10 Tips for securing a room in the Netherlands
Finding accommodation in the Netherlands is not easy. It can take months to find a room, which can understandably be very stressful. However, there are ways to increase your chances of securing a room on time. Here are our tips!
You can also join our free webinar on April 25, 2024, where we will talk about how to find housing and where you can book our housing support.
- Start as early as possible (for example, from mid-May)! Subscribe to local student housing agencies (your university will provide a list of reliable real estate companies) right after enrolling. Waiting times are usually several months.
Generic platforms often don’t work (except Pararius). They usually just repost listings from others, which are often already rented. Try to find agencies that have their own listings and do not repost others’ offers.
Follow local Facebook groups to look for a room. Just have a “decent” Facebook profile and respond to listings you find. Always verify that the offers are legitimate! Unfortunately, many people fall victim to scams.
Goingdutch housing buddies: Unfair but true – most private housing (not offered by international student housing agencies) goes to people already living in the Netherlands. Landlords and tenants prefer to see applicants in person.
If possible, spend a few weeks in the Netherlands during your summer vacation to search for rooms on-site.
You can also use our housing buddies (available for our partner universities in Leeuwarden, Emmen, Zwolle, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Enschede, Deventer, Tilburg, Breda, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Venlo, Vlissingen, Middelburg, The Hague, and Haarlem). Sign up for the April 25, 2024 webinar to learn more!
Consider temporary housing until October or November, because many rental offers become available then when demand is lower, giving you a better chance to view the property.
Living in the Netherlands makes finding housing easier, because you’ll meet more people who know about available rooms, sublets, or our housing options. Your first room doesn’t have to be your final one. Paying a little extra for a temporary place or staying in a small room for a few months is better than nothing!
Book a room in the Social Hub (Student Hotel) if your city has one while searching for cheaper housing. You need to book as early as March/April for a September start.
Sign up for Hospihousing, where families offer rooms to students—a new initiative focused on international students. Marktplaats.nl can also work for short-term stays.
Check smaller towns near your university city, 10–30 minutes by train. Train stations are usually very close to the universities.
Finding housing is like training for a marathon: work on it every day, respond to all opportunities, and don’t give up!
For more info and personalized advice, join our free webinar on April 25, 2024 at 18:30.
