Apartments for rent in Almere

Almere as an apartment market: new builds, water and a tight rental market

Almere is not a city that grew organically. It was designed, and you can see that in the supply. Apartments here are often in planned clusters around water, greenery or a city centre. This gives the supply a different character than in Amsterdam or Utrecht: fewer outdated porch flats, more new builds and recently built complexes with lifts and outdoor space. Yet, looking at all rental homes in Almere, it is not a spacious market. Demand is high, supply is limited, and those who wait lose out.

Apartments in Almere are suitable for starters, people who commute to Amsterdam (the train takes about 25 minutes) and dual-income earners who want to live in the Randstad without paying Randstad prices. The supply is mostly in the upper mid-range segment. Current figures can be found in the overview at the top of this page.

What you need to know before you respond

Renting an apartment in Almere requires preparation. A few things that make the difference:

• Respond quickly. Popular apartments are sometimes online for less than a day. Set up search alerts so you don't miss any listings.
• Use the Buurtje.nl app. The app is free and sends push notifications as soon as new listings appear that match your criteria. Available via the App Store and Google Play.
• Watch out for service charges. With apartments, on top of the base rent, there are often service charges for the lift, cleaning of communal areas and sometimes heating. Always ask for a breakdown. Landlords are legally required to provide one.
• Check the floor area. Banks look strictly at homes under 40m² for a possible purchase later, but also for renting: a too-small home can cause problems when applying for benefits or registering as a residential address.
• Check the energy label. Almere has many new builds, but also older complexes from the 1980s and 1990s. A poor energy label means higher heating costs. That counts towards your total housing costs.
• Ask about the VvE contribution. For owner-occupied apartments that are temporarily rented out, the owner pays VvE costs. These are sometimes passed on in the service charges. Check if this is reasonable and if there is a reserve fund.
• Registration with a housing association. Social rental apartments in Almere go through associations such as Ymere and GoedeStede. Registration time counts heavily. If you are not yet registered, do so now, even if you are not actively looking yet.

Price level and what determines the rent

Almere is in the upper mid-range segment for renting apartments. That is not cheap, but cheaper than comparable homes in Amsterdam or Haarlem. Current rents are shown in the overview at the top of this page.

Factors influencing the rent:

• Floor and view (water or greenery noticeably increases the price in Almere)
• Presence of a balcony, terrace or roof terrace
• Energy label and year of construction
• Distance to the NS station (Almere Centrum or Almere Buiten)
• Furnished or unfurnished versus bare
• Parking space included or not (scarce and expensive in some neighbourhoods)

Those considering buying later can also look at buying apartments in Almere to compare the rent-to-buy ratio.

Neighbourhoods worth checking out

Almere consists of several districts, each with its own character. Not every district has as many apartments, but the neighbourhoods below score well with residents and are worth exploring. More resident experiences and neighbourhood data can be found on the reviews and neighbourhood data of Almere.

• De Velden (9.4/10) — Quiet neighbourhood with lots of greenery, popular with families and people seeking peace close to amenities.
• Oosterwold (9.3/10) — Organically developed area with plenty of space. Less urban, but highly rated by residents.
• Waterwijk (9.0/10) — As the name suggests: water plays a major role here. Many homes and apartments border the water.
• Regenboogbuurt (8.6/10) — Colourful, diverse neighbourhood in Almere Haven, close to the IJmeer.
• Filmwijk (8.2/10) — Streets named after films, located close to the centre of Almere Buiten.

Also look outside Almere

If the supply in Almere disappoints or prices are too high, renting apartments in Lelystad is a realistic option. Lelystad is a short distance away and has its own rental market with a different price level. It is not a temporary alternative for everyone, but for those flexible on location, it is worth comparing.