Finding Accommodation
There are not a huge number of properties available to rent in The Netherlands, which creates particular difficulties for students looking for a place to stay during term time. The government is making efforts to increase the amount of available property, but so far there has not been sufficient progress to solve the problem, and it is still difficult to find property to rent.
Student housing is available from city councils, housing corporations, universities and colleges. The ministry of VROM (Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment: currently divided into two areas: Spatial Planning & Environment and Living, and Neighbourhoods & Integration) can assist you with your search and even offer financial support. VROM is also currently trying to raise the issue of housing shortage on the local political agenda.
The cities which have particularly severe housing shortages are all in the urbanised West of the country (the Randstad). In the countryside, for example in Enschede and Eindhoven you may find there are hardly any problems finding a place to live. The amount of accommodation available as well as the price of the properties will differ between regions and cities.
Unfortunately, the housing shortage has created a vicious circle of its own: students who graduate and begin work are keen to continue living in the cheaper properties that they rented as students. As a result new students are not able to find a place to live because they are all taken. However, many big student housing associations have strict rules for graduates: they are not allowed to continue to occupy student rooms, and have to search for a normal apartment.
Since there are so few available properties to rent in the popular cities, many people search for properties in the smaller towns nearest to the cities where they work or study. For this reason there has been a surge of building work in the smaller towns and cities. If you are working or studying close to the Dutch border, you may even wish to consider renting a room in Germany or Belgium and commuting to your job or University. It is important to remember however that different rules for rental will apply in different countries.
Current Efforts to Ease the Student Housing Shortage
One example of the current efforts to ease the student housing shortage are the big blocks of shipping containers, which have been placed at empty former building sites near big cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Sanitary facilities and kitchens have been installed in these so-called 'container apartments' and it is relatively easy for students to rent one. Furthermore, the City of Amsterdam decided to make an old cruise ship available for students. Students can rent their own cabin and use the ship's facilities.
For more details on finding accommodation, see:
