Housing
10 Jan 2012
Holland does not have a tradition of on-campus accommodation. Most students live in or near their university town.
Some students choose to stay at home with their parents, others find accommodation in a student room. This can be in a shared house, with other students or as a lodger with a family. There are many options for arranging the accommodation that suits you best, but make sure you start looking for a room as soon as possible.
Finding accomodation
Finding good, affordable accommodation can be a problem in the Netherlands. Almost all university towns suffer from shortages. Many Dutch students have trouble finding suitable accommodation near their university.
If you are taking part in an exchange programme or are enrolled on an international course, it is quite possible that a room will be arranged for you. You should consider accepting it immediately, or you might regret it later. Please check in advance what the situation is at your university.
What to expect
In Holland, students usually have their own room. Depending on the house where you are staying you may have to share the shower, lavatory, kitchen and living room with other students.
It is common for men and women to live together in a shared house. If this is a problem for you, you should make this known as soon as possible.
Given the shortage of good accommodation, you may find the room you're offered rather small and below the expected standard. Usually, there is little that can be done about this, as most institutions are glad if they can find accommodation at all for all their students.
Rent and bills
Accommodation can also be expensive, especially in the bigger cities. Find out in advance what a room is going to cost you. Don’t forget to include additional expenses such as the deposit and utility bills (gas, water and electricity). The latter are not always included in the rent. Most rental contracts run for at least six months or a year when you are enrolled on a course programme. Think about these things beforehand to avoid unpleasant surprises later.
Furnished or unfurnished?
Find find out if the room is furnished or unfurnished. The quality can vary greatly, and furnishings may range from just a bed and a chair to a fully equipped room with an internet connection. If you decide to go for an unfurnished room, you can buy cheap furniture at second-hand shops in your city.
More information
On the websites below you can look for accommodation yourself.
