Zeeheldenkwartier

The character of the Zeeheldenkwartier

If one Hague district embodies the urban, free-spirited heart of the city, it’s the Zeeheldenkwartier. Named after the Dutch admirals — Piet Hein, De Ruyter, Tromp — this is a densely built, lively 19th-century district where independent shops, cafés and creative businesses set the tone. Neither raw nor polished, but precisely in between: authentic, diverse and always on the move.

The area sits right beside the centre, within walking distance of the Noordeinde, the Palace Garden and The Hague Central. That central location, combined with the buzzing streets, has made the Zeeheldenkwartier a magnet for young city-dwellers for years.

Location and atmosphere

The Zeeheldenkwartier is partly bordered by canals — the Veenkade and Toussaintkade — that give it a typically Hague cityscape. The Piet Heinstraat and Prins Hendrikstraat together form one of the nicest shopping routes in the city, with vintage, design, antiques, curios and a string of cafés and restaurants.

It’s a decidedly urban district: a high built density, plenty of life and a mixed, international population. Greenery is mainly along the water and on the squares, with the Prins Hendrikplein as its anchor.

A brief history

The Zeeheldenkwartier arose in the second half of the nineteenth century, as The Hague expanded beyond its old canals. The area was built up rapidly with closed blocks of maisonettes for a fast-growing urban population. That origin is still visible everywhere in the narrow, tall façades and the fine-grained street pattern.

Living and architecture

The housing stock consists almost entirely of multi-family homes: classic upper and lower maisonettes and apartments, often with original details such as tall windows, ornaments and en-suite doors. They are generally more compact town homes, which makes the area ideal for singles, couples and first-time buyers.

That shows in the figures: a clear majority of households live alone, and the share of rental homes is relatively high at around two thirds. For buyers, that means scarcity in the owner-occupied segment — which drives desirability, and with it the price per square metre.

The property market in the Zeeheldenkwartier

The Zeeheldenkwartier is popular and turnover is high. Because the homes are compact, total purchase prices are often lower than in areas with large townhouses, while the price per square metre is high — typical of a central, sought-after city district.

The market figures in this guide are indicative. The value of a specific home depends on location, size, floor level and condition. Curious what your home in the Zeeheldenkwartier is worth? Request a no-obligation valuation.

Shopping, going out and daily life

The charm of the Zeeheldenkwartier lies in its independent entrepreneurs: vintage and design shops on the Piet Heinstraat, antiques and curios on the Prins Hendrikstraat, and a dense network of cafés, coffee spots and restaurants. For daily shopping there are supermarkets and specialist shops, and the markets and amenities of the centre are around the corner.

Who is the Zeeheldenkwartier right for?

This district is made for lovers of city life: young professionals, couples, singles and creatives who want energy, culture and independent shops on their doorstep. If you’re after peace, space and a big garden, you’ll look sooner to greener areas like the Vogelwijk or Benoordenhout. But to live in the middle of the real, lively The Hague, the Zeeheldenkwartier is hard to beat.