Finding a home in the Netherlands

Finding housing in the Netherlands can take a long time, especially if you have a limited budget and the aim is to get social housing. This sector is facing a crisis because demand always outstrips supply, with many people hoping to get affordable housing. The social housing sector has the advantage that it is controlled and so the basic rental rate may not exceed 720.42€  in 2019 (English), but the cost of maintenance must be added to this amount.

In both large cities and smaller towns, there are waiting lists that last for a minimum of one year and can extend up to eight to ten years. On page The Dutch Government provides answers to a number of related questions, including those related to conditions to be met in order to be eligible for social housing (If the income is less than the rent, Belastingdienst, the Dutch tax administration agency, specifies which are the conditions for obtaining a subsidy to cover rental costs (English).

In the free market sector, costs vary greatly, especially in the most sought-after cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. The main source of property offers is www.funda.nl, a platform of the estate agents' association. An alternative that allows direct contact with the owner is www.marktplaats.nl, the platform par excellence for advertisements for all kinds of things. Other options, including for students or seasonal workers, are:

• www.pararius.nl
• www.kamernet.nl
• www.woningnet.nl
• www.woningtarget.nl
• www.housinganywhere.com
• www.roominreturn.nl
• On the social network Facebook there are many pages or groups with ads for rooms or apartments for rent in Breda, Tilburg, Utrecht, Enschede, Delft, Groningen (1, 2), Maastricht, Amsterdam (1, 2, 3) and others.
• For sightseeing or very short stays, you can also use the platforms www.airbnb.com or www.couchsurfing.com.

Regardless of the search method chosen, be aware that there is always the possibility of a scam, so be on your guard! Kamernet (Dutch) gives more advice on how to recognise a false ad and what to do in such a situation. If you have other resources or sources you can write to us in the comments or email us at marketing@rompro.nl.

Article written in 2017.