Living in Meeuwenbuurt
Meeuwenbuurt is densely built and genuinely urban, and the housing is dominated by single-family houses (80%), which is what draws settlers rather than passers-through.
With 12,535 residents per km², you will know your streets are alive — and so will your ears; visit on a Friday evening before you commit.
Haarlem is effectively Amsterdam's most beautiful suburb: historic streets, its own city identity, a 15-minute train into Amsterdam — and prices that reflect exactly that combination. Competition for period homes is intense.
The housing market in Meeuwenbuurt
At €475,000 average WOZ value, Meeuwenbuurt ranks 44 out of 96 Haarlem neighborhoods on price, almost exactly the city's midpoint. For scale: Haarlem's cheapest buurt averages €246,000 and its most expensive €1,227,000, so Meeuwenbuurt 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 2016 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €223,000 to €489,000, up 119% — slower than the city as a whole (+126%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 64% owner-occupied against 36% rental, including 30% 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, Meeuwenbuurt is dominated by established households in the 45-to-65 bracket (28% of its 1,170 residents), followed by 25-to-45 year olds at 27%. 46% of households have children at home, so expect school runs, playgrounds in use, and neighbors who stay put. The average household counts 2.3 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.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: groceries are a non-issue — 3 large supermarkets within a kilometer; there are about 13 cafés and restaurants within walking distance — enough choice without the crowds.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 5 min walk · GP 5 min · hospital 1.7 km · library 0.8 km · 1 cinema 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: 4 primary schools within a kilometer means real choice — and short bike rides; daycare is well covered (11 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 13-minute cycle, standard Dutch commuting range; a highway on-ramp 1.7 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
100% 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 Meeuwenbuurt
Before you bid in Meeuwenbuurt: much of Haarlem sits on soft soil, 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, 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 Meeuwenbuurt a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Meeuwenbuurt suits families with children best; it's a weaker match for buyers after peace and space. The average home value is €475,000 and the neighborhood has 1,170 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Meeuwenbuurt?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Meeuwenbuurt, Haarlem is €475,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Meeuwenbuurt mostly owner-occupied or rental?
64% of homes in Meeuwenbuurt are owner-occupied and 36% are rentals, of which 30% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Meeuwenbuurt rising?
Between 2016 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Meeuwenbuurt rose from €223,000 to €489,000 (+119%); Haarlem as a whole moved up 126% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Meeuwenbuurt?
100% of homes in Meeuwenbuurt were built before 2000 and 0% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Meeuwenbuurt?
The average distance to a train station from Meeuwenbuurt is 3.3 km; a large supermarket is 0.6 km away on average.
Is Meeuwenbuurt an expensive part of Haarlem?
It sits close to the Haarlem median: neither a premium neighborhood nor a bargain area.
Is Meeuwenbuurt good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.2 km away and there are 11 daycare locations within a kilometer. 46% of households here have children at home.
Similar neighborhoods in Haarlem
Closest in price — worth a look if Meeuwenbuurt is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (buurt BU03921402) · Data updated 2026-07-11. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.