Schiermonnikoog is the smallest inhabited Wadden island and one of the least densely populated municipalities in the Netherlands. The municipality has only a few hundred permanent residents and the entire island has national park status. It is car-free, accessible only by ferry from Lauwersoog on the mainland. The housing market is extremely tight: supply is minimal and demand is structurally high.

The statistics for Schiermonnikoog deviate significantly from the national average on almost every measure. The comparisons below illustrate this clearly — from population density to property values and safety scores.

• Extremely low population density: fewer than 15 residents per km²
• Housing stock is almost exclusively existing properties; new development is effectively prohibited
• Safety scores are among the highest in the Netherlands