u/Dormly

Yesterday, I brought up a very important topic about what red flags to watch out for when looking for an apartment. The post was very well received by all of you. However, it was deleted by the administrators for unknown reasons. I didn’t break any rules, this post was meant to be genuinely helpful to students.

One of the users asked what happened to this post, so I'm reposting it.

There are many scams in the Netherlands, so I am writing this post to raise awareness among students about these red flags.

1. The price is too good to be true

Average student room prices in the Netherlands in 2026 range from approximately €500–€800/month in most cities, and €600–€1,200/month in Amsterdam. If a listing comes in below these ranges, especially for a furnished private room in a central location, treat it as a red flag.

2. They ask for a deposit or frst month's rent before a viewing

No legitimate landlord in the Netherlands would ask you to transfer money before you have physically viewed a room and signed a contract.

3. The landlord cannot meet in person or show you the room live

If you cannot visit in person (you still live in your home country), ask for a live video call walk-through of the room. Scammers use stolen or fake photos. The real landlord/estate agent can show you the property in real time.

4. The listing photos look staged, generic, or reverse-searchable

Scammers often steal photos from legitimate listings, estate agent websites, or interior design sites. Do a reverse image search (Google Images or TinEye) on every photo in the listing

5. The address does not match reality

Search the full address on Google Maps and check Street View. Verify the building exists, looks like the photos, and is zoned for residential use. You can also check kadaster.nl (the Dutch land registry) to confirm who legally owns the property.

6. Something "feels off" about the communication

Trust your instincts. Grammatical errors in Dutch, inconsistent story details, extreme urgency, or unwillingness to answer basic questions about the property are all signals.

Happy to answer any questions about navigating the Dutch rental market in the comments.

There are many scams in the Netherlands, so I am writing this post to raise awareness among students about these red flags.

1. The price is too good to be true

Average student room prices in the Netherlands in 2026 range from approximately €500–€800/month in most cities, and €600–€1,200/month in Amsterdam. If a listing comes in below these ranges, especially for a furnished private room in a central location, treat it as a red flag.

2. They ask for a deposit or frst month's rent before a viewing

No legitimate landlord in the Netherlands would ask you to transfer money before you have physically viewed a room and signed a contract.

3. The landlord cannot meet in person or show you the room live

If you cannot visit in person (you still live in your home country), ask for a live video call walk-through of the room. Scammers use stolen or fake photos. The real landlord/estate agent can show you the property in real time.

4. The listing photos look staged, generic, or reverse-searchable

Scammers often steal photos from legitimate listings, estate agent websites, or interior design sites. Do a reverse image search (Google Images or TinEye) on every photo in the listing

5. The address does not match reality

Search the full address on Google Maps and check Street View. Verify the building exists, looks like the photos, and is zoned for residential use. You can also check kadaster.nl (the Dutch land registry) to confirm who legally owns the property.

6. Something "feels off" about the communication

Trust your instincts. Grammatical errors in Dutch, inconsistent story details, extreme urgency, or unwillingness to answer basic questions about the property are all signals.

Happy to answer any questions about navigating the Dutch rental market in the comments.

Disclaimer: I'm one of the founders of Dormly, a new verified student housing platform launching soon in the Netherlands. This post is meant to be genuinely useful regardless, but if you're curious about what we're building, feel free to ask.