Finding accommodation in the Netherlands can be challenging, especially given the current housing shortage. It's important not to underestimate the task and give yourself enough time to find a suitable place to live. Therefore, we recommend starting your search at least four months before your arrival.
As finding suitable housing in time is unlikely, we advise against coming to the Netherlands if you haven’t found housing one month before the start of your degree programme.
Instantly navigate to Housing via Inholland | How to find housing and avoid scams | The private housing market | Taxes and housing benefit
Some Inholland campuses offer a limited number of rooms and studios to first-year international and exchange students through housing providers. To secure a room, you should apply early. We only have a limited number of rooms available. Please note, that these rooms are off-campus. We cannot guarantee housing, but we will do our utmost to help you.
Short-term stay
As an exchange student, you will come to Inholland via your own university (which is always a partner Inholland). You can rent accommodation for one semester or an entire academic year.
Inholland doesn't offer accommodation in Rotterdam, read our tips below to find your home away from home.
Long-term stay
As a degree student, you'll study for two or four years to obtain your bachelor's or associate's degree. You can rent accommodation for one academic year. You will have to find your own accommodation after this first year.
Inholland doesn't offer accommodation in Rotterdam, read our tips below to find your home away from home.
At Inholland, we want to help you find a place to stay while you study with us. While we do not search for or mediate between students and providers of private accommodation, we understand that finding the right place to stay is important. That's why we compiled a list of housing platforms to kickstart your search.
Finding student housing in the Netherlands can be tricky due to high demand. To give yourself the best chance of finding accommodation, we recommend starting your search at least four months before your arrival. This way, you'll have plenty of time to explore options and find a place that fits your needs and budget.
Housing in big Dutch cities is extremely popular. To improve your chances of finding suitable accommodation, consider expanding your search radius beyond the immediate vicinity of Inholland or your preferred neighbourhood. By exploring areas slightly farther away, you may find more affordable options or less competition for housing. Remember, the Netherlands is relatively small, and excellent public transport options make it easy to access different areas, even if they're slightly further away.
Tip: Use Google Maps to explore nearby villages, cities and transport options.
Finding student housing in the Netherlands can be quite competitive. To improve your chances of finding housing on time, we recommend signing up for multiple trusted housing platforms. Here's why:
Ready to start your search?
Below, we've compiled a list of trusted housing platforms commonly used by students in the Netherlands. These platforms offer various accommodation options, from studios to shared apartments, making your search process smoother and faster.
Have you found a room or apartment you're interested in? It's a good idea to arrange a visit in person, and bringing someone along for support can be helpful. Before you go, prepare some questions for the landlord or current tenants. This way, you'll get all the information you need to make the right choice.
Remember: Always read the contract thoroughly and ask questions if anything is unclear!
Be wary of scams aimed at students seeking accommodation. Discover how to identify scams and secure safe housing with our tips below.
How to protect yourself?
If the accommodation looks too good to be true, it probably is. For example, if you found a place in the city centre, close to supermarkets and public transport that is fully furnished and unreasonably cheap, it's probably a scam.
Before working with any agency, verify their legitimacy on the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce. Just search the agency's name to confirm their registration.
Double-check the address! Make sure the property exists at the specified location and matches the description provided in the listing. Don't forget to check if the advertised photos appear in Image Search. This can help you spot fake listings and avoid scams.
Be critical and do your research. Look for online reviews or warnings about the property or landlord. This information can help you avoid scams or renting from a bad landlord.
Missing pictures can be a red flag. Scammers might use generic interior pictures or steal photos of other properties. The absence of an exterior shot makes it harder to verify if the property exists. Politely ask the landlord for a picture of the property's exterior, if there is none in the ad. If the landlord declines to provide an exterior picture, consider this a major red flag.
Never send a copy of your ID, passport, or credit/debit card to strangers.
Don't send any money for rent or deposit until you have the keys and a signed contract. Legitimate landlords won't pressure you to pay before seeing the home and finalising the agreement. Be especially wary if someone offers to mail you the keys – this could be a sign of a scam.
Ideally, always visit an apartment before renting. This lets you assess the space and ensure it meets your needs. The landlord should always be willing and able to show you the place. If you aren't able to see the place beforehand, be extra vigilant.
Do not make payments via Western Union, PayPal accounts or non-Dutch bank accounts.
Never sign a housing contract without having read it carefully. Be sure you fully understand and agree with the terms and conditions. Get someone to translate it for you if necessary.
Do you have questions about your rental agreement? The following websites might be useful: Rented housing | Housing | Government.nl, Rijksoverheid, de Landelijke studentenvakbond or Duwo.
There are several organisations that can help you with questions or problems you may have regarding your search for accommodation in the Netherlands.
While we do our best to secure housing for our students, our resources are limited. We recommend that you start your own search for accommodation, even if you've already applied for housing via Inholland. While Inholland doesn't directly connect students with private accommodation providers, we have compiled some tips to increase your chances of success!
HousingAnywhere
To help you find and book your new home in the Netherlands, Inholland recommends HousingAnywhere, the international booking platform for student accommodation. All our students are free to sign up for this service here and receive:
Do you have any more questions? Check HousingAnywhere's FAQs.
Hospi Housing
Living with a host or host family is a unique and cosy way of living. You have your own room but share facilities such as the kitchen or bathroom. It's an ideal solution if you're just starting out on your own or if you're temporarily looking for accommodation. Hospi Housing has a large network of verified hosts and host families and ensures the perfect match. With the 'No room, No pay' model, you can sign up for free and get in touch with hosts immediately, visit Hospi Housing now.
Explore these platforms to kickstart your search for housing in the Netherlands. And remember: don't limit yourself to just one platform—casting a wider net increases your chances of finding a place that
Platforms for housing in Haarlem
Platforms for housing in Delft
Platforms for housing in The Hague
If you rent a room, apartment or even a house in the Netherlands, you will have to pay local taxes for services like waste collection and water. These charges are separate from your rent and are billed directly by the municipality. At the beginning of the year, you will receive a letter with an overview of the taxes applicable to you. The amounts vary depending on your municipality. However, as a general guideline, you can expect to pay around the following amounts per year for a single-person household:
If you stay in the Netherlands for less than a year, you will only pay for the months that you live here, not the entire year.
Exemption
As a student, your income is probably low. Therefore you may be eligible for a tax waiver. You can find instructions to apply for a tax waiver in the same letter as mentioned above.
You may be eligible for housing benefit (‘huurtoeslag’ in Dutch). This is a subsidy provided by the Dutch government. Whether you are eligible for this benefit, depends on several personal factors like your age and income. Moreover, there are requirements for the type of accommodation and the monthly rent. For example, you must have your own front door and the monthly rent cannot be too high. Because of these specific requirements, the number of homes eligible for housing benefit is very limited and those homes are in high demand. In general, accommodation in the private housing market doesn’t qualify for housing benefit, because the rent is too high.
Applying for housing benefit
To apply for housing benefit, you need a valid rental contract and a Social Security Number (‘BSN’ in Dutch). You will obtain this number upon registration with your municipality.
More information
You can find more information on the conditions and how to apply on the website of the Dutch Tax Office. You can also reach them by phone at +31 555 385 385.
Wondering how other international students found housing in the Netherlands? Chat with one of our students! They'll be happy to share their personal experiences, budgeting tips, and answer any questions you have about navigating the Dutch housing market.