HuisWeter

View of Vaals, the Netherlands
Photos: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain / CC0 / CC BY · Credits
  1. 1. by Braggeleer at Dutch Wikipedia · Public domain · source
Municipality · Limburg

Living in Vaals

The population is growing slower than in the Netherlands. Homes cost less than the Dutch average, and registered crime per resident is lower.

10,106 residents, 5,875 homes, Data: CBS, Politie, RIVM, Kiesraad, NVM, Kadaster

Check a specific home in Vaals

Get a full report on value, costs, energy and surroundings.

At a glance

Compared with the Netherlands · newest year available

Location

© Kadaster / PDOK, CBS

Districts

© Kadaster / PDOK, CBS

01 · Prices & homes

Homes cost less than the Dutch average.

The average WOZ value in Vaals is €238,000, 40% lower than in the Netherlands (€398,000). Between 2014 and 2025 the average WOZ value rose 66%, against a rise of 89% in the Netherlands. 44% of the homes are owner-occupied, 13 percentage points less than in the Netherlands (57%).

Key figures
  • Average WOZ value
    €238,000
    40% lower than the Netherlands (€398,000)
  • Rise in WOZ value since 2014
    +66%
    lower than the Netherlands (+89%)
  • More figures
  • Owner-occupied dwellings
    44%
    13 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (57%)
  • Social housing
    27%
    1 percentage point lower than the Netherlands (28%)
  • Private rent
    27%
    13 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (14%)
  • Single-family dwellings
    52%
    11 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (63%)
  • Built 1992–2005
    8%
    6 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (14%)
  • Built 1945–1964
    18%
    5 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (13%)
  • Built 1965–1974
    19%
    4 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (15%)

WOZ value per year

The average WOZ value rose 66% between 2014 and 2025, to €238,000.

Average WOZ value, 2025
€238,00040% below the Netherlands
  • +66% since 2014
  • Netherlands +89%
Explanation

The WOZ value as struck on 1 January of the year before the KWB edition.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

The market in Zuid-Limburg

In the Zuid-Limburg region (Q3 2026), half of all homes sold for more than €3,110/m², and 60% sold above the asking price.

Figures from NVM estate agents for Q3 2026

Sale price per m²
€3,110/m²

Of the homes sold in Zuid-Limburg in Q3 2026, half went for more than €3,110 per m² of living area and half for less. All dwelling types combined.

Asking vs sale price
+2.1%

The final sale price in Zuid-Limburg came in 2.1% above the last asking price. Budget for that.

Sold above asking
60%

60% of the homes sold in Zuid-Limburg in Q3 2026 went for more than the asking price.

Sale price per m² by dwelling type

Terraced house
€2,806/m²
End-of-terrace house
€2,912/m²
Semi-detached house
€3,049/m²
Detached house
€3,357/m²
Apartment
€3,354/m²

Figures from NVM estate agents covering existing owner-occupied homes in COROP region Zuid-Limburg, Q3 2026. A region spans dozens of municipalities, so this describes the surrounding market, not this street or this house.

Source: NVM Marktoverzicht 2026-Q3

Modelled ownership costs

Modelled ownership costs for a typical dwelling here: ~€294 per month (excluding mortgage and energy)

€294/ month

Typical home here, before mortgage and energy

  • 123 m² · estimated gemeente average
  • WOZ €238,000 · average here
Levies you'll be billed€126NL median
  • Water board levy€38–
  • Waste levy€36€27
  • Property tax (OZB)€26€21
  • Sewage levy€26€22
Costs to set aside€168
  • Maintenance reserve€157–
  • Buildings insurance€11–

Model estimates, not bills.

For this home, Vaals's OZB, sewage and waste levies rank 316th of 334 gemeenten, cheapest first.

cheapestdearest

Water board, maintenance and insurance are estimated from national rates and the home's value and size, so they aren't compared.

Explanation
  • The home: one typical home of 123 m² (estimated gemeente average) with the average WOZ value here, €238,000.
  • Levies: Vaals's own OZB, sewage and waste rates for 2026. The water board levy uses national average rates.
  • Set aside: maintenance at 0.85% and buildings insurance at 0.06% a year of the rebuild cost (€1,800 per m²).
  • NL median: what the same home would pay in the middle gemeente. Gemeenten where a regional body collects the waste levy are left out.
  • Not included: mortgage and energy. These are estimates, not actual bills.

Source: Municipal levies + CBS 2026

Dwelling value ladder

Vaals has the 4th-lowest WOZ value of the 31 gemeenten in the province of Limburg.

Netherlands€398,000
Voerendaal€353,000
Maasgouw€348,000
Echt-Susteren€330,000
Beekdaelen€327,000
Roerdalen€325,000
Beesel€324,000
Beek (L.)€319,000
Stein (L.)€314,000
Maastricht€313,000
Venlo€312,000
Roermond€311,000
Simpelveld€274,000
Sittard-Geleen€271,000
Landgraaf€265,000
Vaals€238,000

Brunssum€237,000
Heerlen€214,000
Kerkrade€214,000
Explanation

Average WOZ value from the Netherlands down to this area, and its rank within its own group (e.g. buurten within the same wijk). Provincie is omitted: KWB publishes no province rows to average.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB)

WOZ value and age structure

Here: €238,000 average WOZ value.

ValueDwellingsAged 65+
Vaals238,0005,875–
Beek (L.)319,0007,581–
Beekdaelen327,00016,915–
Beesel324,0006,218–
Bergen (L.)358,0005,887–
Brunssum237,00014,527–
Echt-Susteren330,00015,141–
Eijsden-Margraten408,00011,727–
Gennep381,0007,832–
Gulpen-Wittem357,0006,936–
Heerlen214,00046,795–
Horst aan de Maas368,00018,910–
Kerkrade214,00024,035–
Landgraaf265,00018,291–
Leudal363,00016,412–
Maasgouw348,00011,323–
Maastricht313,00066,249–
Meerssen363,0008,717–
Mook en Middelaar451,0003,785–
Nederweert405,0007,696–
Peel en Maas381,00019,196–
Roerdalen325,0009,866–
Roermond311,00029,894–
Simpelveld274,0005,162–
Sittard-Geleen271,00047,306–
Stein (L.)314,00011,886–
Valkenburg aan de Geul343,0008,400–
Venlo312,00049,137–
Venray362,00019,995–
Voerendaal353,0005,883–
Weert357,00023,912–
Explanation

Each circle is an area: position by average WOZ value, size by dwelling count. The 65-and-over share (pct_65_plus) travels on every point but is not yet drawn as a second axis.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB)

Dwellings by ownership

The largest category is owner-occupied, at 44% of dwellings.

  • Owner-occupied44%
  • Social housing27%
  • Private rent27%
Explanation

CBS publishes this as a share of the dwelling stock, not a count.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Dwellings by type

52% of the dwelling stock is single-family homes.

  • Single-family homes52%
  • Multi-family homes48%
Explanation

CBS publishes this as a share of the dwelling stock, not a count.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Dwellings by build period

21% of dwellings were built between 1975 and 1991, against 23% in the Netherlands.

  • Before 194517.6%
  • 1945-196418%
  • 1965-197419.4%
  • 1975-199121%
  • 1992-20057.8%
  • 2006-20154.6%
  • 2016 and later11.5%
Explanation

Based on 5,951 dwellings with a registered construction year in the BAG (verblijfsobjecten whose pand has no usable bouwjaar, such as 1005 or 9999, are excluded).

Source: Kadaster BAG (bag-light.gpkg) 2026-09-01

02 · Safety

Less registered crime per resident than the Dutch average.

In 2025, 39 crimes per 1,000 residents were registered in Vaals, 13% lower than in the Netherlands (45). Since 2021 the registered rate per 1,000 residents rose 25%, against a rise of 5% in the Netherlands. Crimes are counted where they happen, not where the offender lives.

Key figures
  • Crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025
    39
    13% lower than the Netherlands (45)
  • Change since 2021
    +25%
    higher than the Netherlands (+5%)
  • Home burglary per 1,000 dwellings
    2.8
    4% higher than the Netherlands (2.7)

Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025

In 2025, Vaals registered 39 crimes per 1,000 residents, against 45 in the Netherlands.

Vaals39
The Netherlands45
Explanation

Crime is counted where it happens and divided by the number of residents, so places with many visitors — city centres, nightlife, stations — score higher.

Source: CBS/Politie geregistreerde misdrijven (47018NED) 2025

Registered crime per year

In 2025, Vaals registered 39 crimes per 1,000 residents, against 45 in the Netherlands.

Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025
3913% below the Netherlands
  • +25% since 2021
  • Netherlands +5%
Explanation

Registered crime, not all crime — CBS/Politie 47018NED. A year without a matching population figure (KWB) is left out.

Source: CBS/Politie geregistreerde misdrijven (47018NED) 2025

Crime by category

The largest category in Vaals is 'Theft and burglary': 20.0 per 1,000 residents in 2025, against 19.8 in the Netherlands.

VaalsThe Netherlands
  • Theft and burglary20.0
  • Traffic6.9
  • Vandalism and public order4.4
  • Violence and threats3.1
  • Fraud and scams2.9
  • Other and withheld1.2
  • Environmental0.3
Explanation

Four categories are structurally withheld at buurt level (sex offences, child pornography, child prostitution, other integrity offences); the gap with the published total is shown under 'other'.

Source: CBS/Politie geregistreerde misdrijven (47018NED) 2025

Home burglary

Home burglary 2023-2025: 2.8 per 1,000 dwellings a year on average, against 2.7 in the Netherlands.

Vaals2.84
The Netherlands2.69
Explanation

Averaged over 3 years (2023-2025) to dampen year-to-year noise at low counts.

Source: CBS/Politie geregistreerde misdrijven (47018NED) 2025

Traffic accidents by outcome

In 2024, police in Vaals registered 64 traffic accidents, of which 9 with injury and none fatal.

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
FatalInjuryMaterial damage only
Explanation

Registered accidents (BRON, Rijkswaterstaat); material-damage-only accidents have not been systematically registered since roughly 2010 and are not comparable between areas.

Source: BRON — Bestand geRegistreerde Ongevallen Nederland (Rijkswaterstaat) 2024

03 · Living environment

Residents rate their health below the Dutch average; green space is above the Dutch average.

An estimated 65% of adults in Vaals rate their own health as good, 8 percentage points less than in the Netherlands. Fewer adults meet the physical activity guideline (39% against 48%) and fewer drink excessively (4% against 6%), but more feel lonely (54% against 47%) and more smoke (19% against 17%). Agricultural land is the largest land use in Vaals, covering 55% of the area, against 52% in the Netherlands. Green space such as parks, sports fields, forest and nature covers 34% of the area, 18 percentage points above the 16% in the Netherlands.

Key figures
  • Self-rated health (estimated)
    65%
    8 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (73%)
  • Green (parks, sport, nature)
    34%
    18 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (16%)
  • More figures
  • Meets physical activity guideline
    39%
    9 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (48%)
  • Lonely
    54%
    7 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (47%)
  • Overweight
    54%
    2 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (52%)
  • Anxiety or depression feelings
    49%
    2 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (47%)
  • Water, share of the area
    0%
    19 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (19%)
  • Forest and nature, share of the area
    31%
    18 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (13%)
  • Agriculture, share of the area
    55%
    3 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (52%)

Health

An estimated 65% of adults rate their own health as good, against 73% in the Netherlands (2024).

This areaThe Netherlands
Good self-rated health
65.3%
72.8%
Smokes
19%
17.2%
Excessive drinking
4.3%
5.8%
Overweight
53.9%
51.6%
Lonely
54.4%
47.2%
Anxiety or depression feelings
49.3%
47.3%
Meets physical activity guideline
38.8%
48.3%
Explanation

An RIVM model estimate (small-area estimation from the 2024 Health Monitor for Adults and Elderly), not a direct tabulation — even a buurt that was not itself surveyed gets an estimate. Figures cover adults aged 18 and over.

Source: RIVM/CBS Gezondheidsmonitor Volwassenen en Ouderen (kleine-gebieden-schatting) 2024

Land use

34% of the area is green (parks, sport, nature), against 16% in the Netherlands.

  • Traffic1.8%
  • Built-up8.5%
  • Other built-up0.1%
  • Recreation3.3%
  • Agriculture55.2%
  • Forest and nature31%
Explanation

Every share is calculated as a percentage of the TOTAL area (land and water together, peiljaar 2022); water is therefore one of the slices itself, not a separate whole. Green is the sum of recreational terrain (parks, sport fields, allotments, day recreation) and natural terrain (forest, open natural terrain) — agricultural land is not counted as green here.

Source: CBS Bodemgebruik (86211NED) 2022

04 · Residents

The population is growing slower than the Dutch average.

Vaals has 10,106 inhabitants (2026), or 423 per km² (22% lower than in the Netherlands). Between 2014 and 2026 the population rose 4%, against a rise of 8% in the Netherlands. In the 2025 House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) election, turnout in Vaals was 73%, 5 percentage points below the national 78%. Of the parties that are largest nationally, PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid) had the highest share there: 25% of the vote, against 17% nationally.

Key figures
  • Population growth since 2014
    +4%
    lower than the Netherlands (+8%)
  • Turnout
    73%
    5 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (78%)
  • More figures
  • Growth of the dwelling stock
    +12%
    higher than the Netherlands (+10%)
  • Aged 45 to 65
    28%
    2 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (26%)
  • Never married
    44%
    6 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (50%)
  • European origin (not Dutch)
    45%
    35 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (10%)
  • Secondary education (havo, vwo, mbo 2–4)
    39%
    2 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (41%)
  • PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid), share of the vote
    25%
    8 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (17%)

Population per year

The population grew 4% between 2014 and 2026, to 10,106.

Residents, 2026
10,106
  • +4% since 2014
  • Netherlands +8%

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2026

Density

Residents per km²: 423.

Residents per km²423
Dwellings per km²245.9

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2026

Births and deaths per 1,000 residents

In 2025, 5.8 children were born per 1,000 residents; 13.7 died per 1,000.

2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
BirthsDeaths

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Residents by age group

28% of residents are between 45 and 65.

  • 0 to 151,053
  • 15 to 251,191
  • 25 to 451,983
  • 45 to 652,826
  • 65 to 802,207
  • 80 and over846

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2026

Marital status

44% of residents are never married.

  • Never married4,419
  • Married4,022
  • Divorced961
  • Widowed704

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2026

Residents by country of origin

45% of residents have European origin (outside the Netherlands).

  • Netherlands4,494
  • Europe (excluding the Netherlands)4,591
  • Outside Europe1,021

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2026

Education level of residents aged 15 to 75

39% of residents have a havo, vwo or mbo2-4 level education.

  • Primary, vmbo, mbo12,320
  • Havo, vwo, mbo2-42,910
  • Higher professional, university2,310

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2024

Parliamentary election

At the general election (Tweede Kamer) of 29 October 2025, 73% of eligible voters in Vaals voted. The largest party was PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid) with 25% of the valid votes.

Municipality of VaalsThe Netherlands
D66
13.2%
16.9%
PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid)
24.8%
16.7%
VVD
11.6%
14.2%
GROENLINKS / Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA)
13.9%
12.8%
CDA
12.7%
11.8%
JA21
5.2%
5.9%
Forum voor Democratie
4.8%
4.5%
BBB
3.9%
2.6%
Other
9.8%
14.4%
Explanation

Official election result (Kiesraad), top 8 parties by national vote count plus 'Other'; share of valid votes.

Source: Kiesraad — Verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer (data.overheid.nl) TK2025

05 · More figures

More figures

Vaals has an average of 0.9 cars per household, 18% lower than in the Netherlands (1.1). 16% of cars run on something other than petrol (diesel, LPG or electricity, hybrids included), 10 percentage points less than in the Netherlands (26%).

Key figures
  • Trade and hospitality, share of businesses
    23%
    7 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (16%)
  • Business services, share of businesses
    20%
    5 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (25%)
  • Culture, recreation and other services, share of businesses
    14%
    3 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (11%)
  • Cars per household (2025)
    0.9
    18% lower than the Netherlands (1.1)
  • Cars not on petrol (2025)
    16%
    10 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (26%)
  • Change in cars not on petrol since 2014
    +5 pp
    about the same as the Netherlands (+5 pp)
  • Lodging, share of addresses
    7%
    5 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (2%)
  • Residential, share of addresses
    84%
    3 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (87%)
  • Industrial, share of addresses
    1%
    3 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (4%)
  • Average WOZ value
    €238,000
    40% lower than the Netherlands (€398,000)
  • Multi-family dwellings
    48%
    11 percentage points higher than the Netherlands (37%)
  • Owner-occupied dwellings
    44%
    13 percentage points lower than the Netherlands (57%)

Business establishments by sector

Handel en horeca is the largest sector, with 210 establishments.

Landbouw, bosbouw en visserij35
Nijverheid en energie130
Handel en horeca210
Vervoer, informatie en communicatie55
Financiële diensten, onroerend goed35
Zakelijke dienstverlening185
Overheid, onderwijs en zorg145
Cultuur, recreatie, overige diensten125

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Passenger cars by fuel type

16% of passenger cars do not run on petrol (diesel, LPG, electric etc.), against 26% in the Netherlands (2025).

  • Petrol84.4%
  • Other fuel (diesel, LPG, electric etc.)15.6%
Explanation

CBS splits passenger cars into 'petrol' and 'other fuel' only. That second category bundles diesel, LPG, electric (including hybrid), hydrogen, alcohol, LNG and CNG together — CBS publishes no separate electric-car count per buurt, wijk or gemeente, so this is not the same as an 'electric share'.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Share on other fuel per year

The share of passenger cars not running on petrol went from 11% to 16% between 2014 and 2025.

Share on other fuel, 2025
16%10 percentage points below the Netherlands (26%)
  • +5 pp since 2014
  • Netherlands +5 pp
Explanation

See the 'Passenger cars by fuel type' card for what 'other fuel' covers — this is not the share of electric cars.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Vehicles by kind

In 2025, 4,865 passenger cars and 395 motorcycles were registered here.

Passenger cars4,865
Motorcycles395
Explanation

At this level CBS publishes only passenger cars and motorcycles, no vans or trucks.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

Addresses by building use

84% of addresses are residential; the largest other use is lodging (7%).

  • Residential84.1%
  • Retail2%
  • Office0.6%
  • Assembly1.5%
  • Healthcare0.3%
  • Industrial0.7%
  • Lodging6.8%
  • Education0.1%
  • Sports0.2%
  • Other5.3%
Explanation

Based on 7,078 verblijfsobjecten in use. An object with several registered uses (e.g. a flat above a shop) is counted under each of them, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

Source: Kadaster BAG (bag-light.gpkg) 2026-09-01

Biggest difference from the Netherlands

27% private rent, against 14% nationally.

This areaThe Netherlands
  • Private rent27%
  • Average WOZ value€238,000
  • Multi-family dwellings48%
  • Owner-occupied dwellings44%
  • Residents per km²423
Explanation

The 5 characteristics that differ most from the national average, ranked by log ratio (so a halving and a doubling count as equally different); the shown percentage is the ordinary difference against the Netherlands.

Source: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2025

06 · Neighbourhoods

Compare the districts of Vaals

Compare the districts of Vaals
Vijlen-Lemiers2,695€340,00056
Vaals7,410€208,00033

Sources: CBS Kerncijfers wijken en buurten (KWB) 2026, Kadaster BAG (bag-light.gpkg) 2026-09-01, NVM Marktoverzicht 2026-Q3, CBS/Politie geregistreerde misdrijven (47018NED) 2025, BRON — Bestand geRegistreerde Ongevallen Nederland (Rijkswaterstaat) 2024, Kiesraad — Verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer (data.overheid.nl) TK2025, RIVM/CBS Gezondheidsmonitor Volwassenen en Ouderen (kleine-gebieden-schatting) 2024, CBS Bodemgebruik (86211NED) 2022, Municipal levies + CBS 2026. Figures describe the whole municipality.

How we calculate
Living in Vaals: house prices, WOZ & neighbourhoods