Living in Haren-Centrum
Haren-Centrum 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 (35% houses).
At 4,104 residents per km² the buurt is busy without being packed.
Groningen is a student city first: a substantial share of residents are enrolled somewhere, rental demand is constant, and buyers compete for a limited stock of family homes. For older properties in the wider region, ask about earthquake and subsidence history linked to the gas field.
The housing market in Haren-Centrum
At €381,000 average WOZ value, Haren-Centrum ranks 39 out of 100 Groningen neighborhoods on price — 13% pricier than most of the city. You pay for the location here. For scale: Groningen's cheapest buurt averages €192,000 and its priciest €898,000, so Haren-Centrum sits in the middle of the pack.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2019: €300,000 · 2020: €261,000 · 2021: €284,000 · 2022: €316,000 · 2023: €355,000 · 2024: €369,000 · 2025: €381,000
The direction of the market: between 2019 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €300,000 to €381,000, up 27% — slower than the city as a whole (+69%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 60% owner-occupied against 40% rental, including 12% 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, Haren-Centrum is one of the older neighborhoods in the city — seniors form the largest group (34% of its 1,185 residents), followed by 45-to-65 year olds at 24%. More than half of all households (56%) are single-person — this is a neighborhood of independents, not minivans. The average household counts 1.7 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: incomes lean modest — 46% of households are among the country's lower earners.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: groceries are a non-issue — 4 large supermarkets within a kilometer; there are about 11 cafés and restaurants within walking distance — enough choice without the crowds.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 5 min walk · GP 7 min · hospital 2.0 km · library 0.4 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 7 minutes on foot; daycare is well covered (5 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 5-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; a highway on-ramp 1.1 km away makes car trips easy — check whether through-traffic noise reaches the street you're considering; car ownership is moderate (0.9 per household).
Energy and running costs
Since 94% of the stock predates 2000, always check the energy label of a specific listing — the difference between label C and label F on an average home here is easily a few thousand euros a year in heating, and it changes what you can sensibly bid.
Before you bid in Haren-Centrum
Before you bid in Haren-Centrum: 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, with many older residents, more homes will come to market here over the coming years than the recent past suggests — patience can pay.
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 Haren-Centrum a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Haren-Centrum has no single strong profile — it scores mid-range for most buyer types. The average home value is €381,000 (13% pricier than most of Groningen) and the neighborhood has 1,185 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Haren-Centrum?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Haren-Centrum, Groningen is €381,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Haren-Centrum mostly owner-occupied or rental?
60% of homes in Haren-Centrum are owner-occupied and 40% are rentals, of which 12% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Haren-Centrum rising?
Between 2019 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Haren-Centrum rose from €300,000 to €381,000 (+27%); Groningen as a whole moved up 69% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Haren-Centrum?
94% of homes in Haren-Centrum 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 Haren-Centrum?
The average distance to a train station from Haren-Centrum is 1.3 km; a large supermarket is 0.2 km away on average.
Is Haren-Centrum an expensive part of Groningen?
Yes — homes in Haren-Centrum cost about 13% more than in most of Groningen, so budget for competition and possible overbidding.
Is Haren-Centrum good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.6 km away and there are 5 daycare locations within a kilometer. 16% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in Haren-Centrum?
Haren-Centrum 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 69% 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 Groningen
Closest in price — worth a look if Haren-Centrum is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU00141700) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.