DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Housing
Dutch news & articles
Waiting times for student housing in the Netherlands up to five years long
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Waiting times for student housing in the Netherlands up to five years long

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Dutch residents spend less of their income on housing despite rising pricesDutch residents spend less of their income on housing despite rising prices
The Netherlands to relax rules on living in holiday homes amid housing crisisThe Netherlands to relax rules on living in holiday homes amid housing crisis
Tenants living in expensive Dutch cities less likely to have childrenTenants living in expensive Dutch cities less likely to have children
The Netherlands to pay municipalities for each affordable home built from 2026The Netherlands to pay municipalities for each affordable home built from 2026
Students in the Netherlands pay 6 percent more for rooms as shortage continuesStudents in the Netherlands pay 6 percent more for rooms as shortage continues
Amsterdam to introduce stricter 15-night per year limit for holiday rentalsAmsterdam to introduce stricter 15-night per year limit for holiday rentals
Dutch households with variable energy contracts may be entitled to compensationDutch households with variable energy contracts may be entitled to compensation
Majority of Dutch residents happy with their homes, according to surveyMajority of Dutch residents happy with their homes, according to survey
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Feb 26, 2024
Simone Jacobs

Editor at IamExpat Media

Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more

Based on a report by NU.nl, the average waiting time for student housing in the Netherlands is currently between three and five years. This means that Dutch students could be registered as waiting for student housing longer than it would take them to obtain a diploma. 

Student housing waiting lists in the Netherlands continue to increase

The lack of student housing in the Netherlands has been well documented, with political parties calling on the government to deal with the lack of housing for students and student unions issuing warnings about internationals facing homelessness. Despite this, there are still too few rooms available for students, which has caused waiting lists to grow longer and longer. 

Student housing providers allocate a room based on how long a student has been registered for student housing, which means someone who has been registered for five years will be given priority over someone who has only been registered for two. The average waiting times can vary per city; for instance, it can take just under three years to be eligible for a studio in Tilburg, compared to approximately five years in cities like Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Delft and Leiden. 

According to NU.nl, these are the average waiting times for different Dutch cities (in years):

  • Tilburg (2,9)
  • Groningen (3)
  • Breda (3,4)
  • Wageningen (3,5)
  • Rotterdam (3,8)
  • The Hague (3,8)
  • Amsterdam (4,9)
  • Eindhoven (5,1)
  • Delft (5,2)
  • Leiden (5,3)

Housing shortage in the Netherlands has impact on students

Long waiting times for student housing bring attention to the undeniable challenges of the housing market in the Netherlands. Student housing that does exist is often occupied by former students who struggle to find a starter home. Even though the Dutch government has launched a scheme to help first-time buyers, the cost of Dutch housing has continued to rise in 2024, making it difficult for recent graduates to afford their own homes. 

This situation is stressful for both graduates and those who are still studying in the Netherlands. Graduates can become worried about their prospects and current students can become strained with having to travel from other cities for their studies.

By Simone Jacobs