Graaf Balderikstraat 164

In this neighbourhood you'll find cosy pubs, sports clubs, schools, an abundance of shops, a choice of almost every supermarket (except Jumbo). In the last few years, more and more students have come to live in and around the Zwart Janstraat (shopping street). That creates a lively atmosphere and occasionally some noise from parties, but I certainly don't mind it. It's a mix of various ethnicities, everyone is helpful and greets each other. A few years ago, the neighbourhood was really a mess, it seems to have improved a bit now, but you can't call it clean. The Zwart Janstraat was a Formula 1 circuit, but the municipality put a stop to that with extremely high thresholds and confusing one-way streets. Occasionally, some cars still race through the side streets with an enormous racket. I wouldn't let children play outside alone quickly, especially after dusk. There are sometimes unpredictable (sometimes addicted) individuals roaming around, especially past the Noordsingel around those small sports fields. My bike was stolen last year when I wasn't looking. Likewise, some other, more valuable belongings of residents. So watch your belongings. Crooswijk borders the Oude Noorden; this neighbourhood is often in the news in mid-2023 with bomb threats. I haven't seen or heard this kind of crime here, so I can't confirm that. All in all, a vibrant neighbourhood where you won't get bored with everything you need nearby. But with a slight ghetto feel (3 out of 10), that's how I would describe it to give you an idea ;).

Very noisy on the street at night, but there are also many parties in the houses. There should be more police patrols.

it's a very nice neighbourhood, everyone takes good care of each other and is there for each other.

Bergpolder has improved significantly in recent years. Many apartments have been renovated, there is an influx of nice new residents, and the location is ideal. You do notice a clear difference in lifestyle between the old and new residents, but that is not disturbing in itself. Gentrification is underway, following the surrounding neighbourhoods, but is somewhat controlled by the large stock of (social) rental homes in the area. The result is that you can literally meet anyone here, from yuppie to student to family to asylum seeker. Everyone lives together harmoniously, but within their own bubble. Houses are old, very old, so they often need some love if they haven't been renovated yet. But the location is perfect, and there are many beautiful inner gardens that compensate for the bare streets. Everything you need is within walking distance. I think the arrival of the Hofbogenpark will give the neighbourhood a further boost. The greenery is still a bit sparse in some places in the area.

Everyone feels at home and you can go anywhere.

Many individuals, little sense of community

This neighbourhood isn't perfect, because there are a lot of loitering youths at the swing set in front of my house, and they set off fireworks or make a lot of noise. The nice thing about this neighbourhood is that there are supermarkets within walking distance, so you can easily grab something quickly. It's not the safest neighbourhood you'll find, because a few months ago a scooter caught fire and someone was beaten up for no reason. In the Vijverhofstraat there is a school with only those kinds of children who ruin the neighbourhood for others, so a better school would help a lot.

Well, I was born here so I grew up with the neighbourhood as it is now.

The neighbourhood is improving more and more each year. Thanks to the rent law, there are fewer slumlords and more and more families. It sometimes still has a bad reputation, but that is undeserved except for a few streets. The location is fantastic, metro, Zuidplein, city centre a quarter of an hour by bike. Zuiderpark is also around the corner and soon the Nelson Mandela park.

The facilities and the apartment itself are nice. But around the building there is a lot of rubbish on the street and junkies.

It is and remains a village