Houses for Rent in Lochem, Netherlands
Lochem houses: ~15% below Apeldoorn prices
Renting a house in Lochem is a fundamentally different experience from renting in a larger Gelderland city. Here, standalone family homes with gardens and private parking are the norm rather than a premium rarity. The Achterhoek landscape surrounds the town on all sides, meaning many rental houses sit on quiet streets with green views, something you pay a steep premium for in Apeldoorn or Enschede. At around €1,315/month on average, houses in Lochem run roughly 15% below Apeldoorn pricing, giving families and couples genuine value without sacrificing quality.
Lochem itself is a compact Gelderland market town of about 33,500 inhabitants, known for the weekly Thursday market on the Markt square, the medieval Grote Kerk tower, and its position along the Berkel river. The house rental market here caters primarily to families relocating within the Achterhoek region, professionals commuting to nearby employment centers, and couples who want the space and quiet of a Gelderland town without the price tag of a major city. You can browse all rental types across the region on RentHunter to get a feel for what's currently on the market.
One practical thing to know: the Lochem rental market moves at its own pace. Listings don't flood in and out at the speed of Amsterdam or Utrecht. When a well-priced family house appears, it tends to attract serious interest quickly. Having your income documents, employment contract, and references ready before you start viewing makes a real difference.
Commuting from Lochem
Lochem sits in the heart of the Achterhoek, connected by the Zutphen–Hengelo rail line. The town's own station, Lochem, has direct services towards Zutphen in the west and Hengelo in the east. From Zutphen you can transfer to intercity services across the Netherlands. For car commuters, the A1 motorway is accessible via Deventer or Hengelo, and the N346 connects the Achterhoek corridor directly.
Apeldoorn (~30 min by car)
Apeldoorn is the most logical commuting destination for Lochem residents, reachable in roughly 30 minutes by car via the N346 and A50. It is Gelderland's second-largest employment center, home to major insurers, government offices, and a large healthcare sector. Many families choose Lochem precisely to access Apeldoorn's job market while paying around 15% less in rent.
Hengelo (~105 min by transit, ~35 min by car)
Hengelo is the eastern anchor on the Lochem rail line, taking around 105 minutes by public transit but considerably faster by car. The Twente region centered on Hengelo and neighboring Enschede is a major technology and manufacturing hub, with companies like Thales and a strong industrial cluster. Renters who work in the Twente corridor and want a quieter Gelderland base find Lochem an appealing midpoint.
Zutphen: the transfer hub 20 minutes away
Zutphen, roughly 20 minutes from Lochem by train, is the key interchange station for the wider network. From Zutphen you can connect to Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Deventer, and ultimately to intercity services reaching Amsterdam, Utrecht, and beyond. For Lochem residents who need to travel further afield but don't want to live in a large city, Zutphen functions as the gateway to national rail.
Lochem station has covered bicycle parking, and many rental houses in the town center are within a 10-minute bike ride of the platform. A bike-to-train commute to Zutphen is a practical daily routine for many Lochem residents.
Lochem vs Apeldoorn: what the 15% gap actually buys you
With an average house rent of around €1,315/month in Lochem versus approximately €1,315 being already the Lochem average that sits 15% below Apeldoorn, a comparable house in Apeldoorn would cost you roughly €1,550/month or more. That gap of around €235/month translates to over €2,800 a year in rent savings. For families signing a two-year lease, that's potentially more than €5,600 back in your pocket, enough for a significant home improvement budget or to build up a moving deposit.
The trade-off is real: Apeldoorn has a larger city center, more schools within walking distance, and a wider range of shops and services. Lochem is genuinely a smaller town, and anyone used to city-level amenity density will need to adjust. But for families who value a private garden, a detached or semi-detached house, and quiet residential streets over urban convenience, that trade-off tips decisively in Lochem's favor.
If you want to explore the broader Gelderland market, houses in Arnhem represent another reference point, typically at higher price levels than Lochem. For furnished options, furnished houses in Arnhem can give you a sense of what the premium segment looks like in the region.
Lochem neighborhoods: where families settle
- Historic center near Grote Kerk: pre-war characterThe area immediately around the Grote Kerk and Markt square is Lochem's oldest residential zone, with a mix of period townhouses and renovated canal-adjacent properties. Houses here are typically older and more compact, with smaller gardens or courtyard spaces. The location is unbeatable for access to weekly markets, local shops, and the town's café culture. It suits couples and small families who value walkability above space.
- Laren and outskirts: space and greenery for familiesThe village of Laren lies just a few kilometers from Lochem town center and is part of the same municipality. This is classic Achterhoek countryside: detached farmhouse-style homes, large plots, mature trees, and quiet lanes used more by cyclists than cars. Rental houses here are rare but when available, they offer significant space for the price. Families with young children who want a back garden for outdoor play and a rural atmosphere without being far from town find this area compelling.
- Postwar residential belt: practical family streetsRinging the historic core is a belt of post-1950s terraced and semi-detached houses, the bread-and-butter rental stock of Lochem. These streets offer what many families actually want: two or three bedrooms, a rear garden, a garage or parking space, and solid construction from the 1960s and 1970s. Schools and the local supermarkets are typically within cycling distance. This is the most common type of house available for rent in Lochem, and where the bulk of listings in the €1,100–€1,400 range tend to fall.
- Station area: quick access for commuting professionalsThe streets closest to Lochem station attract renters whose daily rhythm revolves around the train. Houses here tend to be smaller terraced properties, but the trade-off is that you can walk to the platform in under five minutes. For a professional commuting daily to Zutphen, Apeldoorn via Zutphen, or Hengelo, this location eliminates the need for a car entirely for weekday commutes. Rental prices near the station are broadly in line with the town average, and you can find both apartments in Lochem and houses in this zone.
Frequently asked questions about renting a house in Lochem
How much does it cost to rent a house in Lochem?
Based on listings tracked in Lochem, the average rent for a house sits around €1,315/month. Smaller terraced houses can come in below €1,100, while larger detached homes or those in more rural settings on the outskirts may reach €1,500 or above. The price level is roughly 15% below comparable houses in Apeldoorn, which is why many families relocating to the Achterhoek give Lochem serious consideration.
Are houses with a garden common to find in Lochem?
Yes, garden access is one of the defining advantages of the Lochem house rental market compared to larger cities. The majority of rental houses in the post-war residential belt come with a rear garden, and detached homes further from the center often have sizeable plots. In cities like Amsterdam or Utrecht, a private garden is a costly premium; in Lochem, it's standard. If a garden is your primary requirement, you're well-served here, though it's always worth confirming whether the garden is private or shared when viewing.
Is Lochem a good base if I work in Apeldoorn?
It depends on how you commute. By car, the roughly 30-minute drive via the N346 and A50 is perfectly manageable as a daily commute, and many Lochem residents do exactly this. By public transit the route is less direct, requiring a train to Zutphen and then an onward connection to Apeldoorn, which adds time. If you drive, Lochem is a very practical Apeldoorn alternative at around 15% lower rent. If you rely entirely on public transport, the journey is doable but requires planning around train schedules.
Can I find houses for rent in Lochem's surrounding villages?
The municipality of Lochem includes several smaller villages such as Laren, Barchem, and Gorssel, and rental properties do occasionally appear in these settlements. Supply is limited and turnover is low, meaning houses here rarely appear and go quickly when they do. Most property managers focus their Lochem-area listings on the main town itself. If village living in the Achterhoek countryside is a priority, it's worth checking aggregated listings across the broader municipality on RentHunter and setting up alerts, rather than waiting for a specific village to generate supply on its own.
How does Lochem compare to Enschede for renting a house?
Enschede is a significantly larger city with a university, a larger rental market, and more housing variety overall. Rental houses in Enschede tend to be more abundant, but prices in the family house segment are often comparable to or higher than Lochem. The key difference is lifestyle: Enschede offers city amenities, a student population, and more urban services, while Lochem offers quiet, space, and the Achterhoek countryside. You can compare the two markets directly by checking houses in Enschede alongside Lochem listings to see which fits your situation.









