Homes for sale in Emmen
View the current supply of homes for sale in Emmen, including neighbourhood scores and resident reviews per district. Find a home that suits you.
Buying a house in Emmen: the housing market in 2026
With over 109,000 residents, Emmen is the largest municipality in Drenthe and has a character you won't find anywhere else in the province. It's not a typical Drenthe village, but a sprawling municipality with an urban centre, surrounded by peat-colony villages, forests and the famous Wildlands Adventure Zoo. Major employers such as Teijin Aramid, Scheper Hospital and the regional government provide employment, although the labour participation rate of 60% is below the national average. Accessibility via the N34 and N37 is good for the region, but a direct train connection to the Randstad is lacking. This depresses house prices, making Emmen particularly attractive for buyers who want more space for less money.
Of the more than 50,000 homes in the municipality, 62% are owner-occupied. The average WOZ value is €240,000, while the average selling price over the past year was €367,268. That difference shows the market is moving. 725 homes were sold, ranging from €145,000 to €1,500,000, with an average living area of 138 m². For current asking prices and selling times, you can consult the overview at the top of this page. Buurtje.nl bundles listings from more than 1,500 sources and adds neighbourhood scores and resident reviews, so you don't just find a house but also the right neighbourhood.
The best neighbourhoods to buy a house in Emmen
The municipality of Emmen has dozens of neighbourhoods and villages, from the compact city centre to rural settlements like Barger-Compascuum and Erica. Each neighbourhood has its own atmosphere, price level and type of resident. Below are the most relevant neighbourhoods for buyers, including the neighbourhood scores given by residents on Buurtje.nl.
Emmen-Centrum Oost, quiet living close to the centre
This part of the centre combines proximity to shops, restaurants and Rensenpark with a relatively quiet living environment. Residents give this neighbourhood a remarkable 10.0 neighbourhood score, although that is based on one review. The housing supply consists of a mix of apartments and terraced houses, and prices are slightly above the municipal average due to the central location. For starters who want to buy an apartment in Emmen, this is a logical place to start. View the listings in Emmen-Centrum Oost.
Emmerhout, affordable family neighbourhood with lots of greenery
Emmerhout is a typical 1970s neighbourhood south of the centre, built according to the Emmen model with lots of greenery and separated traffic flows. The neighbourhood scores an 8.1 from residents based on 3 reviews. One resident writes: "Lots of greenery, quiet streets and very affordable for families." House prices here are below the municipal average, making Emmerhout interesting for starters and young families. There are primary schools, a shopping centre and good bus connections. View homes for sale in Emmerhout.
Kern Emmen Noord, popular among movers
North of the centre you'll find a varied residential area with both older and newer homes. Residents rate the neighbourhood a 9.6 and cite the combination of amenities and tranquillity as strong points. Prices are around or slightly above the average of €367,268, depending on the type of home. Movers looking for a larger home with a garden will find good options here. Discover the available homes in Kern Emmen Noord.
Barger-Compascuum, village living with space
This peat-colony village in the east of the municipality is the place for those who really want space. With a neighbourhood score of 9.9, residents are very positive, although that is based on one review. Here you can buy detached homes and semi-detached houses at prices well below the municipal average. The downside: amenities are more limited and you are dependent on the car. View the housing supply in Barger-Compascuum.
In addition to these neighbourhoods, there are more options. Bargeres (neighbourhood score 7.4) is an affordable neighbourhood with its own shopping centre, but residents mention social cohesion as a point of attention. Delftlanden is a new-build neighbourhood popular with young families, and in Angelslo (neighbourhood score 5.1) you'll find the lowest entry prices, although resident satisfaction there is noticeably lower. For a complete overview of all reviews, you can visit the municipality page of Emmen.
What to look out for when buying a home in Emmen?
Firstly: look carefully at the neighbourhood. The differences in Emmen are large. A home in Barger-Compascuum is a very different choice from an apartment in the centre. Use the neighbourhood scores and reviews to determine which atmosphere suits you. Between the best and worst-rated neighbourhoods there is almost 5 points difference.
Secondly: take market conditions into account. The average selling price of €367,268 is well above the WOZ value, indicating a market where buyers are willing to pay more. Get good advice on a realistic bid. The municipality of Emmen offers information on its website about construction plans and zoning plans that can affect the value of your home.
Thirdly: bear in mind that amenities vary greatly per neighbourhood. In the centre and Emmerhout you have everything within walking distance, but in the outlying areas you are dependent on the car. The Qbuzz bus network covers the main routes, but in the evenings and at weekends the frequency is limited.
Finally: compare neighbourhoods on Buurtje.nl before planning a viewing. The neighbourhood scores, resident reviews and neighbourhood data help you assess not just the house but also the surroundings. And also consider renting a home in Emmen if the buying market proves too tight or if you want to get to know the municipality first.
What residents say about living in Emmen
Residents rate Emmen an average of 8.1 based on 34 reviews. The highest sub-score goes to greenery (8.8), which is not surprising for a municipality that borders the Bargerveen and is intersected by forests and parks. Accessibility scores an 8.3, safety an 8.0 and community spirit a 7.6. A resident of Emmerhout says: "You have everything you need here and nature literally starts at the end of the street." The best-rated neighbourhoods are Emmen-Centrum Oost (10.0) and Barger-Compascuum (9.9). Read all reviews of Emmen to get a complete picture.
Homes for sale near Emmen
Looking wider than just Emmen? The surrounding municipalities also offer interesting opportunities. In Borger-Odoorn you'll find rural living at lower prices. Coevorden has a historic centre with its own housing market. To the north, Aa en Hunze is popular for the Drenthe village life, while Hoogeveen is a good alternative with more train connections. The provincial capital Assen is also within driving distance.
View the current supply of homes for sale in Emmen
At the top of this page you'll find the complete overview of homes for sale in Emmen, updated daily from more than 1,500 sources. Use the filters to search by price, area or energy label. With each home you'll immediately see the neighbourhood score and neighbourhood information, so you know right away what to expect from the surroundings. This way you'll not only find a house, but also a neighbourhood that suits you.
Frequently asked questions
How many homes for sale are there in Emmen?
The current number of homes for sale in Emmen changes daily. At the top of this page you can see the current supply, aggregated from more than 1,500 sources. In the past year, 725 homes were sold in the municipality.
What does a home cost in Emmen?
The average selling price in Emmen over the past year was €367,268, with a range from €145,000 to €1,500,000. Differences per neighbourhood are large: in Angelslo and Bargeres prices are lower, while in Kern Emmen Noord and the centre you pay more.
What is the average price per square metre in Emmen?
Based on an average selling price of €367,268 and an average living area of 138 m², the price per square metre comes to approximately €2,662. This varies per neighbourhood and type of home. Apartments generally have a higher m² price than detached houses.
How long does a home stay on the market on average in Emmen?
The current average time on market can be found at the top of this page. Emmen is not an overheated market like the Randstad, but popular neighbourhoods such as Kern Emmen Noord and Emmerhout do have shorter selling times. In the outlying areas, homes sometimes stay on the market a bit longer.
Which neighbourhoods in Emmen are the most popular for buying a home?
Based on neighbourhood scores, Emmen-Centrum Oost (10.0), Barger-Compascuum (9.9) and Kern Emmen Noord (9.6) score highest. Emmen-Centrum Oost is popular among first-time buyers, Barger-Compascuum among people looking for space, and Kern Emmen Noord among movers who want to live close to amenities.
Is Emmen a good place to buy a home?
Emmen offers plenty of living space for relatively low prices compared to the rest of the Netherlands. The WOZ value is €240,000 and residents give the municipality a score of 8.1. Strong points are the greenery (8.8) and accessibility within the region (8.3). Points for attention are the limited train connections and a labour participation rate of 60%.
What are the additional costs when buying a home in Emmen?
Expect 4 to 6% on top of the purchase price. This includes transfer tax (2%, or 0% with the first-time buyer exemption for buyers under 35 for homes up to €510,000), notary costs, valuation costs and possibly estate agent fees. With an average purchase price of €367,268, this amounts to approximately €15,000 to €22,000 in additional costs.
What about the accessibility of Emmen?
Emmen is easily accessible via the N34 towards Coevorden and Assen, and the N37 towards Hoogeveen. There is a train station with connections to Zwolle, but a direct line to Groningen or the Randstad is lacking. Within the municipality, Qbuzz buses run, although frequency outside peak hours is limited. A car is advisable in most neighbourhoods.
Can I search for homes for sale per neighbourhood in Emmen?
Yes, on this page you can filter by neighbourhood. In addition, each neighbourhood in Emmen has its own page with the local housing supply, neighbourhood scores and resident reviews. This allows you to search specifically in neighbourhoods such as Emmerhout, Kern Emmen Noord or Delftlanden.
How many homes are there in total in Emmen?
The municipality of Emmen has 50,332 homes. Of these, 62% are owner-occupied and 38% are rental homes. Of the rental homes, 28% are owned by housing corporations. The average household in Emmen is a single-person household (18,116 households), followed by families and couples.
There's nothing to do. Everything is super expensive in the shops. There's a doctor, pharmacy and bakery. But there's nothing for teenagers to do. Only the spot (cafe), football field, cafe. No activities or workshops for 18 years and older. The street is well lit but behind our house there's an alley and you can't see anything at all. There are a lot of drunk people. There are no neighbourhood parties. Neighbours make a lot of noise at 3am.
Auto-translated to English by AIWonderfully enjoyable place to live
Auto-translated to English by AIGood neighbours, mostly young people with children, also 2 schools, small neighbourhood shop, easily accessible doctor's practice and pharmacy. This is Zwartemeer where I and my husband live. I also live conveniently close to work within walking distance of the clients.
Auto-translated to English by AINice cosy neighbourhood, everyone welcome and not unfriendly
Auto-translated to English by AILook, it could be a lot better, but I still have to say it's a great neighbourhood. Every city has its less pleasant spots where you don't want to walk alone. In terms of schools, it's very well organised for every level and age – it's just good here! Many schools to choose from. Also for further education, it's very good here! Furthermore, the shops are excellent!
Auto-translated to English by AIWe are friendly neighbours
Auto-translated to English by AIa very good neighbourhood
Auto-translated to English by AII'm not much of a neighbourhood person. Usually the neighbours are young people and we are already at a certain age. Good accessibility by car, safe for children, really a lot of green space, the nearest piece of land
Auto-translated to English by AI
