Much has been written about Amsterdam's best districts. This piece is about the other side: the districts whose own residents rate them lowest. Not to write them off. If you are thinking of moving there, you want to know what the neighbours miss, and what they actually appreciate.
Worth knowing up front: most districts below have three or four reviews. That is not many. One angry or very happy resident moves the score straight away. And no district in Amsterdam really sinks: the lowest stands at 5.7. A worst-rated district here is mainly one where residents see more room for improvement, not a place nobody wants to live.
The bottom ten
| District | Score | Reviews | Strongest | Weakest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slotervaart-Noord | 5.7 | 4 | greenery (6.5) | cleanliness (3.3) |
| De Aker | 6.1 | 3 | amenities (7.7) | cleanliness (4.3) |
| Overtoomse Veld | 6.2 | 3 | greenery (7.7) | cleanliness (3.7) |
| Slotermeer-Zuidoost | 6.2 | 3 | greenery (8.3) | amenities (4.0) |
| Zuid Pijp | 6.3 | 3 | accessibility (8.0) | greenery (4.7) |
| Sloterdijk Nieuw-West | 6.3 | 3 | education (7.5) | amenities (5.0) |
| Staatsliedenbuurt | 6.4 | 5 | community (7.6) | education (3.0) |
| Venserpolder | 6.4 | 4 | accessibility (7.3) | cleanliness (5.3) |
| Oude Pijp | 6.5 | 3 | accessibility (8.0) | housing (5.3) |
| Oostelijke Eilanden/Kadijken | 6.6 | 3 | education (8.5) | amenities (4.0) |
Two things stand out. Five of the ten are in Nieuw-West. And in seven of the ten, cleanliness or a lack of amenities is the weakest point. Residents rarely complain about their home or the location, but about litter, maintenance and shops.
Nieuw-West: green and well connected, but untidy
The lowest score in the city goes to Slotervaart-Noord: 5.7 from four reviews. Residents near the Lelylaan are happy with public transport, with tram, bus, metro and train all close by. The complaints are about the street itself: bulky waste left out, rats, paving slabs pushed up by tree roots. One resident actually tripped over them. Another describes trouble with next-door neighbours and a feeling that people live side by side rather than together. Cleanliness gets a 3.3. There are homes for sale and homes for rent in the district.
In De Aker (6.1, 3 reviews) we hear something similar. A long-time resident calls it a pleasant area that needs a makeover, one that has been postponed for twelve years. Residents keep their streets up as best they can themselves, the review says. Another is often bothered by youths and sees a lot of plastic on the street. Amenities and accessibility do score 7.7. On the market: homes for sale and homes for rent.
Overtoomse Veld (6.2, 3 reviews) gets the most level-headed review. Nieuw-West doesn't have a good name, one resident writes, partly deserved and partly not. Things sometimes happen that you'd rather not hear about, but walking through the area feels fine to them. Another has lived there a long time and is positive, but wants cleaner streets. Greenery scores 7.7, cleanliness 3.7. See the homes for sale or homes for rent.
Slotermeer-Zuidoost (6.2, 3 reviews) has the Sloterplas lake around the corner. Greenery and accessibility both get 8.3. One resident mentions courtyards with trees and finds it an affordable place for first-time buyers. But amenities (4.0) and safety (4.7) score low: the supermarket is a long walk, and another resident feels children on the street are not corrected enough. Homes for sale and homes for rent in Slotermeer-Zuidoost.
Finally Sloterdijk Nieuw-West (6.3, 3 reviews), a small residential area by Sloterdijk station. Here the location is both the advantage and the drawback. You can get anywhere fast, but hotels and bars around the station bring nuisance and there are hardly any supermarkets or chemists. A newcomer in a new-build home, on the other hand, finds it lovely and quiet. See the homes for sale and homes for rent.
De Pijp: much loved, but cramped and busy
De Pijp appearing twice may come as a surprise. Accessibility is good in both districts (8.0). The problem lies in the housing and the crowds. In Oude Pijp (6.5, 3 reviews) a resident describes small, poorly insulated homes with damp, more and more tourists, noise from bars and restaurants, and families with children moving away. Another has lived there for fifty years and simply calls it a friendly neighbourhood. There is a lot for sale and some for rent.
Zuid Pijp (6.3, 3 reviews) is divided. In the Diamantbuurt, one resident loves joining activities at the community centre and would never leave, if only the home were a bit bigger. Another misses parking spaces and friendly neighbours. Greenery gets a 4.7. See the homes for sale and homes for rent.
Three districts with potential
The Staatsliedenbuurt (6.4, 5 reviews) has the most reviews in the bottom ten, and the word that keeps coming back is potential. Residents praise the buildings from around 1910, the Westerpark around the corner and the mix of old and new residents. Community scores 7.6. At the same time, bikes aren't safe at night and education, at 3.0, is the lowest sub-score in this whole list. There are homes for sale and homes for rent available.
In Venserpolder in Zuidoost (6.4, 4 reviews) opinions differ the most. One resident mentions the community centre and the helpful staff there. Another has lived there for over six years, just bought a bigger flat in the same building and calls the area calm, green and evolving. One review is strongly negative. Cleanliness scores 5.3. See the homes for sale and homes for rent.
The Oostelijke Eilanden and Kadijken (6.6, 3 reviews) have water, two large playgrounds and a child-friendly feel. What's missing: amenities (4.0), street cleaning and enforcement on dog mess. Want to live here? See the homes for sale and homes for rent.
Just above: new-build is no guarantee
Directly above the bottom ten are two districts you might not expect: IJburg-Zuid (6.6, 7 reviews) and IJburg-West (6.7, 7 reviews). New homes, water and a beach, and still no high scores. Residents mention relying on a single tram line, few places to sit outside and a district that feels isolated in winter. One resident was bothered for years by low-frequency noise from shipping. Others are pleased with the supermarkets, the walking paths and the beach. See what's available in IJburg-Zuid and IJburg-West, or the homes for rent on IJburg-West.
What to take from this
On average, residents of Amsterdam rate their district 7.4 (258 reviews). Cleanliness is the lowest sub-score across the whole city, at 6.6. In the districts above the problem is bigger, but it is the same problem. If you view a home in one of these districts, walk down the street at different times of day and have a quick chat with the neighbours.
Scores come from residents' reviews on Buurtje.nl, as of October 2026, using the 2025 CBS district boundaries. Only districts with at least three reviews are included.
Browse all homes for sale and homes for rent in Amsterdam. Live in one of these districts and don't recognise the picture? Rate your neighbourhood; a few extra reviews can change the score considerably.
Also read which districts score highest in Amsterdam, how safety differs per district, and how things look in the lowest-rated districts of Rotterdam. Or see the best and worst districts in Apeldoorn.
