 11% cheaper than most of the city, which makes it one of the more approachable entry points into the city. For scale: Den Haag's cheapest buurt averages €88,000 and its priciest €979,000, so Houtwijk sits in the middle of the pack.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2015: €182,000 · 2016: €185,000 · 2017: €192,000 · 2018: €201,000 · 2019: €215,000 · 2020: €241,000 · 2021: €263,000 · 2022: €289,000 · 2023: €338,000 · 2024: €346,000 · 2025: €363,000
The direction of the market: between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €182,000 to €363,000, up 99% — slower than the city as a whole (+125%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 56% owner-occupied against 44% rental, including 37% 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, Houtwijk is dominated by established households in the 45-to-65 bracket (27% of its 12,740 residents), followed by over-65s at 24%. Households split into 36% singles and 37% 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 — 37% of households are among the country's lower earners; average income per resident is €29,000 a year.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: the nearest large supermarket is about 8 minutes' walk; dining out means a short trip: only 5 cafés or restaurants sit within a kilometer.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 8 min walk · GP 10 min · hospital 1.4 km · library 1.4 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 6 minutes on foot; daycare is well covered (3 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 6-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 2.5 km away; car ownership is moderate (0.8 per household).
Energy and running costs
95% 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 Houtwijk
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 Houtwijk a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Houtwijk suits first-time buyers best; it's a weaker match for buyers after peace and space. The average home value is €363,000 (11% cheaper than most of Den Haag) and the neighborhood has 12,740 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Houtwijk?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Houtwijk, Den Haag is €363,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Houtwijk mostly owner-occupied or rental?
56% of homes in Houtwijk are owner-occupied and 44% are rentals, of which 37% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Houtwijk rising?
Between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Houtwijk rose from €182,000 to €363,000 (+99%); Den Haag as a whole moved up 125% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Houtwijk?
95% of homes in Houtwijk were built before 2000 and 5% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Houtwijk?
The average distance to a train station from Houtwijk is 5.4 km; a large supermarket is 0.7 km away on average.
Is Houtwijk an expensive part of Den Haag?
No — homes here cost about 11% less than in most of Den Haag, making it one of the more affordable parts of the city.
Is Houtwijk good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.5 km away and there are 3 daycare locations within a kilometer. 37% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in Houtwijk?
Houtwijk is not in a designated foundation attention area; the soil here is Duinen, which has adequate bearing capacity. Around 11% 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 Houtwijk is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU05181786) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.