Buying a home in De Maten, Ter Apel.
De Maten is a quiet residential neighborhood on the edge of Ter Apel where you'll find mostly single-family homes and small apartment blocks—solid, practical Dutch housing, not flashy. It's popular with families and retirees because you're close enough to the town center's shops and services, but far enough to have actual peace. The Westerwolde landscape of open fields and forest patches surrounds you, so walking and cycling are genuinely pleasant here. You're looking at a slower pace than bigger towns, which means lower prices and neighbors who actually know each other.
Start free trialWhat to consider when buying in De Maten
Pros:
- Quiet, low-density residential area with detached and semi-detached houses, no apartment blocks
- Direct access to countryside: fields and forests start at the edge of the neighborhood
- Affordable housing prices compared to western Netherlands
- Primary school (De Maten) within walking distance
Cons:
- No train station in Ter Apel; nearest is Veendam (5 km away, limited regional service)
- Minimal local amenities: no supermarket, pharmacy, or GP in the immediate area
- Car dependency for daily errands and work commutes
- Aging population in the region with ongoing demographic decline
- Summer 2023 refugee center crisis in Ter Apel created lasting tension in the community
Finding a home in Ter Apel
Choose homes that fit your needs and compare listings carefully. Check practical points such as living area, layout and condition before deciding which homes to consider.
Asking prices and sale prices in Ter Apel
To assess whether the asking price is competitive, look at recent sales of homes with similar characteristics in Ter Apel, rather than treating the area's median sale price as the value of this particular home.
The wider housing market in Ter Apel
Buying a home in Ter Apel? The median sale price was around € 346,000 in the previous full quarter. As you compare homes, check characteristics such as living area and condition against similar recent sales.
Updated: September 2026