Living in Burgemeestersbuurt
Burgemeestersbuurt is city living in its most compact form, and the housing is dominated by single-family houses (67%), which is what draws settlers rather than passers-through.
With 10,410 residents per km², you will know your streets are alive — and so will your ears; visit on a Friday evening before you commit.
Zaanstad offers Amsterdam-adjacent living at a discount along the Zaan river, with industrial heritage converting into housing and a 12-minute train into Amsterdam Centraal. It has absorbed many buyers priced out of the capital, and prices have followed.
The housing market in Burgemeestersbuurt
At €314,000 average WOZ value, Burgemeestersbuurt ranks 39 out of 46 Zaanstad neighborhoods on price — 15% below the city median, which makes it one of the more approachable entry points into the city. For scale: Zaanstad's cheapest buurt averages €258,000 and its most expensive €745,000, so Burgemeestersbuurt sits in the budget 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 2023 the average WOZ value here rose from €143,000 to €313,000, up 119% — slower than the city as a whole (+124%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 47% owner-occupied against 53% rental, including 38% 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, Burgemeestersbuurt is a young-adult neighborhood — the 25-to-45 group outnumbers everyone else (31% of its 6,775 residents), followed by 45-to-65 year olds at 26%. Households split into 44% singles and 33% families with children — a real mix rather than one lifestyle. The average household counts 2.0 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: incomes skew modest — 46% of households are in the lower national bracket; average income per resident is €29,000 a year.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: the nearest large supermarket is about 7 minutes' walk; with roughly 37 cafés and restaurants within a kilometer, you will never cook out of necessity.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 6 min walk · GP 10 min · hospital 2.2 km · library 1.7 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 6 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 an 8-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 (0.7 per household).
Energy and running costs
92% 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 Burgemeestersbuurt
Before you bid in Burgemeestersbuurt: much of Zaanstad 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, the price gap with the rest of Zaanstad is real, but so is the reason for it — walk the neighborhood at different times of day before committing.
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 Burgemeestersbuurt a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Burgemeestersbuurt suits first-time buyers, families with children and buyers after city buzz best; it's a weaker match for buyers after peace and space. The average home value is €314,000 (15% below the Zaanstad median) and the neighborhood has 6,775 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Burgemeestersbuurt?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Burgemeestersbuurt, Zaanstad is €314,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Burgemeestersbuurt mostly owner-occupied or rental?
47% of homes in Burgemeestersbuurt are owner-occupied and 53% are rentals, of which 38% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Burgemeestersbuurt rising?
Between 2015 and 2023 the average WOZ value in Burgemeestersbuurt rose from €143,000 to €313,000 (+119%); Zaanstad as a whole moved up 124% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Burgemeestersbuurt?
92% of homes in Burgemeestersbuurt were built before 2000 and 8% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Burgemeestersbuurt?
The average distance to a train station from Burgemeestersbuurt is 1.9 km; a large supermarket is 0.6 km away on average.
Is Burgemeestersbuurt an expensive part of Zaanstad?
No — average home values are 15% below the Zaanstad median, making it one of the more affordable parts of the city.
Is Burgemeestersbuurt good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 0.5 km away and there are 5 daycare locations within a kilometer. 33% of households here have children at home.
Similar neighborhoods in Zaanstad
Closest in price — worth a look if Burgemeestersbuurt is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (buurt BU04791130) · Data updated 2026-07-11. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.