Living in Centrum
Centrum is quiet and low-density, and most of its 2,694 homes are houses rather than apartments — front doors, gardens, street parking.
With just 2,165 residents per km², this is space by Dutch standards.
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 Centrum
At €433,000 average WOZ value, Centrum ranks 28 out of 89 Zaanstad neighborhoods on price — 13% pricier than most of the city. You pay for the location here. For scale: Zaanstad's cheapest buurt averages €272,000 and its priciest €722,000, so Centrum sits in the middle of the pack.
Average WOZ value per year (CBS). The reference date lags the current market by ±1 year.
2015: €200,000 · 2016: €203,000 · 2017: €215,000 · 2018: €239,000 · 2019: €271,000 · 2020: €296,000 · 2021: €320,000 · 2022: €348,000 · 2023: €413,000 · 2024: €426,000 · 2025: €433,000
The direction of the market: between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value here rose from €200,000 to €433,000, up 117% — slower than the city as a whole (+161%). WOZ values lag the market by about a year, but the trend itself is reliable.
Ownership is split: 63% owner-occupied against 37% rental, including 33% 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, Centrum is dominated by established households in the 45-to-65 bracket (29% of its 6,055 residents), followed by over-65s at 23%. Households split into 32% singles and 38% families with children — a real mix rather than one lifestyle. The average household counts 2.2 people.
As for who your neighbors would be: incomes lean modest — 32% of households are among the country's lower earners; average income per resident is €32,000 a year.
Daily errands, coffee and dinner
Day to day: the nearest large supermarket is about 7 minutes' walk; dining out means a short trip: only 3 cafés or restaurants sit within a kilometer.
The practical checklist most buyers forget to make: pharmacy 10 min walk · GP 10 min · hospital 3.3 km · library 4.7 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 12 minutes on foot; daycare is well covered (2 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 14-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; the nearest highway on-ramp is 2.5 km away; households here average 1.2 cars, so assume driveways and parking are part of daily logistics.
Energy and running costs
Since 90% 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 Centrum
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 Centrum a good neighborhood to live in?
That depends on what you're looking for. Centrum suits buyers after peace and space best; it's a weaker match for first-time buyers and buyers after city buzz. The average home value is €433,000 (13% pricier than most of Zaanstad) and the neighborhood has 6,055 residents. Ultimately the specific street and home matter more than the neighborhood average.
What is the average home value in Centrum?
The average home value (WOZ waarde) in Centrum, Zaanstad is €433,000, based on the official CBS neighborhood statistics.
Is Centrum mostly owner-occupied or rental?
63% of homes in Centrum are owner-occupied and 37% are rentals, of which 33% of all homes are social housing (woningcorporatie).
Are house prices in Centrum rising?
Between 2015 and 2025 the average WOZ value in Centrum rose from €200,000 to €433,000 (+117%); Zaanstad as a whole moved up 161% over the same period. WOZ values lag the current market by about a year.
How old are the homes in Centrum?
90% of homes in Centrum were built before 2000 and 10% after. Older buildings can mean higher maintenance and energy costs — check the energy label before bidding.
How far is the nearest train station from Centrum?
The average distance to a train station from Centrum is 3.9 km; a large supermarket is 0.6 km away on average.
Is Centrum an expensive part of Zaanstad?
Yes — homes in Centrum cost about 13% more than in most of Zaanstad, so budget for competition and possible overbidding.
Is Centrum good for families with children?
The nearest primary school is 1.0 km away and there are 2 daycare locations within a kilometer. 38% of households here have children at home.
Is there foundation risk in Centrum?
Centrum is not in a designated foundation attention area; the soil here is Laagveengebied, which has adequate bearing capacity. Around 42% of homes predate 1970. According to the Klimaateffectatlas, the risk of pile rot in this neighbourhood is very low. A structural survey is still sensible for any older property.
Similar neighborhoods in Zaanstad
Closest in price — worth a look if Centrum is out of reach or you want alternatives.
Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten — latest complete release (buurt BU04797120) · Updated 2026-08-09. WOZ values are neighborhood averages; individual homes vary.