r/NetherlandsHousing

Hi, I am a phd student, and i am wondering if i should find a new place to rent. I am currently paying 900 euros for a 9sqm room and i am honestly sick of it. I struggled a lot to land this shitty deal0

However, my gross income isnt high (3500) and i do not have someone else to rent with. My colleagues with the same salary have been told they can borrow up to 250k.

I do have a comfortable amount of savings (20 to 30k i could allocate for a down payment). I am wondering if buying a small studio or appartment would be easier and a better investment than trying to rent, id probably end up in another shitty room for around 1000 per month.

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.

The housing market is so competitive that it feels like almost everyone has had to lower their expectations at some point.

A friend of mine wanted a small apartment close to the city centre but ended up renting much farther away because it was the only realistic option within budget. Another settled for a shared house after months of unsuccessful viewings, even though they had planned to live alone.

It made me wonder what compromise has been most common for people here. Did things work out better than you expected, or are you still hoping to move once the opportunity comes along?

Hi everyone, me and my girlfriend are moving to the area of Leiden/The Hague/Delft as soon as possible as I'm starting my master in Molecular Genetics this September at Leiden University but we're having very little luck with apartments, (we're currently living in Maastricht).

Does any of you have heard of any apartment for 2 becoming free soon or have a room in which we could leave briefly as room mates? Or perhaps also just the link of the group chat of any leiden program at the 3rd year (meaning they're done with their studies and are leaving their houses), this would incredibly help me, sorry if this post doesn't match the vibe of this r/.

P.s. I'm already publishing this post on r/leidenuniversity , but that group is very inactive.

Hi everyone,
I’m in a really difficult situation and I’m hoping someone here might be able to help.
I’m going to be a first-year student in Eindhoven this September, but unfortunately my university informed me at the last minute that they were unable to arrange accommodation for me. This has left me and my family extremely stressed and worried, as my studies are about to begin and I still have nowhere to live.
If anyone knows of a room, studio, apartment, a trustworthy rental agency, or someone who is looking for a tenant, I would be incredibly grateful if you could let me know. Even the smallest lead could make a huge difference.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. It would truly mean a lot to me if you could help or share any information.
Thank you 🙏

Hi everyone,

I am a 23-year-old senior Computer Science student moving to Eindhoven for an Erasmus+ internship at the High Tech Campus from July 9th to October 3rd.

I am currently looking for a furnished room/studio for this short-stay period. I am a clean, responsible, and quiet person who will be working full-time during the week.

If anyone has a room to sublet or knows an available place near or with easy access to the High Tech Campus, please feel free to DM me. Any leads or advice would be highly appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi all,

Apologies in advance for asking silly questions.

Expat here, 30M , currently renting 30 sq.m for 1100 euros per month. Recently bid an apartment and won,

the building has 1 other apartment to share the VVE, ( VVE is registered not active) and its a listed building ( protected urban landscape).

Property details

Area :- 82 m2 with 2 bedrooms and energy label A+

Year of construction:- 2025.

No kitchen.

Property is in center and close to train station (950m)

Asking price:- 351000

Bidding price :- 366500

Proposed renovation:- 20k ( 16k for kitchen+ 4k for mechanical ventilation)

Appraised value without renovation:-370000

Appraised value with renovation:- 390000

Some of the questions which I have

1. Initially we bid 360k and the owner counter offered 375k , we gave our final offer as 366500 euros

Did we get a good deal ? Considering there is no kitchen.

2. Since the building is very new, we didn't put the technical inspection clause , is it still advisable to do a inspection?

3. The WOZ value is 250k for the building, although iam happy that I can pay lower taxes , but on the other hand will this lower WOZ value be a problem in future ?

Question about VVE

4. Can the VVE cost per month get very high like. ( 250-350) euros per month?

5. Who is in charge of VVE since the other unit is sold at the same time as ours ?

6. when we sell our apartment in 6-7 years what will happen to our reserve fund?

Question about bouwedepot

7. if the mortage is apporved for 390k ( 20k for renovation)

How does bouwedepot work? Do i have to transfer 30% of money to the notary?

Landlord visited me a few days ago and told me that they want to sell. I have an indefinite contract, so I know it’s not going to affect me immediately.

The reasoning they stated seemed fair to me and I don’t want to take advantage, but I’m thinking of asking for agency fees to find a place + moving fees.

Is this fair? Should I ask for more? Am I being too nice? Either way I think it’ll take atleast a month or two to get another place, and I was already paying a premium, prices have since gone up again and to stay in the same area I’d likely go from 2800
Rent to 3000+.

Just looking for some balance opinions. Thanks.

Our house went live on Funda on Friday afternoon, it’s in one of the 4 big cities in the Randstad.
After about 36 hours (Sunday evening), we have:
● ~3,600 appearances in search results
● ~445 listing views
● 45 saves
I tried to find benchmarks online, but Funda doesn’t seem to publish any statistics on what is typical for the first few days, and I couldn’t find much from makelaars either.
For those of you who have recently sold a house in the Netherlands:

How many saves did you have after the first weekend?
How many viewings did that translate into?
Did it end up selling quickly or with multiple offers?

I’m mainly looking for real-world experiences rather than guesses, as I’m curious whether these numbers are relatively high, average or low. I’m slightly desperate to sell before the holidays 😅

Hey Everyone!

I'm an incoming first year student at Erasmus University Rotterdam, and I am DESPERATELY trying to find housing for when I start in September.

I know it's late. I know it's difficult. Everyone says the same thing. Go to some other country or plan on differing for a year. I know it's all real advice, but right now I just NEED to try and find housing at Rotterdam.

If anyone has any leads: any websites, or agents, or contacts that could help in any way possible, I would be grateful beyond words. Any advice helps!

Hi, we are renovating our kitchen and looking at these places as potential options. I have booked appointment to talk to them next week, but also curious if anyone have actually tried them before:

www.hellokitchen.nl
Seems to have good google review overall. However they are part of De Mandemakers Groep which I have heard some not so great things on their sale tactics

www.kvik.nl
They have really nice design and fixed price. But the Arena Branch seems to have very bad google review.

IKEA is also an option but their installation time seems to be quite long

Thank you!

Hi I moved to the Netherlands in 2024 on a partner residency permit, the relationship was really bad and I don’t really want to go into detail or talk about it so openly on here but my mental health last year and the ending of my relationship which I had to get out of was sending me spiralling, I was on the psych ward, I was staying with random people because I had so much uncertainty. And all the help I was asking for nothing was happening because I’d just get the answer ‘I don’t know if we can help you because we don’t know if you can stay here yet’ waiting for the residency permit was making me sick. I finally got the permit this year, I got a job that I loved, I got a amazing studio in an amazing area. But fast forward to now I lost my job for no reason other than buisness being quiet and got told days later my studio is getting stripped out and is becoming one apartment with the one next door and I have to leave at the end of the month. I have mental health, learning difficulties and been through a lot. I need to find somewhere to live and I’m scared of ending up homeless. I really don’t know what to do

In case you wondered why there are issues with social housing. “They are still considering whether to appeal.” ;)

Looking to buy around 150k and I was wondering if I should send offers to listings at 160-175k

thanks!

I am doing my final phase of my doctorate program (6 months to go), non-EU, living with husband (unemployed) at student residence whose rental contract is coming to an end in 3 weeks. We have been searching for an affordable apartment (budget 1200/-) for the last 3 months. Been successful to view only 3 apartments but the challenge has always been the limited time on my contract. This is what I have been told exclusively by some agents. We have tried short stay options but most are super expensive considering we have 1 income (~2800). Our agent said that can’t extend/renew the rental contract. We have paid for Pararius, Kamarnet, Holland2stay, HousingAnywhere among others. Still no luck. I need to know, what happens in such a situation?

PS: I tried to ask my immediate supervisor be my guarantor but he said he couldn’t because he has mortgage payments.

I will be relocating, found a new job non-EU.

• will bank allow a diplomatic clause?

• are short term rental agreements ok with no registration? 2-6 months

• someone who only needs it Monday to Friday?

Currently have double housing costs between two countries.. so renting out would help finances

Plan is to sell apartment in the long term.

Hi everyone,
Wondering if anyone here has experience with buying a flat that needs kinda full modernization and then renovating it? I'd very much love to hear your experience whether it is worth it (time and money)
I'm thinking of purchasing a 70m2 flat (energy label C, built in late 60s, 2nd floor, no elevator) that needs lots of renovation. It is being sold "as is" and the buyer allows pre-examination and hence takes no liability afterwards. Exterior-wise, it is taken care of by VVE so that's not an issue (?) I believe; however, interior-wise, it will need almost everything done (the floor plan looks fine, it needs repainting, new kitchen/bathroom/toilet installations and such). I love to have the flat of my own design, and I love DIY projects, but of course, when it comes to electricity wiring, water piping, or so, I'd rather have a professional.
Would love to hear what you think about (esp in my case as a foreigner):
- time?
- cost?
- issue with VVE?
- legal renovation permit?
- or any experience/opinions are much appreciated.
Thank you very much!

I'm 30, 5 years in the Netherlands, and moving in soon to a 2-bedroom apartment, new building (unfurnished) in Ams Noord (next to metro station), 75m2 + balcony and lots of light.

The rent is too much by myself, though I meet the income requirements.

I asked the agency and can get a new tenant and they say it's fine, with registration, contract etc.

None of my friends are looking for a place at the moment!

How do I go about finding a roommate? Both channels and vetting process, it's the first time in looking for someone, and want to get it right. Shared many apartments when I was younger and it's been 50/50 in terms of living together

In the market to buy a new place to live but not in a rush. After few months of doing it I came to the conclusion that both selling and buying agents are a waste of time and money.
Most of the selling agents know a little about the place they are selling. They do photos and then arrange all viewings at the same time to show potential buyers that there is huge demand. If you have any questions they mostly don’t care.
Buying agent is also a disappointment (but maybe it is just ours). We found an interesting property but there seems to be some issues with VVE and neighbors (nothing that probably cannot be resolved). But it was us who had to ask all the questions and push agent to get the answers (still don’t have them).
Are we better off buying on our own?
Also if we decide to buy we need to sell the current apartment. Can this also be done on our own?

Hey y'all,

I'm in a really tough spot. I currently live in a student apartment. My lease is ending, which they're not extending because I'm no longer a student after this. At the same time, I don't have a job yet. I'm incredibly occupied with finding a job and writing and doing my thesis at the same time, which I have to defend soon.

I'm having a difficult time finding a place to rent, even though I have a guarantor and can show proof of funds, because I won't be a student any longer, and also have no personal income to show. Has anyone else been in a situation like this? What the hell do I do? I have a month to find a place.