Living in Waterbuurt
Waterbuurt is urban but not overwhelming, and most of its 1,684 homes are houses rather than apartments — front doors, gardens, street parking.
At 5,702 residents per km² the buurt is busy without being packed. Water makes up 22% 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 Waterbuurt
The average home value (WOZ) in Waterbuurt is €412,000, which puts it at #42 of 110 neighborhoods in Den Haag — 11% above the city median. You pay for the location here. For scale: Den Haag's cheapest buurt averages €82,000 and its most expensive €919,000, so Waterbuurt sits in the middle band of the city.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
The direction of the market: between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €225,000 to €455,000, up 102% — 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: 55% owner-occupied against 45% rental, including 25% 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, Waterbuurt is dominated by established households in the 45-to-65 bracket (31% of its 4,710 residents), followed by 25-to-45 year olds at 26%. 51% of households have children at home, so expect school runs, playgrounds in use, and neighbors who stay put. The average household counts 2.5 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: 30% of households sit in the country's top income bracket — which helps explain both the café density and the bidding behavior; average income per resident is €32,000 a year.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: plan your groceries: the nearest large supermarket is 1.1 km away; dining out means a short trip: only 3 cafés or restaurants sit within a kilometer.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 14 min walk · GP 11 min · hospital 5.0 km · library 1.3 km · 2 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: the nearest primary school is 8 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 7-minute bike ride, which Dutch teenagers do in all weather.
Getting around
Getting around: the nearest train station is 3.9 km out, so day-to-day life here leans on the car or bus; a highway on-ramp 1.4 km away makes car trips easy — check whether through-traffic noise reaches the street you're considering; households here average 1.1 cars, so assume driveways and parking are part of daily logistics.
Energy and running costs
With 98% 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 Waterbuurt
Before you bid in Waterbuurt: 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 Waterbuurt a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Waterbuurt suits families with children best; it's a weaker match for first-time buyers and buyers after city buzz. The average home value is €412,000 (11% above the Den Haag median) and the neighborhood has 4,710 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Waterbuurt?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Waterbuurt, Den Haag is €412,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Waterbuurt mostly owner-occupied or rental?
55% of homes in Waterbuurt are owner-occupied and 45% are rentals, of which 25% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Waterbuurt rising?
Between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Waterbuurt rose from €225,000 to €455,000 (+102%); 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 Waterbuurt?
2% of homes in Waterbuurt were built before 2000 and 98% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Waterbuurt?
The average distance to a train station from Waterbuurt is 3.9 km; a large supermarket is 1.1 km away on average.
Is Waterbuurt an expensive part of Den Haag?
Yes — average home values in Waterbuurt are 11% above the Den Haag median, so budget for competition and possible overbidding.
Is Waterbuurt good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.7 km away and there are 3 daycare locations within a kilometer. 51% of households here have children at home.
Similar neighborhoods in Den Haag
Closest in price — worth a look if Waterbuurt is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (buurt BU05184214) · Data updated 2026-07-11. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.