Student housing in the Netherlands: how to find a room
Rooms are scarce in most student cities, especially just before the academic year starts. This guide shows where students find rooms, which student housing providers work in each city, what rooms cost and how to avoid scams.
Team HubSnap · Updated 8 October 2026 · 3 min read
Where students find a room
- Student housing providers: non-profit and commercial landlords that rent rooms and studios to students. You usually register and wait, or join a lottery.
- The private market: rooms in shared houses and studios on sites like Kamernet, from agencies and in Facebook groups.
- Your university: many universities help new international students find a room through partner providers. Check your university's housing page as soon as you are admitted.
Student housing providers by city
| City | Student housing providers | Median room rent (Kamernet, Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | DUWO, Xior | €950 |
| Rotterdam | Stadswonen Rotterdam, SSH, Xior | – |
| The Hague | DUWO, Xior | €745 |
| Utrecht | SSH, Xior | €775 |
| Delft | DUWO, Xior | – |
| Leiden | DUWO, Xior | – |
| Haarlem | DUWO | €750 |
| Groningen | SSH, Xior | – |
| Eindhoven | Vestide, Xior | €540 |
| Maastricht | Xior | €550 |
| Nijmegen | SSH& | – |
| Arnhem | SSH& | – |
| Tilburg | SSH | €595 |
| Breda | Xior | – |
| Enschede | Xior | €388 |
| Zwolle | SSH | – |
| Amersfoort | SSH | – |
Providers were checked on their own websites on 8 October 2026; there are more landlords in each city. Room rents are medians for rooms from private landlords in the Kamernet rent report Q2 2026; a dash means the city is not in the report's published text. Nationally a student room cost on average €643 per month.
When to start looking
Searches for student housing peak in August, just before the academic year. Start in spring if you can: register with student housing providers as soon as you know your city, because registration time often counts, and set up alerts for rooms on the private market.
Winning a room in a shared house
For many rooms in shared houses you are invited to a viewing evening (hospiteeravond), where the current housemates choose who gets the room. Reply quickly with a short, friendly message about who you are, what you study and why you would fit in. See our example letters.
Contracts and scams
- Temporary contracts of up to two years are still allowed for students renting for their studies in another town (source).
- The deposit may be at most two months' basic rent for contracts since 1 July 2023.
- Never pay before you have seen the room and signed a contract. Students searching from abroad are a common target; read how to spot a rental scam.
Find rooms and studios with HubSnap
HubSnap shows rooms, studios and apartments from Kamernet, Pararius, Funda and many agencies in one feed, and sends a push notification when a new one matches your search. HubSnap does not include listings from student housing providers such as DUWO, SSH or Xior, so register with them directly as well.
Frequently asked questions
Register with the student housing providers in your city, check your university's housing page, and search the private market on sites like Kamernet. Start well before the academic year.
According to Kamernet, a student room cost on average €643 per month nationally in Q2 2026, with a median of €950 in Amsterdam and €388 in Enschede.
Many students rent through providers such as DUWO and Xior or on the private market. Areas near the universities and well-connected towns like Diemen and Amstelveen are popular.
Searches peak in August. Register with student housing providers as early as you can, ideally in spring.
No. HubSnap shows rooms from Kamernet and other private-market sources. Register with student housing providers directly.
Provider lists are not complete and can change. HubSnap is not affiliated with the providers or reports mentioned.