Rental homes in Centrum, Groningen
Looking for a rental property in Centrum, Groningen? Check the current listings, compare rental prices, and read what residents think of this neighbourhood.
What does a rental property cost in the Centrum of Groningen?
The Centrum of Groningen is pre-eminently a tenant's market: 85% of the more than 13,400 homes are rental properties. Strikingly, only 25% of these are owned by housing associations, while as much as 59% are offered via private and commercial landlords. This makes the free sector dominant here. In the past twelve months, around 680 homes in the free sector have been rented out, at an average rent of €1,268 per month. The range varies from €390 to nearly €3,900, depending on size and location within the neighbourhood. The average home measures around 102 m². By comparison, the WOZ value is €280,000, slightly below the Groningen municipal average of €295,000. The average income of €25,700 is well below that of the municipality (€33,100), which is directly explained by the huge student population. Check the top of this page for current daily prices and available supply.
Student city with character: how residents experience the Centrum
With over 11,000 residents between the ages of 15 and 25, the Centrum of Groningen is unmistakably a student neighbourhood, but it is more than that. Residents give the neighbourhood a 7.8 out of 10 on Buurtje.nl, based on 27 reviews. Amenities score the highest with a 9.2, and that surprises no one: supermarkets, cafés, restaurants and shops are literally around the corner. Education scores an 8.6, logical with the university and UMCG within walking distance. Resident Ilse (9.1/10) sums it up succinctly: "Really great! All amenities are within walking distance, including a small park. You're right in the heart of the city centre. Nothing to complain about really."
Yet it is not all roses. The scores for green spaces (6.9) and cleanliness (7.1) show that residents are critical. Lykas (7.1/10) calls the neighbourhood "cosy and quiet", but notes that "there is often rubbish on the street". Ruben confirms this: "Just a bit lacking in green and not always clean." That is the reality of a densely populated city centre where thousands of revellers pour through the streets on Friday and Saturday nights. Around the Noorderplantsoen and the Hortusbuurt-Ebbingekwartier you will find more peace and green, while Binnenstad-Noord and Binnenstad-Oost are closer to the nightlife.
What residents do consistently appreciate is the multicultural, open atmosphere. Ria Wiardi (9.1/10) has lived there for years with pleasure: "Young and old live here. Cosy neighbourhood with many cafés and restaurants and you walk right into the city centre." The community score of 7.2 shows that real neighbourhood cohesion is limited, which fits a neighbourhood with a high turnover of students and young professionals. Read more experiences on the neighbourhood page of Centrum, where all resident reviews and detailed neighbourhood data are available. The municipality of Groningen is investing heavily in the liveability of the centre, including through making streets car-free and greening squares.
Renting in Centrum: for whom and for whom not?
Renting a home in Centrum suits students, starters and singles who want to be in the middle of city life. With 16,185 single-person households and only 9% married couples, this is not a family neighbourhood. The limited green space and nightlife make it less suitable if you are looking for peace and a garden. Families with children are often better off in the quieter neighbourhood Oud-Zuid or the Oosterparkwijk. Do you want to rent an apartment in Centrum but find the free sector too expensive? Keep in mind that waiting times for social housing in Groningen are long. If you prefer to buy, you can view the supply of homes for sale in Centrum, although with only 15% owner-occupied homes, it is limited.
Searching for a rental property in the Centrum of Groningen
On this page you will find the current supply of rental properties in Centrum, supplemented with resident reviews and neighbourhood statistics via Buurtje.nl. Use the filters to search by price, size or energy label. Is there little available in the Centrum at the moment? Then also check what is for rent in the adjacent Oud-West or Oud-Noord, or view the full overview of rental properties in all of Groningen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent for a rental house in Centrum, Groningen?
In the free sector (excluding social housing), the average rent over the past year was €1,268 per month, with an average area of 102 m². Prices range from €390 to nearly €3,900 per month, depending on size and location within Centrum.
Is Centrum in Groningen a safe neighbourhood to live in?
Residents rate safety in Centrum at 8.0 out of 10 based on 27 reviews. That is a decent score for a city centre. However, it is busier and messier around nightlife evenings, especially in Binnenstad-Noord and around the Grote Markt.
How long is the waiting time for social housing in Centrum, Groningen?
Waiting times for a social housing property in Centrum, Groningen can run up to several years. Only 25% of the housing stock is owned by housing associations, while demand is huge due to the large student population. Registering with housing associations such as Lefier or Nijestee is essential if you want to be eligible.
Is it easy to rent a home in Centrum as a starter or student?
Centrum is popular among starters and students, so competition is fierce. Over 85% of homes are rental and 59% are in the free sector, but supply moves quickly. Make sure you have your documents (income statement, employer's statement) ready. The average income in the neighbourhood is €25,700, indicating that many residents have a more modest budget.
How accessible is Centrum in Groningen by public transport?
Accessibility scores a 7.7 among residents. The Stationsgebied lies on the edge of Centrum and offers trains to Leeuwarden, Zwolle and the Randstad. Several bus lines stop in the neighbourhood. Most residents cycle: Groningen is par excellence a cycling city and from Centrum you can reach almost everything within ten minutes.
People are friendly, I enjoy living here.
Auto-translated to English by AIActually, everything is just fine. There are several eateries in the neighbourhood, supermarkets are close by, bus stops, you can park your bike easily, and with the city beach there is also a beautiful and well-known green area.
Auto-translated to English by AIThis is a test experience with the neighbourhood that is long enough to meet the minimum length requirements for a good review.
Auto-translated to English by AIReally great! All amenities are within walking distance, including a small park. You're in the city centre in no time. Nothing to complain about really
Auto-translated to English by AIYoung and old live here. Lively neighbourhood with many cafes and restaurants and you can walk into the city centre in no time.
Auto-translated to English by AII have really enjoyed living here from the start. Young and old live here and it is very green. You can easily walk into the city centre and there are many eateries in the area.
Auto-translated to English by AIThe neighbourhood is cosy and quiet. The park is easily accessible and the people in the area are friendly, but there is often litter on the streets, which is a shame.
Auto-translated to English by AII personally experience little cohesion in the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, it is a cosy spot, lots of nice houses, easily accessible. Just a bit lacking in green & not always very clean.
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