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.