Rental homes in Burgwallen-Oost, Amsterdam
Check the current rental property supply in Burgwallen-Oost and discover if this historic Amsterdam neighbourhood near Nieuwmarkt suits you.
Rental prices and market figures for Burgwallen-Oost, Amsterdam
Burgwallen-Oost is a neighbourhood where almost everyone rents: 83% of the more than 1,024 homes are rental properties. Only 17% are owner-occupied. Notably, the majority of rental supply is in the hands of private and commercial landlords (74%), while only 9% is owned by housing associations. This means social housing is extremely scarce here, and most of the supply falls in the free-market sector.
In the free-market sector (excluding social housing), the average rent over the past twelve months was €3,575 per month, with a range of €1,680 to €12,000. With an average floor area of 84 m², this works out to around €42.50 per square metre. That is steep, even by Amsterdam standards. The average WOZ value in Burgwallen-Oost is €549,000, slightly lower than the district average of Burgwallen-Oude Zijde (€557,000), but higher than the Amsterdam average of €517,000. The average income of €33,800 is strikingly low compared to the municipality of Amsterdam (€44,276), which makes the tension in the rental market here extra palpable. At the top of this page, see the current overview of available rental properties and daily prices.
Living in Burgwallen-Oost, Amsterdam
Burgwallen-Oost is the historic heart of Amsterdam, wedged between the Zeedijk, the Kloveniersburgwal, the Nieuwmarkt and the Oude Schans. This is no ordinary residential neighbourhood. You live here in the midst of a mix of centuries-old canal houses, narrow alleys, busy restaurant streets and the infamous Red Light District. The homes are mostly apartments in monumental buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries, often with steep stairs, high ceilings and no lift. New-build is rare here. Expect cramped layouts, but plenty of character.
The atmosphere varies greatly by street. On the Zeedijk and around the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, it is lively (and noisy) in the evenings and at night, while the Kloveniersburgwal and the Oude Schans feel surprisingly quiet. During the day, the Nieuwmarkt is the beating heart: a wide square with terraces, the Waag and a biological market on Saturdays. The neighbourhood attracts many tourists, but there is also a close-knit core of permanent residents who love the raw, unpolished urban dynamics.
Shops, dining and facilities in the neighbourhood
For daily groceries, you are within walking distance of an Albert Heijn on the Nieuwmarkt and a Dirk van den Broek on the Nieuwmarkt/Kloveniersburgwal. On the Zeedijk, you will find dozens of restaurants, from Chinese and Thai to Italian and Surinamese. For larger supermarkets or specific shops, you can walk to Waterlooplein or Kalverstraat in five minutes. GPs and pharmacies are in the immediate vicinity, and primary school De Witte Olifant on the Nieuwe Prinsengracht is within cycling distance. For secondary schools and sports facilities, you need to look a bit further, towards the Marineterrein or the Eastern Islands. The Marineterrein itself is a nice green walking area that is increasingly opening up to residents. There are hardly any parks in the neighbourhood itself; the Wertheimpark and the Hortus Botanicus (just outside the neighbourhood) are the nearest green spaces.
Accessibility of Burgwallen-Oost
Accessibility is excellent. Nieuwmarkt metro station (lines 51/53/54) is literally in the neighbourhood and takes you to Amsterdam Central or Amstel Station in ten minutes. Tram lines on the Damrak and Prins Hendrikkade are a five-minute walk away. Amsterdam Central Station can be reached on foot in less than ten minutes. By bike, you are within a quarter of an hour in De Pijp, the Jordaan or Oost. Driving and parking is another story: parking permits are scarce and expensive, and the narrow streets are not designed for car traffic. If you have a car, you will quickly pay more than €7 per hour for street parking. More information about parking permits can be found on the website of the municipality of Amsterdam.
Residents of Burgwallen-Oost are usually honest about the downsides: noise pollution, crowds due to tourism and sometimes a feeling of unsafety on certain streets around the Red Light District. One resident writes: "You have to be able to handle the hustle and bustle, but if you can, it's the most beautiful place in Amsterdam. The Nieuwmarkt on a summer morning is priceless." Read more experiences on the neighbourhood page of Burgwallen-Oost, where residents share their scores and reviews.
Compared to adjacent neighbourhoods such as Oude Kerk en omgeving or Kop Zeedijk, Burgwallen-Oost is slightly more varied in terms of housing types. Kop Zeedijk is more compact and even more tourist-oriented, while Nes en omgeving leans more towards the theatre district and is slightly quieter in the evenings.
Who is a rental property in Burgwallen-Oost interesting for?
With 820 single-person households out of 1,675 residents, this is clearly a neighbourhood for singles. The largest age group is 25 to 45 years (805 people), and 55% of residents are highly educated. Expats, young professionals and students with a higher budget feel at home here. For families with children, the neighbourhood is less suitable: little play space, limited schools in the immediate vicinity and the proximity of the red-light district. Seniors do live here, but the steep stairs in old buildings are a practical obstacle.
Anyone looking for a rental home in Burgwallen-Oost must act quickly. With only 14 rented properties in the free-market sector in the past year, supply is limited. Make sure you have your income statement, employer's declaration and identity document ready. For social housing, you can register via WoningNet, but expect years of waiting time given the low housing association ownership of 9%. Are you also considering a home for sale? Then check the supply of homes for sale in Burgwallen-Oost.
What residents say about Burgwallen-Oost
On Buurtje.nl, residents rate their neighbourhood on categories such as safety, facilities, accessibility and atmosphere. The scores for Burgwallen-Oost show a typical picture: accessibility and facilities score high, while safety and peace score lower. One reviewer sums it up aptly: "Living on the most beautiful canal in Amsterdam, but you have to be able to handle noise and hordes of tourists." Curious about all the reviews? Check the reviews and neighbourhood data of Burgwallen-Oost for the complete picture.
Renting in Burgwallen-Oost compared to surrounding neighbourhoods
Are you unsure whether Burgwallen-Oost is the right neighbourhood? Then compare with surrounding options. BG-terrein en omgeving offers a bit more peace due to the proximity of university buildings, while the Grachtengordel-West has similar rental prices but a more elegant, quieter streetscape. Those looking for an apartment to rent in a slightly more affordable part of the centre can also look at Burgwallen-Nieuwe Zijde or the broader supply of rental properties in Amsterdam. On Buurtje.nl, you can compare neighbourhood scores, resident reviews and rental prices based on more than 1,500 sources, so you can rent a home in a place that truly suits you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Burgwallen-Oost, Amsterdam?
The average rent in the free sector in Burgwallen-Oost is €3,575 per month, based on the past 12 months. The range runs from €1,680 to €12,000 per month, with an average area of 84 m² (approximately €42.50/m²). Social housing is significantly cheaper, but with only 9% housing association ownership, supply is very limited.
Are there social housing properties in Burgwallen-Oost?
Yes, but supply is small. Only 9% of homes in Burgwallen-Oost are owned by housing associations. The vast majority (74%) is owned by private landlords. For social housing, you can register via WoningNet, but expect waiting times of several years. The chance of getting a social housing property in this neighbourhood is therefore low.
What is it like to live in Burgwallen-Oost?
Living in Burgwallen-Oost means living in the historic heart of Amsterdam, near the Nieuwmarkt and the Zeedijk. It is lively, culturally diverse and well-connected. Residents appreciate the amenities and central location, but mention noise pollution and crowds due to tourism as drawbacks. The neighbourhood is most suitable for people who enjoy city life.
Is Burgwallen-Oost suitable for singles and young professionals?
Yes, the neighbourhood is particularly suitable for singles. Of the approximately 1,675 residents, 820 live in single-person households. The largest age group is 25 to 45 years old and 55% are highly educated. Rents in the free sector are high, so you need an above-average income. The neighbourhood is less suitable for families with children.
How accessible is Burgwallen-Oost?
Excellent. Nieuwmarkt metro station is nearby and Amsterdam Central Station is less than a 10-minute walk away. By bike, you can reach almost any part of the city centre within a quarter of an hour. Parking by car is expensive and difficult: permits are scarce and street parking costs more than €7 per hour.
What amenities are there in Burgwallen-Oost?
Within walking distance you will find supermarkets such as Albert Heijn and Dirk van den Broek near the Nieuwmarkt. The Zeedijk offers dozens of restaurants and cafés. GPs and pharmacies are nearby. Green space is limited, but the Wertheimpark and the Hortus Botanicus are a few minutes away by bike. For schools and sports facilities, you need to go a bit further out of the neighbourhood.
How quickly are rental properties let in Burgwallen-Oost?
Supply in Burgwallen-Oost is very limited: only 14 properties in the free sector have been let in the past year. Properties that become available therefore go quickly. Make sure you have documents such as proof of income and employer's statement ready immediately if you want to rent a home in this neighbourhood. See the current letting time at the top of the page.
