Housing

Finding affordable housing in Amsterdam is difficult, when you get accepted to study it is best to make this your first priority and start looking for a living space right away. Here you can find out information about different types of housing available in Amsterdam, tips on how to find accomodation, and resources to navigate finding accommodation in a housing crisis. We will be looking at student housing in the public and private sector, antikraak, artist living spaces, and woongroeps, as well as various organisations in the Netherlands that can provide support. Here⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ is a link to a page that provides a pretty comprehensive overview of various organisations and websites that can help you in your search.

One thing that is super important, especially if you are non-EU, is to find housing that you can register at.

For more support, or questions, contact Rietveld & Sandberg Student Housing.

Accomodation Websites

Nancy and Angelo from the Sandberg made a list with reliable websites where you can register and search for accommodation, in order of relevance:

• Register with Studentwoning Web⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠, (€22.50 for 10 years). This website is the biggest player in the field of student housing. They have a waiting list of approximately 1.5 years, though once you got a room through them it will be until the end of your study. It is highly recommended to register as soon as possible.
• Register with Room⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠, (€35 for 8 years) They have a waiting list, though once you get a room through them, it will be until the end of your study.
• Register with Ymere⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ and check on their short stay offers daily.
• Register at ASVA⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ (costs €15) and check on their offers daily.
• Check on the Amsterdam Apartments⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ or Kamer Gezocht in Amsterdam⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ Facebook groups.
• Join the Sandberg Instituut⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠and Rietveld⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ Facebook groups.
• Check in at The Social Hub⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠for short and long stays.
• Register at Kamernet⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ (free) and check on their offers daily.
• Search Kamers Amsterdam⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠, which features a range of affordable, student-friendly rooms in Amsterdam.
• Search Kamer⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠, which features a range of affordable and student-friendly rentals.
• Register at Holland2Stay⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ (costs €26.50).

DUWO

The Gerrit Rietveld/Sandberg has a few studios available for non-Dutch students. These rooms are from a rental company in Amsterdam called DUWO, which provides housing for students. The studio rooms are located in Nieuw-West and are a 15 minute bike ride from school. The lease is for 2 years (the rental starts from August 1st) and you have to pay 3 months’ rent upfront. There are two studio types available, 24m² studios for around €582 and 33m² studios for around €726 (amounts are estimates and are likely to change yearly), both are eligible for housing allowance. You will be contacted by the Sandberg/Rietveld support staff with more information about how to apply for these studios once you have been accepted.

Artist Living Spaces

In Amsterdam there are a number of affordable housing opportunities focused on young artists, some are not open to students but are still worth keeping an eye on for when you graduate (if you plan to stay in the Netherlands). Note: you need to do the CAWA test⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠ to be considered for most of these homes.

WOW Lieven⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠: 40 living spaces in Nieuw-West Amsterdam open to young artists (have to be 28 or under to apply) for a maximum of 5 years, students can apply. For more information on what is offered, the requirements and application process click through to their website.
Urban Resort⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠: A variety of studio spaces and living spaces on offer to artists, the housing is not open to students however it has a number of living spaces available to recent graduates and/or young/emerging artists.

Antikraak

Another option for housing in the Netherlands is antikraak, or ‘anti-squatting’. These are buildings which are made available for temporary living as a security method for buildings that are vacant and are awaiting sale, demolition or renovation, to prevent them from being squatted, broken into, or deteriorating from neglect. This is done through antikraak agencies, which are hired by the property owners. These agencies seek residents to temporarily live in these buildings until the owner decides what will happen with the building. Although antikraak is cheap - you pay a fraction of the price you would normally for a rental - it is not without its drawbacks. People who live in antikraak housing have far fewer rights than those who sign a rental agreement with strict protection laws. For example, an antikraak agency can terminate an agreement without a valid reason at any time provided they give 14-28 days notice (depending on the agency). You also consent to unannounced inspections, and there are a number of rules and regulations which prohibit what you can do as someone living in antikraak. For some people this arrangement works, but it is good to be aware of the conditions/realities of signing up for antikraak housing. It is by no means a solution, and is another way in which housing corporations profit and speculate on empty buildings.

Here are a number of antikraak agencies:

• Gapph⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠
• Adhoc⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠
• Interveste⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠
• VPS⁠⁠(opens in a new tab)⁠⁠

Squatting

Although squatting is illegal in the Netherlands, there are a number of squats and opportunities to squat. However, it goes without saying that as non-EU people this is highly risky and comes with the very real threat of deportation. If you are arrested, and/or have a charge laid against you, this is grounds for your visa to be canceled and any future attempts to get a visa in the Netherlands will be very difficult if not impossible.

Woongroepen

Another housing option is woongroeps/co-living. These are houses/living communities, you can find out more information here. Getting a room in a woongroep is often through word of mouth, but it is worth checking the Rietveld/Sandberg FB page regularly as people occasionally post Woongroep living opportunities there.