Rental homes in Harlingen

Renting a home in Harlingen: a port city with a compact rental market

Harlingen is the only true port city in Friesland, with a historic city centre full of warehouses, canals and a direct connection to Terschelling and Vlieland. Of the more than 8,000 homes in the municipality, 44% are rental properties. About 32% of the total housing stock is owned by housing associations (mainly Accolade), while around 12% is offered by private landlords and investors. This makes the free sector relatively small. In the past twelve months, 48 homes were rented out in the free sector, at an average rent of €1,152 per month. The range varied from €500 to €1,650, with an average floor area of 99 m². Looking for the current daily price and available supply? Check the overview at the top of this page. Comparing Harlingen with neighbouring municipality Leeuwarden, the supply here is much smaller, but prices are generally lower and you live closer to the water.

The labour participation rate in Harlingen is 61%, and the average disposable income is €31,500. Major employers can be found at the port (Royal Bodewes Shipyard, the fish auction), the chemical industry (ESD-SIC) and the healthcare sector. Harlingen Haven train station takes you to Leeuwarden in just over half an hour, and via the A31 you are quickly on the motorway towards Heerenveen or the Afsluitdijk. This also makes the city suitable for people who work elsewhere in Friesland but want to live by the sea.

Neighbourhoods and districts: where do you want to rent in Harlingen?

The municipality of Harlingen is compact. The majority of the housing supply is in the core of Harlingen itself, but there are also two smaller villages: Midlum and Wijnaldum. Each place has its own character, and the choice depends heavily on what you are looking for.

Harlingen city centre, the heart by the harbour

The city centre of Harlingen revolves around the Noorderhaven and Zuiderhaven, two of the most beautiful harbour canals in the Northern Netherlands. Here you will find apartments in former warehouses, but also upstairs flats above shops on the Voorstraat. The core scores a 7.4 from residents on Buurtje.nl. Notably: education scores a strong 8.5 and safety (8.0) and housing (8.0) are also highly rated. The score for green space is the lowest at 4.8, which is logical for a compact city centre where stone and water dominate. One resident describes the sense of community as strong and gives accessibility a 7.8, which makes sense: the station is within walking distance of the centre. If you are considering renting an apartment in Harlingen, the city centre is where most free-sector supply appears. Think rents between €700 and €1,200 for a two- to three-room home.

Midlum and Wijnaldum, village living near the city

Just outside the city lie the villages of Midlum and Wijnaldum. Midlum is a terp village a few minutes' bike ride from the centre, popular with families who want space but still use Harlingen's amenities. Wijnaldum lies a bit further north, towards the Wadden coast, and is even smaller and quieter. In both villages, the rental supply is limited: when something becomes available, it is usually single-family homes through the housing association. Free-sector rental houses are rare here, so you need to be quick. The advantage: you have more green space around you than in the core and the community is close-knit.

Want to know more about how residents experience their neighbourhood? On the municipality page for Harlingen you will find all reviews and scores per category. This gives an honest picture of what to expect.

Who is renting in Harlingen suitable for?

Harlingen attracts a specific type of tenant. The largest age group in the municipality is 45 to 65 years old, and almost 40% of households are single-person. This is reflected in the rental market: there is demand for compact homes for singles and seniors, but also for family homes in the suburbs. Starters looking for a rental home are best off registering with housing association Accolade for social housing, because with an income up to around €44,000 you qualify there. Waiting times are shorter than in the Randstad, but expect at least a year for a popular location. If you have a higher income, you are dependent on the free sector. With an average of 48 transactions per year, supply is limited, so prepare your documents (employer's statement, payslips, ID) and respond on the same day.

Are you looking for more space or want to invest in your own home? Also check out the homes for sale in Harlingen. The average WOZ value of €237,000 makes buying here much more affordable than in many other parts of the Netherlands. For those who find Harlingen too small or want more urban amenities, a rental home in Heerenveen or the supply in De Fryske Marren is worth a look. More information about living and moving can also be found on the website of the municipality of Harlingen.

Searching for rental homes in Harlingen via neighbourhood scores and reviews

On Buurtje.nl you combine the current rental supply with real resident reviews and neighbourhood data, so you not only find a home but also the neighbourhood that suits you. View the available rental homes at the top of this page, compare neighbourhoods on safety, accessibility and amenities, and read what current residents write. Looking more broadly in Friesland? Also check out rental homes in Achtkarspelen or on Ameland, or view the overview on the page of the province of Fryslân.