Foto: Gabriele Giuseppini, CC BY 3.0 Selling or buying a home in IJburg. We know these islands.
An area built up out of the water.
IJburg lies on the east side of the city, out in the IJmeer lake, and is part of the Oost district. Where the rest of Oost is mostly older streets, everything here is new: the first residents arrived in 2002. Today more than 26,000 people live here, and the area is still growing every year.
The character of IJburg
IJburg is a series of islands created by pumping sand into the IJmeer. The plan was controversial: in the 1997 referendum a majority voted against it, but turnout was too low to stop it. Construction started in 1999, the first building, a telephone exchange, went up in 2001, and in November 2002 the first residents got their keys on Haveneiland-West.
There are six islands or island groups: Steigereiland, Haveneiland, the three Rieteilanden, Centrumeiland, Strandeiland and Buiteneiland. The plan is for around 20,000 homes for roughly 50,000 people. So IJburg is far from finished: on Strandeiland the cranes are still up.
Foto: Remi Mathis, CC BY-SA 3.0 Living in IJburg: homes and price level
Haveneiland has a tight grid of straight streets, green strips and small canals, with blocks of three to four storeys. Steigereiland is more varied. In the Zuidbuurt many houses were designed to the owners' own wishes, and in the Waterbuurt, along the Brigantijnkade, there is a floating village of homes moored to jetties. The Rieteilanden have semi-detached and detached villas, and on Centrumeiland much of the building was done on self-build plots.
IJburg is not a cheap area, but you get more space here than in the old city, often with a garden, a roof terrace or your own jetty. Do keep an eye on the land: as almost everywhere outside the city centre, your home stands on leasehold land (erfpacht) owned by the city. How that is arranged differs per home, so we always check it for you in the documents.
Beach, market and water
The shops are mainly on the IJburglaan in the western part of Haveneiland. Winkelcentrum IJburg has more than twenty shops, from a supermarket to a bakery, and every Saturday the REURING market is held on the Joris Ivensplein, with vegetables, cheese, fish and bread among other things.
For time off, you have the water. On Strandeiland you find Strand IJburg, a city beach on the IJburgbaai, although building work will make it smaller over the next few years. Right next to IJburg lies the Diemerpark, 90 hectares of green with a small sandy beach on the IJmeer. On Haveneiland itself, the Theo van Goghpark is the largest park.
Getting around from IJburg
Tram 26, the IJtram, has run since 2005 across the Enneüs Heermabrug and through the Piet Hein tunnel to Centraal Station. From Haveneiland you are there in about twenty minutes. Since August 2026 the tram continues to Strandeiland, with a new stop on Centrumeiland among others. Bus 66 takes you across the Benno Premselabrug to Bijlmer ArenA station.
By bike you take the Nesciobrug across the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal towards Diemen and the Watergraafsmeer. By car you are on the A10 ring road in no time via Zeeburgereiland.
Foto: Curt1us, CC BY-SA 4.0 Who is IJburg right for
IJburg is above all a family area. You will find single-family homes with gardens, parks and play areas, schools in the neighbourhood itself and water everywhere for swimming, paddleboarding or boating. And if you are looking for something special, such as a floating home or a house designed by its owner, this is a good place to be.
Would you rather have old buildings, cafés around the corner and the buzz of the city centre? Then the rest of Oost, around the Oosterpark and the Dappermarkt, or De Pijp suits you better.
Sold on IJburg?
Choose your route, and we will know exactly where you need to be.
I want to sell
From an honest market valuation to the signature at the civil-law notary.
I want to buy
We search with you, look critically and negotiate sharply.
Frequently asked questions
Is IJburg an expensive area to buy in?
IJburg is not a cheap area, but you get more space for your money than in the old city, often with a garden, a roof terrace or a spot on the water. Do take leasehold (erfpacht) into account: how it is arranged differs per home.
Is IJburg suitable for families?
Yes. With single-family homes with gardens, the Theo van Goghpark, Strand IJburg and the Diemerpark close by, IJburg is a great area for families who want space and water around them.
How do I get to IJburg by public transport?
Tram 26 runs from Strandeiland via Haveneiland and Steigereiland to Centraal Station. From Haveneiland you are there in about twenty minutes. Bus 66 runs to Bijlmer ArenA station.
Do you also work in IJburg?
Yes, IJburg is one of the areas where we are regularly active. We know the streets, the types of homes and the market here well.
What does an estate agent cost with you?
When you sell, you pay a fixed fee of 1% of the sale price, including VAT, with no start-up costs. For purchase guidance you pay a fixed price of €3,500 including VAT. Those prices are simply listed on our selling and buying pages.
Do you also help with buying a home in IJburg?
Yes. We search with you, view homes critically, check the structural condition and negotiate sharply. That way you buy with knowledge of IJburg, without rushed decisions.
Can I also rent out my home in IJburg through you?
Yes. Besides selling and buying, we also rent out homes in IJburg, from finding a reliable tenant to the contract.
Another question about IJburg? Call or message us, we respond quickly.
The coffee is ready.
In a few months the deed is signed and the keys are handed over. The first step is a small one: a free introductory meeting, at your home in IJburg or at our office on the Singel.
Book an introductionOr call +31 20 845 5878 · info@makelaarinamsterdam.nl
Singel 374, 1016 AH Amsterdam