How budget-friendly are the neighborhoods in Dordrecht?

Dordrecht, Holland's oldest city, will find itself in a fascinating split in 2026. On the one hand, the municipality is struggling with a substantial budget gap of 15.5 million euros due to national austerity, leading to more frugal green maintenance and the delay of some physical projects. On the other hand, “Dordt” remains one of the most strategic and relatively affordable places in the Randstad. While the average home price in neighboring municipalities such as hendrik-ido-ambacht shoots towards five tons, the average in Dordrecht at the beginning of 2026 will be around €380,000.

For the budget-conscious buyer or tenant, dordrecht is therefore still one of the best options in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region. But one neighborhood isn't the other. We'll dive into the neighborhoods where you'll get the most “square meters for your euro” in 2026.

Wielwijk and crabbehof: The champions of affordability

When we look at the WOZ values and current sales prices in 2026, wielwijk and crabbehof remain the most accessible neighborhoods for starters and lower incomes.

• Hard numbers: The average home value in Wielwijk was around €260,000 at the beginning of 2026, which is significantly lower than the citywide average.
• Innovation: Don't let the low prices fool you; these neighborhoods are undergoing a huge transformation. Many outdated portico flats have made way for modern, energy-efficient single-family homes. As a result, you often get a home with a favourable energy label in these neighborhoods at a price that is unthinkable elsewhere in the city.
• Rental sector: In these neighborhoods, the share of social rent is high. As of 1 July 2026, the maximum rent increase in the social sector was set at 4.1%, which is relatively favourable compared to the free sector.

Oud-Krispijn: Historic and accessible

Oud-Krispijn is a neighborhood with a raw edge, but also with an enormous amount of character and a very central location. For those who want to live close to the central station and the city center without paying the top prize, this is the “place to be”.

In 2026, we will see that oud krispijn is popular among young professionals. The houses here are often somewhat smaller, but the prices per square meter are competitive. The district also benefits from the proximity of the Spuiboulevard, where the new urban district is currently rising. Although the new building there is more expensive, it keeps the existing building in Oud-Krispijn vital and retains its value.

Sterrenburg: Lots of green at a reasonable price

For families looking for more space, Sterrenburg (especially Sterrenburg III) is a strong budget option in 2026. Where you pay an average of more than €450,000 in Dubbeldam, the most expensive district in Dordrecht, the average value in Sterrenburg is around €300,000 to €315,000.

• Space: The houses from the 70s and 80s are spacious and often have their own garden.
• Amenities: With its own indoor shopping center and close to the biesbosch, Sterrenburg offers a high quality of life at a fraction of the costs of the suburban residential areas.
• Investment: Please note the sustainability challenge; many homes in Sterrenburg still have a move to do when it comes to insulation, which can be a hidden cost with a lower purchase price.

City polders: The stable middle ground

City polders will remain the most popular district for the middle class in 2026. It's not the cheapest neighborhood (average value around €340,000), but the price-quality ratio here is excellent. The neighborhood is safe, child-friendly and has its own train station.

City polders are interesting for mid-range tenants. Since the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act, prices for mid-range rental homes (up to 187 points) have been regulated. In 2026, rent in this segment may increase by up to 6.1%, providing stability in a previously volatile market.

Downtown: Affordable rental?

Renting in the historic city center of Dordrecht seems unaffordable, but an interesting shift is underway in 2026. Due to the transformation of old office buildings on the Spuiboulevard and around the market, hundreds of new rental properties are being added.

Although asking prices for homes for sale in the city center are rising, the review of the home valuation system (WWS) has put a brake on the rents of much smaller apartments. In 2026, living on the canal is therefore more feasible for a single with a modal income than five years ago, provided you are satisfied with fewer square meters.

How dordrecht remains budget-friendly in an expensive market

The strength of dordrecht in 2026 is diversity. While the municipality must cut back on public space, affordable homes are being built at the same time. Projects on the Spuiboulevard, for example, reserve part of the homes for social rent and affordable purchase (up to the NHG border) as standard.

In addition, dordrecht continues to benefit from its location: you live here a 15-minute train ride from Rotterdam, but you still pay considerably less per square meter. The “Dordrecht sobriety” translates into a housing market that is less overheated than that of the big neighbors.

For the buyer or tenant who is willing to look beyond the popular canal houses, neighborhoods such as Wielwijk and Sterrenburg still offer the opportunity to build a comfortable life in 2026 without having to go directly to the financial limit.