Finding housing as an international student can be a challenging task, but it's important to not give up. Keep in mind that the housing market can be competitive, and it may take some time to find the perfect place for you. Currently there is a bit of a housing crisis in the Netherlands, especially in the bigger cities. This means that it WILL be hard to find the right accomodation. This ofcourse varies between cities and universities, and how much budget you have available. Sometimes the process can feel quite harsh and ruthless. Please don't feel discouraged by all of this, as with the right mindset and approach also you can find the right place to stay. Please make sure to read our Checklist for international students coming to the Netherlands for other tips and tricks!

Links in this post are sponsored, marked with an *.

Make sure you can register at the municipality

The most important thing about housing, and I cannot stress this enough, is that you can register yourself at the adres with the municipality. There are two main reasons for this.

1. If you cannot register, the person you're renting from, or your roommate is probably a scam and/or doing something illegal. Don't fall for it, you get a fine, or worse lose get kicked out.
2. Registering yourself at the municipality is a pre-requirement for getting a lot of things in order such as your Government ID, open a bank account, take out a loan or student finance, get a mobile phone subscription, go to a doctor, etc.

Don't fall for it.

Kamernet and Huurwoningen

Kamernet^* is the biggest platform for students who are looking for a place to stay in almost all big cities in the Netherlands. This is what most people recommend when asked where to search for a room. Most people who sign up here are able to find accomodation, but it requires some time and persistence. You pay a fixed fee per month which allows you to respond to the available listings.

Huurwoningen^* is the recommended platform for usage by international students. Where Kamernet is oftentimes more focussed on dutch speaking students, Huurwoningen^* is more focused on the private market for which most landlords don't care if you're speaking dutch or english. It also has the benefit of trying out the platform completely free for 14 days.

Just using these platforms typically isn't enough to get you housing quickly. The thing is, that each place gets hundreds of requests within one hour after it being it online. They usually only pick the first few who applied for a viewing. Additionally, cheaper places have much more people applying to it because it is within the budget of most of the people really. As students, it is a lot more difficult, which is unfortunate. Also, as there is so much demand, they can just pick the candidate that fits their requirements perfectly.

A few tips

1. I would suggest to subscribe to services that send you a notification as soon as a new place is published (i.e. Stekkies^*). I got like 10 viewings in the span of two weeks and found my place in the third week. I think the reason that I got invited for so many viewings is because I sent my application within 1-2 minutes of the post being online. This approach is more suitable for someone who is currently in the Netherlands, as the listings shown by Stekkies^* are mostly from agencies, and they don’t even reply to someone who requests an online viewing.

2. try to create a group of 2-3 people. That way, you guys can apply to places that are higher up in price category, which naturally will have less competition. Please try to find people who have about the same financial situation as you.

3. have a text ready that you can copy and paste for each application. It should contain all necessary information about you. Please don’t just write stuff like: “I’m a none smoker, I’m clean, and I’m a good cooker”. Every single post on Facebook I see people only saying these kind of stuff when introducing themselves. Try to include descriptions of your financial situation, that you can provide parental guarantees, etc.

How does it work?

There are a few options outlined below:

• Renting through your university, typically this is lined out quite well on the website of the university, so I will not go into detail of that.
• Private Rental
  • Renting directly from a landlord with the landlord choosing the new tenant.
  • Renting directly from a landlord with the remaining tenants choosing the new tenant.
  • Renting through a rental agency.

Here is how it all works.

Renting through a rental agency

Renting through a rental agency is usually the most difficult and not many people recommend it, but might be worth considering. These rentals you will most often find on non-student focussed websites. The process is fairly straightforward: you write a message expressing interest in a room and ask for a viewing. If the agency is even willing to consider an English-speaking tenant, they will message you back inviting you to a viewing. After you attend the viewing (usually one-on-one with a rental agent, but not always) you will receive an e-mail thanking you for your interest and asking you to send some documents if you wish to apply for that room.

The process after that might feel a bit ruthless. Typically, these agencies invite around 10 to 20 people to view a room and then letting the landlord choose which one they want as a tenant. For the landlord, this choice is usually based upon one thing: the potential tenant’s financial stability. Landlords want tenants that will always pay their rent on time. The bigger your assets, the more likely you are to be deemed as safe. Also, landlords like people who stay in their accomodation for longer periods, so people who are more likely to stay for longer periods are more likely to get the accomodation.

So, once you attend a viewing, if you still wish to apply for that room, you will need to send those documents so that the landlord can look at them and decide if you meet their criteria. And what documents? Well. Usually it’s a copy of your identity card, proof of enrollment in a study programme, proof of receiving study financing (if you do), proof of your employment and income plus last three payslips (if you work) and proof of having a guarantor (guarantor explained at the bottom of this post) if you do not have enough income or savings . Sometimes even more documents. Usually, the more papers you have the better. If you have a savings account, show proof of that. If your parents earn enough and want to be a guarantor, show proof of that. It’s a competition. Whoever can offer the most financial stability wins.

So, if you plan to try and rent through an agency, I cannot stress this enough: GET THOSE DOCUMENTS READY AHEAD OF TIME. After you attend your first viewing and get the list of documents, prepare them and have them ready for every subsequent viewing. It will save you a lot of stress. Different agencies might request different documents but most of it will be the same stuff every time. Be prepared.

Renting form a landlord directly

Many listings can be found on:

• Kamernet^* (biggest offering)
• Huurwoningen^*

Landlord who opt not to use an agency and instead search for tenants themselves will most often use kamernet or sometimes facebook. The process here is somewhat similar to renting through an agency but with significantly less hoops to jump through, because you will get to actually meet the landlord face-to-face. This has several advantages.

While renting through an agency, the landlord does not get to meet you, usually. They will choose a tenant based on the documents they receive and that means they usually only look at where you come from and how much money you have.

When you meet directly with a landlord, a lot of other factors come into play. Financial stability is always important for a landlord but how trustworthy you seem will play a part.

In general, when dealing with landlords here are the things I believe can improve your chances:

• Appearance. Pretty obvious. Clean clothes that don’t stand out, nice smile, all of that. If you’re a smoker, make sure to wear freshly-washed clothes and not smoke before the meeting, so you don’t smell of cigarettes.
• Be ready to answer questions: who is your guarantor? How long are you planning on staying? Why are you interested in this room? Do you plan on working part-time? Job interview rules apply here. You don’t have to be entirely honest, you just have to say the right things that are technically true enough.
• Let them know you have all your documents ready and are prepared to sign a contract immediately if necessary.
• Show that you have read the posted room offer thoroughly and are aware of all the costs and rules. It’s hard to trust someone who comes to a viewing and isn’t even sure how much the rent is.

In general, think about it from the landlord’s perspective. If you had a room to rent out and 10 potential tenants, how would you choose? Landlords are looking for someone who will always pay rent on time, seems clean and quiet, and usually, someone who will stay long-term (at least a year).

When it comes to messaging landlords, keep it short and informative. They probably don’t care about your hobbies. They want to know:

• What is your full name and surname?
• How old are you?
• What university do you attend and what study are you following (WO or HBO?)
• Do you have a guarantor?
• Are you looking for a long-term or short-term rental?
• Can you offer anything in terms of financial stability (savings, part-time job, study finance)?

Lastly, don’t be discouraged by assuming all dutch landlords will only want dutch tenants. This is often not the case. Many landlords that already have international tenants in their house will be looking for more international tenants because they believe internationals bond better among themselves, and thus, will have less conflict. A good rule of thumb is that if an offer is written in English the landlord is likely looking for an international tenant.

Renting from a landlord, with the tenants choosing the new renter

Now, if you think both of the above options won’t work for you, fret not. There is still the third, and arguably most popular option - being chosen as a new tenant by the people already residing in the house.

You're going to find these types of housing on kamernet^* as well as on Facebook groups. This way is significantly different from the other two. Instead of your income what matters is you as a person.

This is sort of like a dating app. You will browse through the different offers, get to read a lot about the tenants currently in the house and what kind of person they are looking for. And trust me, this stuff gets very specific.

Be prepared to read about spirituality, meditating together, movie nights, drinking, going to festivals and being obligated to pretend like you’re interested in all of it even if you’d really rather be left alone most of the time. There are some houses that are more relaxed but a lot of them are looking for friends as much as they are looking for housemates.

A lot of offers you will have to ignore from the get-go due to the requirements. For example, a lot of people are looking for someone who is “further along in their studies or working”. This means no first year bachelor students. Others will have age requirements (most commonly 21+) or gender requirements, or even nationality requirements (the famous ‘no internationals!’).

In my opinion it’s hardly worth it to apply to a room if you don’t meet a hard requirement like that. These posts all receive a lot of responses so if you’re not what they’re looking for, your message will just be ignored. However, every now and then there will be international houses looking for a new roommate, stay on the lookout.

Prepare a generic e-mail/message talking about yourself ahead of time and tweak it slightly with every offer. Know that you will likely have to send hundreds of messages. The post will often talk about what they want to know about you, so make sure to include all of that every time. They will also usually ask for a picture - yes, this is normal. Don’t think too hard about it, it’s not worth it. Just choose a good picture. Dating app rules apply.

Do keep in mind that for these types of rooms, you will usually be invited to a viewing not with an individual time slot, but at the same time as everyone else who applied for the room. This is commonly known as a 'hospiteren' or ‘kijkavond’ and is very normal. It is sort of like a battle royale, typically with a few rounds during the evening where less people are left every time. So you will be crammed in the house with around 10 people, trying to make a good impression on the hosts. Be prepared for it and let out all your anxiety ahead of time. It’s not worth stressing over because you will most likely eventually have to do it again. And again.

This method, while daunting, has advantages. You don’t have to prove your nonexistent income to agencies and landlords. And if you want to make friends with your roommates, eat dinner together, attend festivals and all that jazz - this is where it’s at for you.

If you want to learn more about hospiteren, you can look online for other people recounting their experiences. And don’t be discouraged easily. It’s a numbers game and you just have to keep trying.

Guarantor

A guarantor is someone, usually your parent or close relative, who signs a rental contract alongside you to ensure that if you are unable to pay your rent for whatever reason, they will pay it for you instead. A guarantor is nearly always requested when you try to rent as a student, because students are considered financially instable.

The agencies and landlords will demand proof of your guarantor’s identity (scan of ID card or passport) as well as proof of their income. That means work contracts, payslips and bank statements. Decide who will be your guarantor and get those documents ready (and translated if necessary) ahead of time.

So, the process of renting through an agency involves a lot of effort and is only really an option if either you or your family members earn good money. You may still try if that’s not the case - it’s always worth trying. At the very least, you will attend some viewings and get to see what the process is like.

General tips

• Be quick, with the current housing crisis, may people are on the lookout for a new home. With Stekkies^* you greatly increase your chances by getting the new listings messaged to your WhatsApp directly as soon as they come online, so you can respond to them within minutes.
• Be flexible in your search: Be open to different types of housing and locations, as this can increase your chances of finding something that suits your needs and budget.
• Start your search early: The earlier you start looking for housing, the more options you will have and the better chance you will have of finding something that you like.
• Don't take it personally: You will get rejected many times before finding your housing. Don't take it personally as the competition is high and you have to get a little bit of luck.
• Be persistent: Keep in mind that finding housing is a process and it may take some time. Don't get discouraged if you don't find something right away, keep searching and stay positive.
• Commute: Sometimes you find housing a bit further away. Note that distance does not count, but infrastructure. The Netherlands has excellent public transport, which can be free for students. Check out 9292.nl.
• Get help: Reach out to your university's housing office or student housing organizations, they may have resources or listings that are not available publicly.
• Get creative: Look beyond traditional options such as student housing and apartments. Consider finding a room in a shared apartment or house, or even living in a hostel or hotel temporarily while you continue your search.
• Don't stop until you have a signed contract: Keep applying until you have a contract, even if you got accepted. The room may still be cancelled so make sure you get that contract signed.
• There are laws that protect from too high rents. You can do a check here (dutch).

Remember that finding housing can be a difficult process, but it's not impossible. Keep an open mind and don't give up, you will find a place to call home soon enough.

If you see incorrect information, missing information, or broken links, let me know in the comments or through a dm.

Good Luck!

Hi international Students,

This post serves as a living document containing useful tips regarding studying in the Netherlands. It aims to be a checklist for all (new) international students planning to come to the Netherlands for studying.

This post is inspired by a post by u/technotrex. If there is something missing, incorrect information, or a broken link, let me know through the comments or a PM.

Links in this post are sponsored, marked with an *.

Research University vs. University of Applied Science

The difference between a Research University Universiteit/WO) and a University of Applied Science is quite big. It may sound harsh, but a University of Applied Sciences is not considered a university in the Netherlands. As the names imply, the first is focussed on research and the latter focuses on applying the research. The research universities Bachelor's programs are considered harder, more theoretical, and have higher entry requirements. Research universities Bachelor's programs grant the student direct access to a Master's program, while the University of Applied Sciences programs typically don't (there are exceptions). If you want to do a Master's degree after a Bachelor from a University of Applied Sciences you most likely will have to follow a pre-master program of 6-12 months.

A more thorough explanation here

Required Documents for applying to a Study

When applying to a program you typically need these documents:

• Your degree, including the diploma supplement (grade list) [note: you can submit this later if not yet completed, but you still need an official grades overview
• A certified translation of the above if not in English or Dutch certificate to show your command of the English language, like TOEFL or IELTS [note: typically optional if you got a degree in an English-language program]
• An up-to-date CV
• A motivation letter specific to the university and program

Housing

The most important thing about housing, and I cannot stress this enough, is that you can register yourself at the adres with the municipality. There are two main reasons for this.

1. If you cannot register, the person you're renting from, or your roommate is probably doing something illegal. Don't fall for it.
2. Registering yourself at the municipality is a pre-requirement for getting a lot of things in order such as your Government ID, and getting healthcare and/or rent benefits.

The recommended sources are:

• Kamernet^* (most expensive, biggest offering)
• Huurwoningen^*

You can greatly increase your chances by using a service like Stekkies^* which sends new housing listsings directly to your WhatsApp as soon as they are posted online. Each place gets hundreds of requests within one hour after it being it online. They usually only pick the first few who applied for a viewing. You can try it out for free for 14 days.

I have put together a bot on the Discord server which tracks any new listings on Huurwoningen^* and Kamernet^* and and posts them there.

Additionally, you can read The ultimate guide for finding student housing in the Netherlands

Huurtoeslag (rent benefits)

Huurtoeslag or rent benefits is a subsidy that might cover a great part of your rent if is not too expensive (there are some other requirements such as income) . Mostly makes sense if you're older than 23 as then maximum rent can be higher (~750 eur).

Government ID

Government ID is acquired through the municipality in which you will be living. This will give you access to a Social Security Number (BSN). This will then in turn give you access to your DigiD, your online identity. You cannot apply for this until you're moving. Make getting your Government ID your top priority when arriving in the Netherlands, as this will also open the doors to jobs, healthcare benefits, rent benefits, etc.

Dutch Health Insurance

If you are in the Netherlands for study only you are legally not allowed to take out Dutch health insurance. Make sure you have a health insurance from your home country. You sometimes do need additional coverage when coming to the Netherlands.

If you are from the EU/EEA you may be eligible to receive a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which covers your necessary medical costs during your stay. Please make sure you check this with your health insurer in your home country as this might differ per EU-member state. See the website of the European Commission for further information on EHIC.

If you have a (part-time) job that pays at least minimum wage, Dutch health insurance is mandatory. An internship that pays less than minimum wage does not count, if you are doubt check out the svb.

Zorgtoeslag (Healthcare benefits)

Zorgtoeslag or healthcare benefits, is assistance from the Dutch government for your health insurance. You are eligible for it if you're not earning more than ~30.000 Euro/year*, and have a Dutch healthcare insurance. You can apply for it after you get your DigiD, and works retroactively, so don't worry if you can't sign up immediately. The most important step is the date you register for your municipality. Make this your top priority.

* Note that your income decides if you are eligible for zorgtoeslag. If your income changes throughout the year, it could be that the amount of zorgtoeslag you are eligible for lowers. This does not happen automatically. You are responsible for adjusting your zorgtoeslag. If you do not supply the information correctly it can be the case that you receive too much zorgtoeslag and you will have to pay it back at a later date when they periodically check the numbers.

Bank account

Getting a Dutch bank account is not necessary in all cases, but can be a cheaper option in the long run. Mastercard and Visa cards are not accepted at 90% of Dutch institutes. It is also often a requirement when getting a job in the Netherlands, and getting studiefinanciering. Lastly, it is a lot easier to send a receive money from friends/others locally. ABN AMRO^* is a well known bank within the Netherlands.

Scholarships

There are some scholarschips available for international students. Details are outlined here.

Studiefinanciering (Student loan / finance)

Mostly for EU/UK/Swiss students. You can see if you're eligible and apply to this through DUO (Cannot apply until moving). It is a low interest loan from the Dutch government. Studiefinanciering loan part requires you to work 56h per month. It is common for DUO to request 3 payslips before they consider you eligible. It is also common for them to take a couple of months to process your admission (for all financing stuff, especially the one that involves parents' income). Keep that in mind as, that you won't see any extra cash for several months after landing here.

According to this article if you work less than 56 hours you can still receive Studiefinanciering. This is confirmed by u/No-Mango5939:

I can confirm DUO doesn’t necessarily require 56h/month. As an EU citizen, you are entitled to equality if you work any hours in a EU country, making the hour limit meaningless. I would also add that a visit to the DUO office moves mountains, and they are lovely people who will fix your problems and answer all of your questions.

Studenten OV (Free public transport for students)

To make effective use of public transport in the Netherlands you should get an OV chipcard as it is usually cheaper than buying individual tickets. If you are eligible for Studiefinanciering, you are also eligible for Studenten OV. Students in the Netherlands are eligible for free travel bij public transport. The student travel product is a loan which will turn into a gift when you graduate within 10 years of starting your studies. You can choose to either travel free during the week, or during the weekends. You get a discount during the other period.

Phone plan

You might consider getting a Dutch phone plan. This might be a cheaper alternative to extending your home country phone plan. If you're from the EU check with your current provider how long you can stay in another country on your phone plan without extra charge. Setting up a Dutch phone plan is not hard.

Cost of living

This displays the average cost of living in Amsterdam. You can change the city to your desire.

Discord

Join our official Discord channel with sepperate channels for each program / university. We also have a room finder bot which posts when new housing becomes available per city!

Bicycle

The Dutch are known for traveling a lot by bicycle. It is also the cheapest option to get around in the cities. Don't buy a new one, you can buy one for cheap second-hand. Many possible options locally, or most commonly used is Marktplaats. You can also decide to rent one with Swapfiets.

If you see any incorrect information, would like to see something added, or encounter a broken link, please let me know through the comments or a PM! Links in this post are affiliate links.