Tips for finding a room independently - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2025)

  • When do I start looking for accommodation?

    As soon you are (conditionally) admitted, we advise to apply and pay for our housing service. Be aware that you can apply for housing starting from 1 October in the previous academic year. If you are admitted in April 2024 and you want to start in September 2024, there are already many students on the housing application list.

    Students with special wishes cannot be accommodated via VU for example, if you want to bring your family or pet or you are not interested in the accommodation types we offer, start looking on the private market directly.

  • What to keep in mind when looking for housing on the private market
    • Affordable housing on the private market in Amsterdam is scarce and expensive it starts at €750 and up.
    • Consider a room in nearby towns, such as Diemen, Zaandam, Almere, Purmerend, Haarlem, or Hoofddorp.
    • Look for early starting dates, don’t wait for a room starting on mid-August or September, accept a room with a starting date from April – beginning of August.
    • Look for rooms from students who are subletting: Student that are going abroad for their studies/internship will try to sublet their room during their time abroad.
    • Look out for scams, see also the tips below how to avoid this.
    • The !WOON tenant support agency (funded by the Amsterdam municipality) provides information, advice and support for tenants and owner-occupants. Confidentially and free of charge. By giving internationals more insight into the Dutch rental market and their rights and obligations as tenants theyhope to contribute to their stay in Amsterdam. !WOON hasoffices all over the citywith regular walk-ins (no appointment necessary). They also have a special department for extreme situations involving intimidation etc, called the Meldpunt.
  • Register on Dutch student housing websites

    If you decide to stay in Amsterdam for longer than one year, we strongly advise you to register anyway onStudentenwoningweb.nl andROOM.nl as soon as possible, since these are working with registration time. Out of all students responding to a listing, the room is offered to the student ranked highest on the waiting list.

    This registration might not offer you a room for the first year but can be an option for students who have housing via VU Amsterdam for the first year and need to find housing for the second or third year of their studies.

    Priority for international students at ROOM.nl
    ROOM.nl offers international students coming from abroad to skip the waiting list on selected buildings. This priority is only valid for contracts with start dates from 1 June to 30 September 2024 at the following locations:

    • Spinozacampus (Darlingstraat-Dennenrodepad)
    • Opaallaan (Hoofddorp)
    • Schoonzichtlaan (Haarlem)

    If you are offered one of these rooms, you will receive a campus contract for the entire duration of your studies. Please note that these rooms are non-furnished. You will have to arrange your own furniture (and sometimes flooring and fixtures too).

    When you register at ROOM.nl with an address from outside the Netherlands, you will automatically skip the waiting list when you respond to listings at the above-mentioned locations. If multiple international students respond, the international student with the longest registration time is offered the room. Read more on theDUWO website.

  • Other useful student platforms

    We advise you to sign up for RoomPlaza, Housing Anywhere and Kamernet. They all offer housing not only in Amsterdam, but also in surrounding towns and villages.

    RoomPlaza
    The platform where (international) students can book their accommodation with a group or as an individual entirely online. Booking a flat is safe and secure. Tenants can book flats on the basis of accurate descriptions, photos and video viewings. And what’s more - as long as your numbers are correct - RoomPlaza offers flats for your entire group. If you do not have a group yet, you can use the find-flatmate-tool to create one! Their Customer Service Team is available and can be contacted daily, so you can be assured that things will run smoothly.

    Housing Anywhere
    For Housing Anywhere, you can get a 20% discount on the subscription fee, a VU Amsterdam priority profile and priority access to the listings inAmsterdamsign up here. You can find information about finding your new place on thehow it workspage. Do you need more information or have a specific question? Sendan emailtovip@housinganywhere.com.

  • Staying with a host or guest family

    Hospi Housing is the biggest platform for homestay in the Netherlands. They offer a free-to-use platform with hundreds of verified hosts and guest families. Hospi Housing does not charge any registration fees, you only pay a one-time fee if you find a room. Before and during your stay they provide personal advice to get you well prepared for your arrival in Amsterdam.

    Staying with a host or guest family will provide you with a soft landing in town and is the perfect way to get in touch with Dutch culture and language. You’ll have your own private room and shared facilities like a kitchen and bathroom. Get more information and sign up at:https://hospihousing.com.

  • Other options

    In this PDF, you can find more options, also for temporary housing.

    VU Amsterdam cannot be held responsible for the services delivered by any provider of alternative accommodation.

Tips for finding a room independently - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2025)

FAQs

How hard is it to find student housing in Amsterdam? ›

In the Netherlands, students are responsible for finding their own accommodation. Finding a student room in Amsterdam is extremely difficult and the demand for student rooms is high. The International Student Housing Office can offer some international students a room, but unfortunately not all.

Is it hard to find a room in Amsterdam? ›

Finding housing is difficult in Amsterdam. To help students who are currently on the search, the International Student Housing Office regularly hosts webinars on how to search for accommodation on your own.

How to find a room as a student in Amsterdam? ›

Websites for finding student accommodation
  1. Kamer.nl connects students with rooms, studios and apartments. ...
  2. Kamernet is a large search engine of rental apartments and rooms. ...
  3. KamersAmsterdam (in Dutch) features a range of affordable, student-friendly rooms in Amsterdam.
Feb 13, 2024

Is it hard to get into Vrije Universiteit? ›

Since the medium of instruction is English, the admission to the university is made easy for students from all over the world. Students need to score 75% marks in school and college to get admission in the University.

How can international students find housing in Amsterdam? ›

Housing corporations

DUWO is the largest provider of student accommodation in the Netherlands and Ymere (website in Dutch) offers properties in Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Alkmaar and surrounding areas. These webpages will help you set up or give you more information about the accommodation you will be staying in.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in the Netherlands? ›

Be aware that the Netherlands is dealing with a severe housing shortage. There is not enough student housing to accommodate everyone. That's why it's very important to arrange your housing as soon as possible.

What is the best website to find a room in the Netherlands? ›

The best way to find housing in the Netherlands is to go through the most recognized rental websites: Funda and Pararius. On these platforms, real estate agencies have to pay to be able to advertise to home seekers. This system is made to discourage fake advertisements and ensure a qualitative selection of apartments.

How much does a student room cost in Amsterdam? ›

Students in Amsterdam pay an average of 948 euros per month for a student room, almost 400 euros more than the national average, according to a report by rental platform Kamernet. Student room prices increased a massive 39.4 percent in the Dutch capital between 2021 and 2023, Parool reports.

Where is the best place to stay in Amsterdam for students? ›

Best Locations for Students in Amsterdam
  • The Pijp (De Pijp) Located south of the city center, De Pijp is a lively and diverse neighborhood popular among students. ...
  • Jordaan. Located in the heart of the city, Jordaan is a charming neighborhood for students. ...
  • Amsterdam Noord. ...
  • Uilenstede in Amstelveen.
Jan 16, 2023

Is Vrije Amsterdam prestigious? ›

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is one of the top public universities in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is ranked #221 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

What is the acceptance rate for international students at VU Amsterdam? ›

The University of Amsterdam has seven faculties: humanities; social and behavioural sciences; economics and business; science; law; medicine; dentistry. Its overall acceptance rate for international students is somewhere around 4.3 percent, although this varies greatly from course to course.

What a level do you need for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam? ›

Students following the GCE A-Level curriculum will need to obtain at least 3 GCE A-levels (A2) in general, academic subjects with an A*, A, B or C grade + 3 GCSE's with grade A*, A, B or C/grade 4-9 in six different subjects. Vocational subjects or Applied A-levels are generally not accepted.

How much does the average student rent in Amsterdam? ›

Amsterdam is still the most expensive for a student room, regardless of size. The average there is now 951 euros per month.

Is there a student housing crisis in the Netherlands? ›

As of 2022, the year the action plan was launched, there was a shortage of nearly 27,000 student beds in the Netherlands. This figure was previously projected to rise to just under 45,000 beds by 2029/30.

Is it hard for international students to get into University of Amsterdam? ›

The University of Amsterdam has seven faculties: humanities; social and behavioural sciences; economics and business; science; law; medicine; dentistry. Its overall acceptance rate for international students is somewhere around 4.3 percent, although this varies greatly from course to course.

Does Amsterdam have a housing shortage? ›

Despite starting construction on over 5,000 homes in 2023, Amsterdam fell short of its ambitious goal of 7,500 new units, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing the city's chronic housing shortage.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5243

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.