The best neighbourhoods in Zaanstad
9.9Number 1Waterrijk WestThe best neighbourhood in Zaanstad is Waterrijk West (9.9), with families 10.0 as its strongest side. They are spread across Zaanstad: 8 in the north, 8 in the west and 4 in the centre. The middle neighbourhood of this top 25 has 2,265 residents. Of the 69 neighbourhoods in Zaanstad with a total grade, 25 reach a 7.0 or higher. Zaanstad as a whole comes out at a 5.8, against a 6.2 for the middle neighbourhood in the country — one grade for a whole municipality says little about the street you live in.
As a municipality, Zaanstad scores highest on amenities (8.2) and lowest on quiet & nature (4.7).
Check je wijk rating from 1 to 10 · figures for 2025
The 10 best neighbourhoods in Zaanstad
Number 1
Waterrijk West
2,005 residents
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- 29.9
Parkrijk Zuid
4,600 residents
Strongest: families 10.0
- 39.9
Waterrijk
3,265 residents
Strongest: families 9.9
- 49.8
Kreekrijk
1,355 residents
Strongest: families 10.0
- 59.8
Willis
2,220 residents
Strongest: safety 10.0
- 69.1
Parkrijk Noord
4,740 residents
Strongest: families 10.0
- 78.9
Het Eiland
1,250 residents
Strongest: safety 9.5
- 88.8
Schilders- en Waddenbuurt
3,050 residents
Strongest: amenities 9.7
- 98.8
Zuiderham
3,005 residents
Strongest: amenities 9.2
- 108.8
Centrum
6,055 residents
Strongest: safety 9.3
▸Show the full list (40 more neighbourhoods)
- 118.8
Westerwatering Zuid
4,775 residents
Strongest: families 9.4
- 128.7
Westzaan Zuid
1,260 residents
Strongest: safety 9.2
- 138.7
Krommeniedijk
485 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 8.7
- 148.6
Hembrugterrein
230 residents
Strongest: families 10.0
- 158.6
Peldersveld West
2,655 residents
Strongest: families 9.8
- 168.5
J.J. Allanbuurt
655 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 9.4
- 178.4
Rooswijk Noord
3,270 residents
Strongest: safety 9.5
- 188.3
Westzaan Noord
2,455 residents
Strongest: safety 9.0
- 197.9
Noorderham
3,395 residents
Strongest: amenities 8.9
- 207.8
Noorderhoofdbuurt
2,265 residents
Strongest: safety 9.5
- 217.7
Noorderveen
410 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 9.0
- 227.5
Zuiderhoofdbuurt
1,985 residents
Strongest: amenities 9.7
- 237.3
Westerkoog Midden
2,635 residents
Strongest: safety 7.6
- 247.2
Langeheit Oost
120 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 8.7
- 256.9
De Zuid
1,475 residents
Strongest: safety 9.6
- 266.6
Westerwatering Noord
3,735 residents
Strongest: safety 7.5
- 276.1
Industriebuurt
260 residents
Strongest: safety 8.3
- 286.0
Bomenbuurt
3,950 residents
Strongest: families 9.5
- 295.9
Zaanse Schans
405 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 9.1
- 305.8
Middel
105 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 9.9
- 315.7
Snuiverbuurt
2,660 residents
Strongest: families 9.6
- 325.7
Westzanerdijk
1,465 residents
Strongest: families 8.7
- 335.6
Kalf
3,825 residents
Strongest: quiet & nature 7.4
- 345.6
Poelenburg Noord
3,065 residents
Strongest: families 10.0
- 355.4
Westknollendam
475 residents
Strongest: families 7.5
- 365.0
Westerpolder
125 residents
Strongest: wealth & income 8.9
- 374.9
Oud Koog
5,025 residents
Strongest: amenities 9.5
- 384.8
Westerkoog Oost
3,685 residents
Strongest: safety 6.0
- 394.6
Poelenburg Zuid
3,875 residents
Strongest: families 9.9
- 404.5
Bomenbuurt Oost
2,595 residents
Strongest: families 9.9
- 414.4
Peldersveld Oost
3,220 residents
Strongest: families 9.9
- 424.1
Oud West
5,350 residents
Strongest: amenities 9.4
- 434.0
Vennenbuurt
1,665 residents
Strongest: families 7.3
- 444.0
Langeheit West
1,105 residents
Strongest: families 9.0
- 454.0
Hoornseveld
3,495 residents
Strongest: quiet & nature 7.1
- 463.9
Kalf Noord
2,280 residents
Strongest: safety 8.0
- 473.9
Havenbuurt
785 residents
Strongest: families 7.1
- 483.9
Wormerveer Zuid
3,805 residents
Strongest: amenities 9.0
- 493.7
Kleurenbuurt
1,880 residents
Strongest: families 9.9
- 503.7
Oud Zaandijk
2,925 residents
Strongest: amenities 8.5
Frequently asked questions
How is this list ranked?
On the total grade: safety, amenities, wealth & income, quiet & nature and how the area works out for families, each counting equally. The grade is the neighbourhood's national position on that mix, not the average of the separate grades.
Why is Waterrijk West at the top?
Waterrijk West scores a 9.9 on this list, with families 10.0 as its strongest side. That is the highest of every neighbourhood in Zaanstad that has a grade for this measure.
How often are these figures updated?
The crime figures are from the police for 2025; population, boundaries and the other characteristics come from the CBS neighbourhood statistics for 2025. Both are published once a year; the list is recalculated as soon as a new edition appears.