Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Rotterdam
Rotterdam's rental market is one of the most active in the Netherlands right now.
We update this blog post regularly, so the data you see here always reflects the latest figures available.
Whether you are looking at a studio in Delfshaven or a family apartment in Blijdorp, the gap between a good and a poor investment decision often comes down to knowing which neighborhoods offer the best return after costs.
And if you're planning to buy a property in Rotterdam, you may want to download our real estate pack about Rotterdam.
A quick summary table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Rotterdam neighborhood with the best rental yield | Delfshaven (up to 6.4% gross) |
| Rotterdam neighborhood with the weakest rental yield | Hillegersberg Zuid (as low as 4.9% gross) |
| Average gross yield across Rotterdam | ~5.4% |
| Average net yield across Rotterdam | ~4.4% |
| Median purchase price in Rotterdam | ~€385,000 |
| Average monthly rent in Rotterdam | ~€1,680 |
| Average occupancy rate in Rotterdam | ~95% |
| Fastest leasing market in Rotterdam | Delfshaven and Oud Crooswijk (18 days average) |
| Slowest leasing market in Rotterdam | Hillegersberg Zuid and Schiebroek four-bed houses (23 days average) |
| Highest occupancy in Rotterdam | One-bed apartments across most neighborhoods (97%) |
| Best value high-yield segment in Rotterdam | Delfshaven two-bed apartments (6.4% gross, 5.4% net) |
| Yield spread across Rotterdam neighborhoods | From 4.9% to 6.4% gross (about 1.5 percentage points) |
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Rotterdam neighborhoods and property types in 2026 ranked by rental yield
This table ranks the top neighborhoods and property types in Rotterdam by gross rental yield.
For each neighborhood and property type, the table includes average purchase price, average monthly rent, gross rental yield, net rental yield, annual fees, average occupancy, average time to rent, main rental demand, main risk, and investment profile.
By the way, you'll find much more detailed data in our real estate pack about Rotterdam.
| # | Neighborhood | Property type | Gross rental yield | Net rental yield | Average purchase price | Average monthly rent | Ownership annual fees | Average occupancy | Average time to rent | Main rental demand | Main risk | Rental Investment Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delfshaven | Two-bed apartment | 6.4% | 5.4% | €320,000 | €1,700 | €2,446 | 96% | 18 days | Small households on budgets | Slower premium resale | Top Pick |
| 2 | Delfshaven | One-bed apartment | 6.2% | 5.3% | €232,000 | €1,200 | €1,689 | 97% | 18 days | Young workers seeking value | Rent regulation exposure | Top Pick |
| 3 | Delfshaven | Studio apartment | 6.2% | 5.4% | €155,000 | €800 | €930 | 96% | 18 days | Students and value renters | Older housing condition | Top Pick |
| 4 | Oud Crooswijk | Two-bed apartment | 6.0% | 5.0% | €342,000 | €1,700 | €2,404 | 96% | 18 days | Couples seeking lower entry costs | Street-by-street demand gap | Top Pick |
| 5 | Oud Crooswijk | One-bed apartment | 5.8% | 5.0% | €254,000 | €1,230 | €1,703 | 97% | 18 days | Young professionals near center | Older block maintenance | Strong Potential |
| 6 | Oud Crooswijk | Studio apartment | 5.8% | 5.0% | €171,000 | €820 | €940 | 96% | 18 days | Students and solo workers | Fast wear and tear | Strong Potential |
| 7 | Blijdorp | Three-bed apartment | 5.7% | 4.5% | €493,000 | €2,340 | €4,017 | 94% | 20 days | Small families near schools | Higher retrofit costs | Good Potential |
| 8 | Blijdorp | Two-bed apartment | 5.5% | 4.5% | €411,000 | €1,870 | €2,764 | 96% | 18 days | Professionals wanting green streets | Rent competition nearby | Good Potential |
| 9 | Blijdorp | One-bed apartment | 5.5% | 4.6% | €291,000 | €1,330 | €2,227 | 97% | 18 days | Hospital staff and young couples | Older VvE maintenance | Good Potential |
| 10 | Oude Noorden | Two-bed apartment | 5.7% | 4.8% | €385,000 | €1,820 | €2,488 | 96% | 18 days | Couples and sharers | Noise and micro-location risk | Good Potential |
| 11 | Oude Noorden | One-bed apartment | 5.6% | 4.8% | €291,000 | €1,360 | €1,811 | 97% | 18 days | Young professionals near center | Older stock maintenance | Strong Potential |
| 12 | Oude Noorden | Studio apartment | 5.6% | 4.8% | €202,000 | €940 | €1,044 | 96% | 18 days | Students and solo starters | Higher vacancy between lets | Strong Potential |
| 13 | Middelland | Two-bed apartment | 5.7% | 4.8% | €413,000 | €1,950 | €2,646 | 96% | 18 days | Couples wanting central value | VvE reserve shortfalls | Good Potential |
| 14 | Middelland | One-bed apartment | 5.6% | 4.8% | €303,000 | €1,420 | €1,875 | 97% | 18 days | Young professionals west of center | Older building upkeep | Strong Potential |
| 15 | Middelland | Studio apartment | 5.5% | 4.8% | €214,000 | €990 | €1,108 | 96% | 18 days | Students and first-job renters | Tenant turnover risk | Strong Potential |
| 16 | Schiebroek | Four-bed house | 5.6% | 4.4% | €555,000 | €2,610 | €4,519 | 93% | 23 days | Larger families near schools | Narrower tenant pool | Good Potential |
| 17 | Schiebroek | Three-bed house | 5.5% | 4.4% | €518,000 | €2,370 | €4,022 | 94% | 20 days | Families wanting gardens | Higher upkeep on houses | Good Potential |
| 18 | Schiebroek | Two-bed apartment | 5.5% | 4.6% | €339,000 | €1,540 | €2,078 | 96% | 18 days | Small families and couples | Mid-market rent sensitivity | Good Potential |
| 19 | Kralingen Oost | Two-bed apartment | 5.3% | 4.4% | €448,000 | €1,980 | €3,068 | 96% | 18 days | Expat couples near Erasmus | Higher entry price | Good Potential |
| 20 | Kralingen Oost | One-bed apartment | 5.2% | 4.3% | €325,000 | €1,400 | €2,259 | 97% | 18 days | Young professionals and expats | Rent cap on smaller units | Good Potential |
| 21 | Kralingen Oost | Studio apartment | 5.2% | 4.3% | €221,000 | €950 | €1,487 | 96% | 18 days | Students and young professionals | Licensing and turnover risk | Moderate Appeal |
| 22 | Cool | Two-bed apartment | 5.2% | 4.4% | €504,000 | €2,190 | €3,824 | 96% | 20 days | Corporate couples downtown | Premium pricing risk | Good Potential |
| 23 | Cool | One-bed apartment | 5.1% | 4.3% | €371,000 | €1,590 | €2,558 | 97% | 18 days | Single expats in the center | High service charge towers | Good Potential |
| 24 | Cool | Studio apartment | 5.0% | 4.2% | €262,000 | €1,100 | €1,793 | 96% | 18 days | City-center young professionals | Rent cap on compact units | Moderate Appeal |
| 25 | Katendrecht | Two-bed apartment | 5.2% | 4.3% | €470,000 | €2,020 | €3,522 | 96% | 20 days | Expat couples by Rijnhaven | Pipeline supply nearby | Moderate Appeal |
| 26 | Katendrecht | One-bed apartment | 5.1% | 4.3% | €316,000 | €1,350 | €2,163 | 97% | 20 days | Young professionals on the peninsula | New-build service charges | Moderate Appeal |
| 27 | Katendrecht | Three-bed apartment | 5.1% | 4.1% | €578,000 | €2,460 | €4,371 | 94% | 20 days | Small families wanting waterfront | Higher purchase ticket | Moderate Appeal |
| 28 | Hillegersberg Zuid | Four-bed house | 5.0% | 3.8% | €685,000 | €2,850 | €5,578 | 93% | 23 days | High-income families | Large-ticket vacancy risk | Limited Appeal |
| 29 | Hillegersberg Zuid | Two-bed apartment | 4.9% | 4.1% | €386,000 | €1,560 | €2,633 | 96% | 18 days | Downsizers and affluent couples | Premium buy-in risk | Moderate Appeal |
| 30 | Hillegersberg Zuid | Three-bed townhouse | 4.9% | 3.8% | €586,000 | €2,370 | €4,483 | 94% | 20 days | Families near schools | Lower yield on family stock | Limited Appeal |
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Key insights about rental yields in Rotterdam
Insights
- Delfshaven is the only Rotterdam neighborhood where gross yields consistently clear 6%, because purchase prices there remain around 30 to 40% lower than in Cool or Kralingen Oost for similar unit sizes.
- The gap between gross and net yield in Rotterdam is roughly 0.8 to 1.2 percentage points, meaning a property that looks like a 6% deal on paper usually lands closer to 5% once you factor in OZB tax, VvE fees, and maintenance.
- One-bed apartments consistently reach 97% occupancy across Rotterdam neighborhoods, making them the most reliable segment for minimizing void periods.
- Oud Crooswijk offers yields that match or beat much trendier areas like Katendrecht, but at entry prices that are around €130,000 lower for a comparable two-bed apartment.
- Rotterdam's Affordable Rent Act puts studios at higher regulatory risk, because compact units often score lower under the housing valuation system and are more likely to fall under rent caps.
- Hillegersberg Zuid four-bed houses produce the weakest net yield in this dataset at 3.8%, yet they also carry the highest vacancy risk because the pool of tenants who can afford €2,850 per month in Rotterdam is small.
- Katendrecht and Cool rent quickly and attract quality tenants, but their purchase prices have risen faster than rents, which is exactly why their yields now sit 1 to 1.5 points below Delfshaven.
- Two-bed apartments are the most balanced asset type across Rotterdam: they rent faster than three-bed units, command higher absolute rents than studios, and are easier to resell than family houses.
- Schiebroek houses take about 23 days to rent, compared to 18 days for most inner-city apartments, which means an extra five days of vacancy per turnover adds up over a multi-year hold.
- Rotterdam gross yields above 6% are entirely a story of lower-entry neighborhoods on the west and east fringes, not of premium or lifestyle districts.
- Blijdorp offers a consistent middle ground: yields are not the highest, but tenant demand from hospital workers and professionals near the zoo makes occupancy stable and void periods short.
- Older stock in Delfshaven and Oud Crooswijk can look cheap to buy, but the maintenance deduction built into net yield assumptions reflects a real cost that beginners often underestimate.
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About our methodology
We also believe it is important to show our reasoning. It is one of the ways we make our work solid, transparent, and rigorous, just as you will see in our real estate pack about Rotterdam.
First, please note that this data is updated regularly, so what you see here reflects the current values as of today.
In order to get reliable data, we applied a strict source filter. We only used authoritative, verifiable sources, not random listings or unsupported figures. More on that point below.
For each Rotterdam neighborhood and property type, we aggregated the freshest purchase price and monthly rent data available. When possible, we cross-checked multiple sources to confirm the same range.
This allowed us to estimate rental yield before costs. That is the gross yield, based on annual rent versus purchase price.
We then estimated rental yield after costs. That is the net yield, after recurring ownership and operating expenses specific to Rotterdam.
These expenses vary by neighborhood in Rotterdam. That is why two areas with similar rents can still produce different net returns.
For example, newer waterfront buildings in Katendrecht carry heavier VvE service charges, while older apartment blocks in Delfshaven or Oud Crooswijk may need larger maintenance allowances. In higher-turnover segments like studios, vacancy and tenant-related costs also add up more quickly.
We also estimated ownership annual fees by combining the main recurring costs for each asset. This includes Rotterdam's 2026 residential OZB rate, VvE contributions where applicable, building insurance, and a realistic maintenance allowance adjusted by property age and type.
These estimates were not applied as one flat number across the city. They were adjusted by neighborhood and property type to better reflect local ownership conditions in Rotterdam.
This table should therefore be read as a structured market estimate, not as an exact guarantee of future performance. Honesty, quality, and rigor are at the core of our work, and they are also what you will find in our real estate pack about Rotterdam.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our real estate pack about Rotterdam, we rely on verifiable sources and a transparent methodology.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it is reliable | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| CBS Housing Market Dashboard | CBS is the Dutch national statistics office, which makes it one of the most authoritative public sources on housing in the Netherlands. | We used it to place Rotterdam within the broader Dutch housing market context. We also cross-checked it against private-market pricing to make sure our neighborhood estimates stayed grounded in reality. |
| Kadaster Quarterly Housing Reports | Kadaster is the Dutch land registry and one of the most trusted housing data sources in the country. | We used it to confirm that Rotterdam remained an active, liquid sales market heading into March 2026. We also checked late-2025 transaction momentum to make sure our pricing assumptions were not based on outdated market conditions. |
| Pararius Rental Report Q4 2025 | Pararius is one of the largest Dutch rental platforms and publishes transparent, data-backed rental market reports each quarter. | We used it for national private-rental tightness, average listing times, and rent per square meter by apartment type. We then applied those metrics to estimate Rotterdam occupancy rates and time-to-rent figures by neighborhood segment. |
| NVM/VGM NL Q4 2025 Rental Figures | NVM is the largest Dutch brokers' association and VGM NL tracks professional rental management data across the Netherlands. | We used it to cross-check Pararius on rent-per-square-meter levels and the sharp drop in rental transactions in large cities including Rotterdam. We also used it to pressure-test whether our premium rent assumptions for larger family units were realistic. |
| Rotterdam 2026 OZB Regulation | This is the formal local regulation text published through the Dutch government's legal portal, making it the definitive source for Rotterdam property tax rates. | We used it to apply the correct 2026 owner tax rate for residential property in Rotterdam. We factored that rate into the annual ownership cost calculation for every row in our table. |
| Wet Betaalbare Huur (Affordable Rent Act) | This is an official Dutch government housing policy page explaining the post-2024 rent regulation framework. | We used it to assess regulatory risk for smaller units that may fall under the rent cap system. We applied stricter risk ratings to studios and compact one-bed apartments where this regulation is most likely to affect achievable rents. |
| Independer VvE Cost Benchmark | Independer is a large Dutch comparison platform and this report includes transparent data on the dataset used to calculate apartment service and VvE cost trends. | We used it as a market benchmark for annual apartment VvE contributions in Rotterdam. We applied it to make net yield deductions more realistic rather than using token fee estimates. |
| Vereniging Eigen Huis Maintenance Guide | Vereniging Eigen Huis is the main Dutch homeowner association and its upkeep cost guidance is widely used as a reference across the country. | We used it to keep maintenance cost assumptions for Rotterdam houses and townhouses grounded in real Dutch upkeep data. We applied heavier deductions for larger family properties to reflect genuine running costs. |
| Funda Rotterdam City Page | Funda is the dominant Dutch residential property portal and a standard reference point for buyers, sellers, and researchers across the country. | We used it to sense-check the citywide asking-price level in Rotterdam. We then used it as the umbrella benchmark before drilling into individual neighborhood pages. |
| Funda Neighborhood Pages (Delfshaven, Kralingen, Cool, and others) | Funda's neighborhood-level pages show current local asking-price metrics and selling-time data that buyers actually use in practice. | We used them as the primary pricing anchor for each Rotterdam neighborhood covered in this article. We combined them with rental data from Pararius to calculate gross yield estimates for each property type. |
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