Student housing in the Netherlands

By Manja van KesterenUpdated on Feb 5, 2026

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Students from all over the world come to the Netherlands to study. However, while Dutch universities have figured out how to make their courses attractive to international students, they haven’t quite cracked it when it comes to helping them find suitable accommodation. Unfortunately, because there is such a high demand for student housing in the Netherlands, it can be quite a challenge to find a place to live.

This page explains what you need to know about student housing in the Netherlands, and provides some helpful tips on how to secure accommodation.

The problem with student housing in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a bit of a problem when it comes to student housing. This isn’t meant to scare you off, but to prepare you for the situation that awaits you when you arrive in the country.

According to the National Student Housing Monitor, in 2025, there were approximately 728.000 students at research universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. Of these, around 394.000 were living in student accommodation. However, the number of people who wanted student accommodation was as high as 419.200, meaning demand significantly outstrips supply.

Indeed, the monitor noted that for the largest Dutch cities, demand for student accommodation outstripped supply by 21.500 units.

All of this makes finding somewhere to live as a student in the Netherlands a difficult task. Many universities now urge international students to not take up their studies until they have secured somewhere to live.

But if you prepare well in advance of coming to the Netherlands, are prepared to compromise a little, and can be persistent for a few months, you should have no trouble eventually finding housing.

It pays to start early. Indeed, the monitor shows that the average amount of time a student searched for accommodation before securing something in 2025 was 4,9 months. This is up from 3,3 months in 2016/2017. You are recommended to start looking at least six months before the start of your studies.

Here are a few tips on where to start.

Types of student housing in the Netherlands

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is the kind of accommodation you’re going to look for. Generally speaking, you have two options:

Living in university accommodation
Renting a room or apartment in the private sector

University accommodation in the Netherlands

Unlike in some other countries around the world, universities in the Netherlands do not own their own rooms that they rent to students. You won’t find large campuses of student dorms where all the students live together. Indeed, the vast majority of students in the Netherlands end up renting through the private rental market - see below.

However, many Dutch universities do have agreements with private housing corporations to reserve some of their rooms for international students. If this is the case, your university will let you know about this opportunity when they offer you a place. Rooms are very limited and allocated either by lottery or on a first-come, first-served basis. You should sign up as soon as possible.

On top of this, there are a number of private companies that offer accommodation in locations across the country, specifically aimed at students. Rental contracts typically last around one year.

When you register with one of these corporations, you will (usually) have to pay a fee to be put on their waiting list. Since demand outstrips supply, it's not uncommon to be waiting for several months or even more than a year until a place comes up. Of course, this is more the case in the larger Dutch cities.

When a room becomes available, the people at the top of the waiting list will be invited to viewings. It therefore makes sense to register as soon as possible. Note that rooms can’t be booked in advance, and you will have to be in the Netherlands to attend viewings.

Some well-known providers include:

You can find more options on our listing of short-term rentals in the Netherlands.

University accommodation for students typically means sharing an apartment with between three and 11 other people. You’ll get a private bedroom, but you might be sharing your kitchen and bathroom. Some facilities operate more like hotels, offering you your own private unit, complete with a bathroom and kitchen.

Student housing in the private sector

If you cannot secure university accommodation either through your university housing office or an external provider, you will most likely end up renting in the private rental market. It’s actually best to explore both of these options at the same time, to maximise your chances of finding a place.

You have two options for renting:

Go through a rental agent
Rent somewhere directly, either through the landlord or the lead tenant

Renting with a rental agent

There are many rental agencies in the Netherlands that cater to international students. Landlords list their apartments through them, and the rental agent handles viewings, contracts, and day-to-day queries.

You can reach out to an agency directly or inquire about a property they are listing, and if you are lucky, you will be invited to attend a viewing. You may be asked to provide documents in advance, such as proof of enrollment and proof of income/savings, but be cautious and check our tips below on avoiding scams.

Note that if you work with a rental housing agency, you will most likely have to pay a fee.

Renting from a landlord directly

If a landlord is not using a rental agency, they will typically list their property directly on a housing platform. Some platforms you can check include:

Again, this will involve reaching out to make an inquiry before attending a viewing and providing some documents if you wish to apply for the room.

Renting from a landlord with the tenants choosing

The third option is probably the most popular one - being chosen as a new tenant for a property that already has a group of people living in it. There is an active market in housing listings on sites like Kamernet and Facebook. Many social media sites have special, city-specific groups where people share room offers.

Most of the time, these listings are looking for someone who fits in with the group already living there, and they can be quite specific about their requirements. It’s best to only apply to listings where you fit the description - and try to be quick off the bat, as it’s not uncommon for a single listing to get hundreds of responses.

If you get a response, you may be invited to a kind of viewing known as a “hospitieravond” or “kijkavond”, where you view the property together with multiple other people who also applied for it. These might feel super awkward at first, but you’ll probably end up attending a few. Try to make a good impression on the hosts!

Make sure you can register with the municipality

One very important thing to remember when you're looking for student housing in the Netherlands - especially if you just arrived - is that you need to be able to register with your local municipality.

You’ll see many listings advertised as “registration not possible”. You should avoid these. It’s a warning sign that the rental is potentially a scam, an illegal sublet or that the landlord is not insured.

On top of that, you really need to register with the municipality to complete many essential tasks in the Netherlands, such as obtaining your DigID, opening a bank account, applying for student finance, and obtaining a SIM card.

Avoiding scams

Unfortunately, scammers exploit the tense housing situation to trick newly arrived, unsuspecting students who are desperate for somewhere to live. It pays to stay suspicious and watch out for any of the following warning signs:

The price seems too good to be true
The landlord says it’s not possible to view the property, but sends lots of photos
The landlord asks for a deposit/money transfer before letting you view the property or collect the keys
You receive pictures of the property, but find them in other places on the internet when you do a reverse image search
The landlord asks you to send a copy of your passport before you sign any paperwork
You cannot register at the property (see above)

Tips for international students looking for housing

Here are some final tips:

Start early: Most people start looking for accommodation as soon as they receive an offer. The earlier you start, the better.
Speed is key: Responding to property adverts quickly increases your chances of getting one.
Be flexible: You may have to compromise on location or housing type to increase your chances of finding something within your budget.
Stay persistent: You may face many rejections, but don’t take it personally. You will find something eventually. Don’t get discouraged.
Get help: Reach out to your university housing office if you are struggling. They may be able to point you in the right direction.
Get financial support: You may be entitled to the housing allowance. Apply for it if you want help covering your costs.