Student Housing in the Netherlands

Student Dorms

Universities in the Netherlands aren’t allowed to own housing; however, many reserve a certain amount of rooms with student housing companies, which are allocated to students on a first-come-first-serve basis or by lottery.

The number of applicants always surpasses the number of rooms available, so it is important to apply to your program of interest early and decide if you would like to request housing through the university as soon as possible.

View of old brick residential buildings with small windows, balconies, and red tiled roofs, with a modern white building and a tower in the background.
A street view of tall, narrow brick buildings in Amsterdam with a canal and parked bicycles in the foreground, including a tree with yellowing leaves in front of the buildings.
A woman in a floral dress and black shoes walking across a pedestrian crosswalk in front of a brown brick building with multiple windows, a large tree, a parked car, and street lamps.

Private Accommodation

Currently, the Netherlands is experiencing a housing shortage. This makes finding housing for students more difficult.

For students who are not yet residing in the Netherlands, due to the competitive market, it can be difficult to find a room in a shared apartment or through a private landlord. Unfortunately, scams are also common.

For this reason, most student choose to live in (private) dorms for at least their first year in the Netherlands.

Low-angle view of a historic brick building with decorative window trim and a tower with a weather vane, set against a partly cloudy sky.
A row of tall, narrow European-style brick apartment buildings with different colored facades, including red and black, featuring multiple windows and distinctive rooftops.
Unique tilted yellow houses with black roofs and multiple windows against a blue sky.

Discover more about studying in the Netherlands

Return to the Netherlands Country Profile