u/Icy-Structure-7590

Hey everyone!

So I'll be starting a PhD in Amsterdam and moving there in November. Right now I'm still in abroad for work, so I'm trying to figure out how to plan the move (especially the apartment hunt) from a distance. I know the housing crisis is a nightmare and everyone I've talked to told me to start looking asap.

Some things I'm wondering about:

• Finding places remotely: Since I can't just hop over for viewings until closer to the move, what are the go-to platforms or agencies for legit listings (student housing, private landlords? Anything ?)
• Viewings: Do people actually do video-call viewings, or is showing up in person basically mandatory here?
• Neighborhoods: Right now my commute is about one hour and a half so I don't mind getting an apartment a bit further from the city, any reccomandations on where to look? which towns are well connected?

Would love to hear any tips, personal stories, or any advice.