Last updated: October 2026 · By Erdal Aydın, Amsterdam Property Renting

The Houthavens was dug in 1876 for one thing: timber, shipped in from Scandinavia and Russia. A century and a half later the timber is gone and the old harbour has been rebuilt as a residential area: around 2,700 homes on seven car-free islands, each named after a Baltic port such as Stettin, Reval or Narva. It sits between the IJ and the Spaarndammerbuurt, a short bike ride from Centraal Station.

Part of Amsterdam-West · All Amsterdam areas

Houthavens in short

What it is like to live in Houthavens

Houthavens is quiet for a neighbourhood so close to the centre. The islands are car-free, the buildings are mostly four or five storeys high, and through traffic disappears into the Spaarndammertunnel, which opened in February 2018. On top of the tunnel lies the Dijkpark, with what is said to be the longest bench in Amsterdam.

In the city’s 2025 survey, Houthavens-Oost scored an 8.5 for the neighbourhood, the highest of all of Amsterdam-West. The largest age group is 25 to 45 (39% of residents). Daily shopping is done in the area itself or on the Spaarndammerstraat next door, and there is a health centre and new primary schools.

The landmark is the Pontsteiger, the arch-shaped building with two towers of about 90 metres on the IJ, which Het Parool nicknamed the “Gouwe Keet”. From the pier next to it, the F7 ferry crosses to the NDSM wharf in Noord, every ten minutes on weekday daytimes.

Parks, markets and places to go

• Dijkpark – a park on the roof of the Spaarndammertunnel, linking the Houthavens to the Spaarndammerbuurt.
• Pontsteiger and the IJ waterfront – the twin towers on the water, with views across the IJ to Noord.
• Museum Het Schip – the 1917–1920 Amsterdam School housing block by Michel de Klerk, now a museum, in the neighbouring Spaarndammerbuurt.
• Westerpark and the Westergasfabriek – the park and former gasworks around the corner, with a design market on the first Sunday of the month.
• NDSM wharf – the former shipyard in Noord, one ferry ride away.
• Spaarndammerstraat – the shopping street of the neighbouring Spaarndammerbuurt.

Getting around: train, metro, tram and bus

Ferry

From Pontsteiger, the F7 crosses to the NDSM wharf; since 1 September 2026 it runs every 10 minutes on weekdays between about 07:00 and 20:00, and every 20 minutes outside those hours. The F6 runs to the Distelweg in Noord.

Bus

Bus 48 runs between Centraal Station and the Houthavens. Bus 22 stops on the Spaarndammerstraat, at the edge of the area, and runs to Station Sloterdijk. Check 9292 for current routes.

Train, metro and tram

There is no tram or metro in the Houthavens itself. The nearest stations are Amsterdam Centraal (by bus or bike) and Amsterdam Sloterdijk (by bus 22), with trains to Schiphol and the rest of the country.

Bike and car

By bike, Centraal Station and the Jordaan are close. Cars use the Spaarndammertunnel and park in underground garages such as the one under the Pontsteiger; the islands themselves are car-free.

Homes in Houthavens

The Houthavens has a mix of apartments, ground-floor homes and townhouses, built mostly in the 2010s and 2020s and generally four to five storeys high. About half of the homes are owner-occupied. The rental half ranges from social rent (including 290 homes from Lieven de Key, mostly for young people aged 18–27) to high-end private rental. With an average WOZ value of €857,000 in 2025, it is one of the more expensive areas of West.

Renting out your home in Houthavens

People looking here usually want a new home near the water and the centre; families like the car-free islands.

Most homes are new, so they usually score well under the points system, but check per home, because the area also has social and mid-rent housing. Smaller apartments may also fall under the buy-to-let protection (WOZ up to €637,000 in 2026). Check your purchase deed and VvE rules too: some buildings were sold with restrictions on letting.

Looking for a home in Houthavens

The Houthavens is for tenants who want something new and quiet, close to the centre, and who are happy to cycle or take the ferry rather than a tram. Rents are on the high side for West. Have your documents ready: supply is limited and the area is popular.

Houthavens: frequently asked questions

Is the Houthavens a good place to live?

Residents think so: Houthavens-Oost has the highest neighbourhood satisfaction score in Amsterdam-West (8.5 out of 10). It is new, car-free on the islands, on the water and close to the centre.

How do I get from the Houthavens to Centraal Station?

By bus 48, which runs between the Houthavens and Centraal, or by bike along the IJ. There is no tram in the area.

Is there a ferry from the Houthavens?

Yes. From Pontsteiger the F7 runs to the NDSM wharf in Noord, every 10 minutes on weekday daytimes from September 2026, and the F6 runs to the Distelweg.

Why are the islands named after Baltic cities?

The Houthavens was a timber harbour for wood from Scandinavia and Russia. The new islands are named after Baltic trading ports such as Stettin, Reval, Narva and Libau.

Are rents high in the Houthavens?

Compared with the rest of West, yes. Most homes are new, and the average property value is about €857,000. There are also social rental homes for young people.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Sloterdijk · Amsterdam-West · Amsterdam-Centrum · Amsterdam-Noord

Sources for the figures on this page

• Staat van West 2026 (O&S Amsterdam)
• Allecijfers: wijk Houthavens
• Amsterdam Woont: Houthaven
• Ons Amsterdam: De Houthaven
• Lieven de Key: Houthaven
• Rodi: IJ ferry timetable from 1 September 2026
• Spaarndammertunnel
• Houthaven (history)