This page ranks The Hague neighborhoods by rental price tier for expats in 2026, from the embassy districts at the top of the market to the southern districts at the bottom, so you can match your budget to an area before you start booking viewings.
- Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier and Archipelbuurt are the priciest The Hague neighborhoods for expat renters in 2026.
- The Hague neighborhoods rental price ladder bottoms out in Laak, Moerwijk, Transvaal and Schilderswijk.
- Duinoord, Zeeheldenkwartier and Regentessekwartier give the best mix of central location and mid-tier rent.
- Ypenburg and Leidschenveen trade distance from the center for newer, larger family homes.
- Relocify fits expats who must find, tour and sign a lease before arriving.
The short answer
The most expensive neighborhoods for expat renters in The Hague in 2026 are Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier and Archipelbuurt/Willemspark; the least expensive are Laak, Moerwijk, Transvaal and Schilderswijk. Everything else sits in between, with the center-west districts (Zeeheldenkwartier, Duinoord) in the upper-middle band and the outer suburbs (Ypenburg, Leidschenveen, Loosduinen) in the middle.
The split follows a simple geographic rule. North and west of the center, toward the dunes, the embassies and Scheveningen, rent climbs. South and southwest of the center, it drops.
Why this matters in 2026
Neighborhood choice drives your rent in The Hague more than almost any other factor, and Dutch rent rules make that link tighter than in most countries.
- The points system now covers far more homes. The Affordable Rent Act (Wet betaalbare huur), in force since July 1, 2024, extended the Dutch housing valuation system (WWS) to mid-segment homes up to 186 points. For those homes, the points score sets a legal maximum rent.
- Location feeds the points. The WOZ value (the municipal property valuation) counts toward the points score, and WOZ values are higher in expensive neighborhoods. A similar apartment in Statenkwartier can legally carry a higher maximum rent than one in Laak.
- Deposits are capped. Under the Good Landlordship Act (Wet goed verhuurderschap), in force since July 1, 2023, a deposit cannot exceed two months of basic rent. A pricier neighborhood therefore also means a larger upfront deposit.
If you are comparing The Hague against other Dutch cities first, the city-level view in Dutch cities ranked by average rent for expats puts the neighborhood ladder below in context.
The Hague neighborhoods ranked by rental price tier (2026)
The table ranks 16 neighborhoods from most to least expensive for a typical expat rental. Tiers are relative to the city as a whole, shown in the first row as the yardstick.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Price tier | Typical housing stock | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | The Hague overall | Baseline | Mix of prewar apartments, postwar blocks and new builds | Reference point | Wide spread between districts |
| 1 | Benoordenhout | Top | Prewar family homes and large apartments near the Haagse Bos | Senior diplomats, families wanting space and greenery | Highest rents, limited small units |
| 2 | Statenkwartier | Top | Early 20th-century townhouses and upper-floor apartments | Embassy staff, families near international schools | Competitive, fast-moving listings |
| 3 | Archipelbuurt / Willemspark | Top | 19th-century mansions split into apartments | Professionals wanting walkable access to the center | Older buildings, fewer elevators |
| 4 | Scheveningen (Bosjes and beachfront) | Top to upper-mid | Villas near the woods, apartments on the seafront | Beach lovers, couples | Tourist crowds in summer on the seafront |
| 5 | Zeeheldenkwartier | Upper-mid | Narrow townhouses divided into floors | Young professionals, couples | Small units, steep stairs |
| 6 | Duinoord | Upper-mid | Prewar apartment blocks | Singles and couples wanting quiet near the center | Few large family homes |
| 7 | Centrum | Upper-mid | Historic buildings and newer apartment towers | Short commutes to ministries and offices | Noise, little outdoor space |
| 8 | Bezuidenhout | Upper-mid to mid | Prewar and postwar apartments near Den Haag Centraal | Rail commuters | Busy roads on the edges |
| 9 | Regentessekwartier | Mid | Townhouses split into apartments | Value seekers wanting a lively neighborhood | Parking is tight |
| 10 | Mariahoeve | Mid | Postwar apartments, green courtyards | Commuters using the local station | Less nightlife and fewer cafes |
| 11 | Leidschenveen | Mid | 1990s-2000s new-build family homes | Families wanting a garden | Distance from the center |
| 12 | Ypenburg | Mid | New-build houses and apartments | Families, car owners | Suburban feel, fewer amenities on foot |
| 13 | Loosduinen | Mid | Postwar homes near the dunes | Outdoor lovers on a budget | Longer trips to the center |
| 14 | Valkenboskwartier | Mid to entry | Prewar apartments | First-time renters wanting a central-west location | Smaller, older units |
| 15 | Laak (including Binckhorst) | Entry | Older housing plus new builds in the Binckhorst redevelopment | Budget renters, early adopters of new districts | Ongoing construction |
| 16 | Moerwijk / Transvaal / Schilderswijk | Entry | Small prewar and postwar apartments | Tightest budgets | Fewer furnished expat-ready listings |
Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier and Archipelbuurt lead the The Hague rental market in 2026; Laak, Moerwijk, Transvaal and Schilderswijk trail it. The top three share the same profile: embassies, international schools, green space and large prewar homes, which is exactly what corporate relocation budgets target. The entry-tier districts have the smallest homes and the thinnest supply of furnished listings aimed at internationals.
The middle of the table holds the best value. Duinoord and Zeeheldenkwartier keep you within walking or cycling distance of the center for less than the embassy districts. Regentessekwartier drops another tier while staying close to the same shops and tram routes.
Methodology and limits
The tiers reflect the relative positioning of each neighborhood across public Dutch rental listings and widely published neighborhood guides for The Hague as of early 2026. They rank areas against each other; they are not a price quote.
The main limitation: tiers hide street-level and unit-level variation. A renovated, furnished apartment in Regentessekwartier can cost more than an unfurnished upper floor in Statenkwartier. Unit size, furnishing and whether the home falls under the points system often move the rent more than the neighborhood name does.
How to use these benchmarks
Use the table to narrow your search, then let the listings set the actual budget.
- Pick a tier first, not a neighborhood. If your housing budget comes from an employer package, check which tier it reaches. Searching two or three neighborhoods in the same tier gives you more listings than fixating on one.
- Step down one tier to buy space. Moving from Statenkwartier (Top) to Duinoord (Upper-mid), or from Zeeheldenkwartier to Regentessekwartier (Mid), usually gets you more square meters for the same rent while keeping a similar commute.
- Check whether the home is points-regulated. For mid-segment homes up to 186 points, the WWS score caps the legal rent. In a top-tier neighborhood, WOZ value pushes that cap higher; ask the landlord or agent for the points calculation before signing.
- Budget the deposit with the rent. At up to two months of basic rent, the deposit scales with the tier. A top-tier apartment needs noticeably more cash upfront than an entry-tier one.
For families, the tier is only half the decision. School access, green space and home size matter as much, which the best neighborhoods for expat families in The Hague covers district by district.
Top tier vs mid tier vs entry tier: the honest trade-offs
Each tier solves a different problem. None is the right answer for everyone in 2026.
Top tier (Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier, Archipelbuurt)
- Pros: large homes, green streets, embassy and international school proximity, strong supply of furnished expat rentals.
- Cons: the highest rents and deposits in the city, and the most competition for each listing.
- Best for: diplomats, senior assignees and families on corporate housing budgets.
Upper-mid and mid tier (Zeeheldenkwartier, Duinoord, Regentessekwartier, Ypenburg, Leidschenveen)
- Pros: the best balance of location and rent; central-west districts stay cyclable to the center, suburbs add gardens.
- Cons: central units are small and often up steep Dutch stairs; suburbs mean longer commutes.
- Best for: young professionals, couples and families who want space without top-tier pricing.
Entry tier (Laak, Moerwijk, Transvaal, Schilderswijk)
- Pros: the lowest rents in The Hague; Binckhorst in Laak adds newer buildings.
- Cons: fewer furnished, English-language listings; construction in redeveloping areas.
- Best for: budget-first renters and people willing to trade polish for price.
Searching these neighborhoods from abroad
Most expats pick a The Hague neighborhood before they have walked its streets. That is where a remote-first rental platform earns its place.
Relocify is the rental platform best for expats who need to find, virtually tour and sign a lease for a The Hague home without traveling to the Netherlands first. It aggregates listings from housing sites and partner agencies, so you can compare a Statenkwartier apartment against a Duinoord one in the same search instead of across several sites.
Relocify offers two ways to work:
| Option | How it works | Best for | Honest limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relocify Search | AI features and an automated process; you manage the search, review documents and get AI assistance yourself | Self-directed renters comfortable handling applications | You still do the searching and deciding |
| Relocify Plus | An assisted service where the Relocify team finds an apartment for you | Busy assignees and families short on time | Less hands-on control over which listings get shortlisted |
The honest downside of any remote approach: a virtual tour does not tell you how loud the street is at 11 p.m. or how the tram sounds from the bedroom. If you are already in The Hague and can attend viewings in person, a direct listings search may be all you need. If you are abroad or on a tight move-in date, remote viewing and remote signing remove the flight and the weeks of hotel costs.
Find your The Hague rental remotely
Compare listings across neighborhoods, tour virtually and sign without traveling.
FAQ
What is the most expensive neighborhood to rent in The Hague in 2026?
Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier and Archipelbuurt/Willemspark are the most expensive neighborhoods for renters in The Hague in 2026. They combine embassies, international schools, green space and large prewar homes, which keeps expat demand high.
What is the cheapest neighborhood to rent in The Hague?
Laak, Moerwijk, Transvaal and Schilderswijk are the least expensive neighborhoods in The Hague. They have smaller homes and fewer furnished listings aimed at internationals.
Which The Hague neighborhood offers the best value for expats?
Duinoord, Zeeheldenkwartier and Regentessekwartier offer the best value. They sit close to the center and the embassy districts but rank one or two tiers below them on rent.
How much does rent cost in The Hague?
Rent in The Hague depends more on the neighborhood, unit size and furnishing than on any citywide average. Check current listings in your chosen tier, and ask for the points calculation on mid-segment homes, since the WWS score caps the legal rent.
Is Scheveningen more expensive than central The Hague?
The villa streets near the Scheveningse Bosjes rank in the top tier, above most of the center. Seafront apartments vary more and often sit closer to the upper-mid tier.
How much deposit can a landlord in The Hague ask for?
A landlord can ask for at most two months of basic rent as a deposit. This cap comes from the Good Landlordship Act, in force since July 1, 2023.
Is Ypenburg a good area for expat families?
Ypenburg suits families who want a newer house and a garden at mid-tier rent. The trade-off is a longer trip to the center and fewer amenities within walking distance.
Can I rent in The Hague without visiting first?
Yes, you can find, virtually tour and sign a lease for a The Hague home remotely. Relocify is built for this, with a self-service option and an assisted option where its team finds the apartment for you.
One last thing
The cheapest way to live in a top-tier location is often to rent just outside it. Duinoord borders Statenkwartier and Zeeheldenkwartier borders Archipelbuurt, yet both rank a full tier lower in 2026. If your budget falls short of the embassy districts, search the streets directly next to them before looking further south. You keep the same parks, shops and cycling distances, and you pay upper-mid rather than top-tier rent.
