Living in Sterrenbuurt
Sterrenbuurt is city living in its most compact form, and the housing is dominated by single-family houses (93%), which is what draws settlers rather than passers-through.
At 8,007 residents per km² the buurt is busy without being packed.
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 Sterrenbuurt
The average home value (WOZ) in Sterrenbuurt is €616,000, which puts it at #24 of 96 neighborhoods in Haarlem — 27% pricier than most of the city. That premium is the location speaking. For scale: Haarlem's cheapest buurt averages €263,000 and its priciest €1,309,000, so Sterrenbuurt sits among the city's pricier neighbourhoods.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2016: €281,000 · 2017: €330,000 · 2018: €370,000 · 2019: €413,000 · 2020: €431,000 · 2021: €464,000 · 2022: €500,000 · 2023: €581,000 · 2024: €590,000 · 2025: €616,000
The direction of the market: between 2016 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €281,000 to €616,000, 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: 62% owner-occupied against 38% rental, including 36% 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, Sterrenbuurt is dominated by established households in the 45-to-65 bracket (29% of its 1,530 residents), followed by children under 15 at 23%. 48% 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: 37% of households are among the country's highest earners — which helps explain both the café density and the bidding behavior.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: the nearest large supermarket is about 6 minutes' walk; dining out means a short trip: only 4 cafés or restaurants sit within a kilometer.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 10 min walk · GP 4 min · hospital 3.0 km · library 1.1 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: the nearest primary school is 7 minutes on foot; daycare is well covered (4 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 1-minute bike ride, which Dutch teenagers do in all weather.
Getting around
Getting around: the station is a 9-minute cycle, standard Dutch commuting range; a highway on-ramp 0.5 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 100% 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 Sterrenbuurt
Before you bid in Sterrenbuurt: 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, in a premium buurt the risk isn't buying a bad home, it's overpaying for a good one — anchor your bid on recent sales of comparable homes, not on the asking price. Beyond that, 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 Sterrenbuurt a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Sterrenbuurt suits families with children best; it's a weaker match for first-time buyers and buyers after peace and space. The average home value is €616,000 (27% pricier than most of Haarlem) and the neighborhood has 1,530 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Sterrenbuurt?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Sterrenbuurt, Haarlem is €616,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Sterrenbuurt mostly owner-occupied or rental?
62% of homes in Sterrenbuurt are owner-occupied and 38% are rentals, of which 36% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Sterrenbuurt rising?
Between 2016 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Sterrenbuurt rose from €281,000 to €616,000 (+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 Sterrenbuurt?
100% of homes in Sterrenbuurt 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 Sterrenbuurt?
The average distance to a train station from Sterrenbuurt is 2.3 km; a large supermarket is 0.5 km away on average.
Is Sterrenbuurt an expensive part of Haarlem?
Yes — homes in Sterrenbuurt cost about 27% more than in most of Haarlem, so budget for competition and possible overbidding.
Is Sterrenbuurt good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.6 km away and there are 4 daycare locations within a kilometer. 48% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in Sterrenbuurt?
Sterrenbuurt 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 93% 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 Haarlem
Closest in price — worth a look if Sterrenbuurt is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU03921307) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.