In this guide
New to the Netherlands? Start with our complete guide to finding housing as an expat and use the housing budget checker before you begin your search.
What Almere is
Almere is a city in the province of Flevoland. It dates from 1975 and has been a municipality since 1984 (almere.nl). Almere had 234,070 inhabitants at the end of September 2026 (Statistics Netherlands).
Because the city is so young, it has no medieval centre or historic old town. Pampus, one of its six districts, is still being developed (almere.nl).
| Fact | Almere |
|---|---|
| Population | 234,070 (municipality, Statistics Netherlands, end of September 2026) |
| Province | Flevoland |
| Districts | Six: Buiten, Haven, Hout, Pampus, Poort and Stad; Pampus is still in development (gemeente Almere) |
Why people look at Almere
- A young city that is still growing: Pampus, the sixth district, is still in development (almere.nl). If you look at a new-build home, check the specific property and its energy label.
- An alternative to Amsterdam: some people look at Almere when Amsterdam does not fit their budget or space needs. We do not publish rent comparisons, so compare live listings for both cities.
- Rail connections: from Almere Centrum there are direct trains to Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, Utrecht Centraal and Den Haag Centraal, and the city has more stations, such as Muziekwijk, Parkwijk, Buiten and Oostvaarders (ns.nl). Check journey times and frequencies to your workplace on the NS journey planner.
What to be prepared for
- No historic centre or canal-side character; the city dates from 1975.
- Check how far a property is from the station and shops, especially in the outer districts.
Districts
According to the municipality, Almere consists of six districts (stadsdelen): Buiten, Haven, Hout, Pampus, Poort and Stad. Pampus is still in development (almere.nl). We do not describe the rents or character of each district, because those differ by street and change over time. Visit the area and the specific property more than once, at different times of day, and compare official data on safety and amenities.
Housing costs
We do not publish rent or purchase-price tables for Almere. Rents and prices differ by building, area, furnished or unfurnished contract and year, and we have no official source for a single set of figures. Compare live listings on the platforms below, and use the Housing Budget Checker tool to work out what you can afford once you factor in Dutch income tax, health insurance and other fixed costs.
A landlord may ask a deposit (waarborgsom) of at most two months of base rent for contracts signed from 1 July 2023 (3 months for contracts before that). The landlord must repay it within 14 days after the end of the tenancy, or within 30 days if costs are deducted from it (Rijksoverheid).
Other living costs
- Health insurance: mandatory in the Netherlands. The average basic premium in 2026 is €157 a month. Full details in the Dutch health insurance guide.
- Public transport: see the OV-chipkaart guide and check NS prices on ns.nl for your route.
- Everything else: see the cost of living Netherlands guide.
Finding housing in Almere
Main platforms
- Funda.nl: a Dutch housing site with rentals and homes for sale
- Pararius.nl: rentals, including furnished options
- Huurwoningen.nl: lists homes from rental agents and private landlords across the Netherlands and has an English-language version. With a free basic account you can search, save searches and receive alerts; Premium (EUR 29.95 a month) gives full listing details including contact details and unlimited responses. Premium starts with a 14-day trial period, after which the subscription renews automatically, and you can cancel at any time (huurwoningen.nl, checked 31 October 2026)
- Kamernet.nl: a platform for rooms, studios and apartments; its search filters are free, and you need Premium to respond to a listing (kamernet.nl, checked 31 October 2026)
- Dean: a paid alert service that says it checks more than 1,000 rental sources and compares new listings with your search profile; Dean says it offers a 3-day free trial and month-to-month billing
- DAK regio Almere: WoningNet’s website for home seekers in the Almere region. To respond to homes there, you must be registered as a home seeker with DAK regio Almere (WoningNet), so check the registration rules early
Working with estate agents
If an agent works for the landlord, you do not pay agency fees (bemiddelingskosten); you only pay if you hire an agent yourself to find a home for you (Rijksoverheid). For the rental search process, including documents and spotting scams, see the finding housing in the Netherlands guide.
What to prepare before you search
- Proof of income (employer letter, contract or recent payslips)
- Copy of passport
- References from previous landlords if possible
- A euro bank account. If a landlord accepts SEPA payments from Dutch accounts, it may not refuse a euro account just because it is held in another EU country (Your Europe, European Commission)
Buying a home
If you plan to buy, the process (mortgage advice, a purchase agent, the notary and the buyer’s costs) is described in our Dutch mortgage guide. Check current asking prices on Funda rather than relying on an average in an article.
For paying a deposit or first month’s rent from a foreign account, you can compare the live quote at Wise with your own bank’s, for your amount and currency.
Registration and bureaucracy
Registering at Gemeente Almere
If you will live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register with your municipality within 5 days of arriving (government.nl). Almere asks you to report a move from abroad within 5 working days and to come to the city hall (Stadhuisplein 1) in person, bringing everyone who moves with you. Book the appointment online or call 14 036 (+31 36 539 99 11 from abroad) (almere.nl).
Bring a valid passport or ID card; proof of legal residence if you have Swiss nationality or a nationality from outside the EU/EEA; your rental or purchase contract (plus a copy of the owner’s ID if you rent from a private landlord), or the main resident’s or owner’s written permission and a copy of their ID if you move in with someone; and, if you were born abroad, your birth certificate with legalisation or apostille (almere.nl). Registration gives you your BSN (Burgerservicenummer), which you need for dealing with the government, your employer and, in most cases, your bank.
After registration
- Open a Dutch bank account, see best bank accounts for expats. bunq is an app-based option; bunq says you can start without a BSN and provide it within 90 days.
- Apply for DigiD at digid.nl once you have your BSN.
- Register with a huisarts (GP) as soon as you can, before you need one urgently.
- Take out Dutch health insurance as soon as possible and no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrive (government.nl).
The first 30 days checklist and the BSN Planner tool walk through this sequence.
Transport
Almere has several railway stations; from Almere Centrum there are direct trains to Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and Utrecht (ns.nl). Check connections, journey times and frequencies on ns.nl for your route. On public transport you can check in with an OV-pas or a contactless bank card (OVpay), the successors of the OV-chipkaart, which is being phased out (ovpay.nl); see the OV-chipkaart guide. For local trips by bike, read the cycling guide for expats if you are new to cycling on Dutch roads. If you drive, check congestion on your commuting route and parking rules for your street.
Schools
Almere has Dutch-language primary and secondary schools. Families with children coming from abroad should look into international or bilingual options early and check each school’s admission rules. Ask the municipality or the schools directly, and see our school guide for expat children.
Healthcare
Register with a huisarts (GP) practice as soon as you move in. Zorgkaart Nederland lists GPs by area; ask the practice directly whether it is accepting new patients.
Almere or Amsterdam?
The right choice depends on what you value. Almere is a young city, and its district Pampus is still being developed; Amsterdam has a historic centre. Compare live housing listings in both, plan your commute with the NS journey planner, and visit each before deciding.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almere a good place for expats?
That depends on your work and what you want from a city. Almere dates from 1975 and has been a municipality since 1984 (almere.nl), so it has no historic old town. From Almere Centrum there are direct trains to Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport and Utrecht Centraal (ns.nl). Check housing and your commute, and visit before you decide.
How many people live in Almere?
Almere had 234,070 inhabitants at the end of September 2026 (Statistics Netherlands).
How do I find a home in Almere?
Compare live listings on Funda, Pararius, Huurwoningen.nl and Kamernet. DAK regio Almere (almere.mijndak.nl) is WoningNet's website for home seekers in the Almere region; to respond to homes there, you must be registered as a home seeker with DAK regio Almere (WoningNet). We do not publish rent averages, because we have no official source for a single figure.
Do I need to register at the gemeente in Almere?
Yes. If you will live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register with your municipality within 5 days of arriving (government.nl). Almere asks you to report your move from abroad within 5 working days and to come to the city hall in person, with everyone who moves with you; you book the appointment online or by calling 14 036 (almere.nl). Registration gives you your BSN, which you need for dealing with the government, your employer and, in most cases, your bank.
Do I need health insurance in Almere?
Yes. Dutch health insurance is mandatory: take it out no later than 4 months after arriving, with cover from the day you arrive (government.nl). The average basic premium in 2026 is EUR 157 a month.