The 6 best neighbourhoods in Tilburg

Read about Tilburgs’ top 6 neighbourhoods and discover which areas are great to live in as an international student.

Tirza

5 minute read

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Updated on 26 Aug 2024

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Renting

Tilburg is one of the best cities in the Netherlands for students. The city offers a wide range of facilities and has 13 libraries, 2 universities, and several colleges. No wonder that the city is often referred to as the "city of education"!

If you like living in an urban environment but consider yourself as a nature-lover too, living in Tilburg will be a great fit. Tilburg has 9 well-known parks, where many fairs and festivals take place during the summer. Moreover, Tilburg is situated near the Loonse and Drunense Dunes National Park, a perfect area for walks or mountain bikin.

Public transport in Tilburg is very accessible. The city has 3 railway stations and a high number of bus connections. Living in Tilburg is cheaper than living in other big cities in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam or Utrecht. This is one of the main reasons for many students to op-in for an exchange at Tilburg University.

Did we convince you to live in Tilburg already? Then it’s time to explore which the best neighbourhoods in Tilburg are. In this article we’ll tell you about living in:

1. Tilburg Centre
2. De Korvel
3. Het Dwaalgebied
4. Spoorzone
5. Wilhelminapark
6. Het Zand

Let’s dive into your options!

Living in the lively city centre of Tilburg means you can crawl home after a night out. This might be the reason why it’s one of the most popular (student) districts in Tilburg. This isn’t a surprise since Tilburg University is just 15 minutes away by bike!

As you might expect, rental prices here are higher compared to the areas outside of the city centre. You can expect to pay an average of €1,000 for an apartment around here.

Although the rental prices here are high, they're still lower than the majority of other Dutch cities!

Tilburg's city centre has a combination of old, historic buildings and modern structures. You’ll find large retailers such as Primark and Decathlon, numerous supermarkets, as well as smaller shops such as local bakeries or butchers. Great when you’re planning to have a dinner party at your place!

Living in the heart of Tilburg ensures that there’s always something to do. Whether you like museums, fine dining, sharing a drink or going for a run, you’ll find the right place for you in the city centre.

As with city centres in every city, this is where you’ll find the most hustle and bustle. There seems to be something happening here 24/7. Keep that in mind if you prefer to have more peace around your home.

Tilburg’s neighbourhood De Korvel has a lot of student housing. Living in this neighbourhood means you’ll be right between the centre and Stappegoor: an area with many study and sports facilities.

Do you prefer to have all of your amenities close at hand? Then this neighbourhood is ideal for you. Foreign eateries, night stores, and supermarkets are all within walking distance in this area. As a result of the convenience that the area offers, the rents are similar to those in the city centre, setting the average monthly rent for an apartment at around €1,000.

It takes about 15 minutes to cycle to Tilburg University, and less than 10 minutes to cycle to Hogeschool Tilburg from De Korvel.

De Korvel is a great place to live if you don’t want to go far to enjoy some foreign cuisine!

Het Dwaalgebied will appeal to everyone who enjoys living nearby trendy stores and cafes. Some people refer to Tilburg as the "ugly" textile city, but once you visit this part of town, you won’t see anything that supports this.

The Dwaalgebied area consists of narrow streets. Wander around the corners and stop for a cup of coffee while travelling to university. You’ll find a variety of wonderful shops to choose from around Dwaalgebied that range from small decorative ones to stores of major international brands. Besides that, Dwaalgebied offers its residents with a plethora of restaurants to choose from.

Living at the Het Dwaalgebied neighbourhood in Tilburg means you’re within reach of all educational institutions. Travelling to Tilburg University or Hogeschool Tilburg will take you between 10 and 15 minutes by bike.

The Spoorzone, ‘railway zone’, district in Tilburg is an upcoming area. The Spoorzone is home to hip hotspots and student facilities, making it an attractive area to live in.

One of the spots that attracts a lot of students is LocHal, the new city library. A place to borrow books and study in peace within a modern space.

You'll also find the popular Deprez building in this area. This is a space specifically made for students to study, completely free of charge.

Looking to enjoy some well-deserved downtime? You can eat delicious food at “Raw” and enjoy engaging events at the culture factory called Hall of Fame.

Another advantage of living in this area of Tilburg is that you’ll live close to the train station. If your travel aspirations are tame, this area is ideal for students since t takes about 10 minutes to cycle to the colleges and universities.

Not every apartment, studio, or room in Tilburg has its own garden, so it is great to live close to a park. Living nearby the Wilhelminapark is convenient when you want to meet up with friends for a drink outside on a sunny day. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the magical beauty of the park during the rare occasions when it snows.

The Wilheminapark is located in the Bouwmeestersbuurt of Tilburg. In this neighbourhood, you’ll find many characteristic houses that were built in the late 1930s. Living in the Wilhelminapark area means you’re a 10 to 15-minute bike ride away from Tilburg University or Hogeschool Tilburg.

This area is loved by both students as young families alike, so you’re sure to find your spot here. You definitely won’t regret investing the extra effort to find housing here.

The Het Zand neighbourhood is located west of the city centre. The houses in this area were built in 1950s to 1960s, giving them the characteristic Dutch look and feel. This neighbourhood is home to a mix of elderly residents and international students.

Despite the fact that the city centre is a bit further away, you'll still have access to everything you need. Het Zand has its own shopping centre called ‘The Westermarkt’ with plenty of stores to choose from. There is a market every Thursday morning from 08:00 to 12:00 where you can buy fruit, vegetables, and other delicacies at a price lower than that in supermarkets.

The weekly outdoor market is perfect for those of you who are looking to stretch your budget!

The Tilburg University railway station is very close by, so you can get to Tilburg Central Station within 3 minutes. From Het Zand, it is only a 5-minute bike ride to Avans Hogeschool and about 10 minutes to Tilburg University. It is a 20-minute bike ride to Fontys at the Stappegoor Campus.

Studying at Tilburg University means you’re part of a big international community. The university welcomes over 13,000 international students from more than 100 nationalities each year.

Tilburg University is known for its top ranking on the local and worldwide level. Being in the top 0,2% of the world, Tilburg University is popular amongst local and international students alike.

Tilburg has more than 25 student associations from various schools and over 23 student sports associations. A great place to meet like-minded international students!

Joining a student association is the best way to meet new people and broaden your horizons!

If living in a dynamic environment with many shops and restaurants is what you’re after,, living in Tilburg’s city centre is the best choice for you.

Prefer to live in an area with many other students and sports facilities? Go and explore living in the Korvel neighbourhood. It could be the perfect place for you!

If you’re a true lover of traditional architecture and creative shops, you’ll feel at home in the Dwaalgebied neighbourhood.

Do you fancy an occasional trip outside the city you live in? The up and coming Spoorzone area is your best bet when looking for accommodation.

Are you a real park lover? Search for a place near Wilhelminapark. You‘ll enjoy many sunny picnics here!

If you don’t mind trading the convenience of the city centre for some extra peace and quiet, you should take a look at the available rentals in the Het Zand neighbourhood.

Ready to start your home search? Find affordable student housing in Tilburg today!