How affordable are the suburbs of Amersfoort

In 2026, Amersfoort grew into one of the most popular residential cities in the central Netherlands. Its strategic location at the intersection of major railways and motorways makes the city a magnet for commuters from both Amsterdam and Utrecht. But with that popularity comes a price. Where the historic city center has now become inaccessible to many, home seekers are increasingly focusing on the suburbs.

The big question in January 2026 is: how affordable are neighborhoods like Vathorst, Hoogland and Kattenbroek really? In this article, we analyze the current state of the housing market on the edges of the Keistad.

Price developments in the suburbs (2026)

While the average transaction price in the entire municipality of Amersfoort hovered around €567,000 at the beginning of 2026, we see greater variation in the suburbs. The suburbs often offer more square footage for your money, but the “bargains” of yesteryear have become scarce here too.

• Vathorst: In this vinex location, which will still have small extensions in 2026, you now pay an average of between €625,000 and €670,000 for a modern family home of approximately 130 m². Newly built apartments in projects such as' Podium 'range from €340,000 for a studio to well over four tonnes for a three-room apartment.
• Schothorst and zielhorst: These neighborhoods from the 80s and 90s will be seen as the “affordable alternative” in 2026. Here you can still regularly find single-family homes with an asking price around €495,000. Although this is still a considerable amount for starters, the price per square meter is often lower here than in the newer parts of the city.

Rental market: Middle rent under pressure

For those who cannot (yet) buy, the suburbs of Amersfoort are the main suppliers of rental properties. In 2026, the impact of the Affordable Rent Act will be clearly visible.

The average rent for an apartment in the suburbs of Amersfoort was around €1,350 per month at the beginning of 2026. In the regulated mid-rental sector (for homes with sufficient points in the WWS system), prices are often between €880 and €1,150.

• Free sector: For larger single-family homes in the private sector, especially in Vathorst and Hooglanderveen, you should take into account rents starting at €1,850 per month.
• Social rent: Small-scale projects were recently completed in Hoogland (2025/2026) where the rent is around the first capping limit, which is essential for local livelihood security.

Highland: The village character at an urban price

Hoogland occupies a special position. Although officially a suburb of Amersfoort, it retains its own village identity. This makes the neighborhood extremely popular with families who seek peace and quiet but want to have the city's amenities close by.

Affordability in Hoogland will be under pressure in 2026 due to the limited flow. Because many seniors will continue to live in their spacious homes, the offer for starters in this part of the city is minimal. When a home becomes vacant, it is often still outbid by 10% to 12%, despite the stabilized market. The average meter price in Hoogland in 2026 is around €5,200, which is comparable to the better neighborhoods in Utrecht.

The hidden costs: Energy labels and sustainability

Those looking to the suburbs in 2026 should look beyond the asking price alone. This year, affordability is more defined than ever by monthly payments.

• Newer neighborhoods (Vathorst, Nieuwland): Homes built after 2000 often already have a favourable energy label (A or B). The higher purchase price is partly offset here by lower energy bills.
• Older suburbs (Schothorst, Liendert): Here, the purchase prices are lower, but buyers will more often be confronted with the need to become more sustainable in 2026. Although the municipality of Amersfoort offers subsidies, an investment in insulation or a heat pump is often necessary to make the home future-proof.

Preview: Building at the edges

The Amersfoort City Council has announced major plans for 2026 to improve affordability. Expansion at the edges of the city is being looked at, such as in the areas above the dark and along a railway line.

The goal is to create more “social housing” homes with a price ceiling of up to approximately €355,000, specifically intended for Amersfoorters who are now falling between chairs. Should this policy bear fruit in 2026 and 2027, the extreme pressure on the suburbs could ease slightly.

To summarize: Is it still affordable?

The suburbs of Amersfoort will be “relatively” affordable in 2026 compared to the Randstad, but the limit of affordability for the average Amersfoorter has been reached. For an amount under five tons, you now have to look carefully and be willing to invest in an older home.

However, if you appreciate the space and quality of a neighborhood like Vathorst or the village of Hoogland, you will still find a better balance between price and living environment in the suburbs than in the city center. The focus for 2026 is therefore not on finding a cheap home, but on finding a home with manageable monthly payments.