Student Housing 101

Every prospective student worries about finding housing. I can imagine - moving to a new country, looking for a place for the first time ever, fearing you might not find anything, or if you do, it might be a scam or far away from a nice place to live. We all had the same fears. But if you start early and keep realistic expectations, you’ll be fine. I am writing this from the comfort of my third "home", sitting on my big red sofa in my studio.

Kids, I'm going to tell you an incredible story. The story of how I found my perfect student housing. It wasn’t always easy: there were weird viewings, endless scrolling, and moments when I thought I'd never find a place. But just like any good story, it all led me exactly where I needed to be - right here, on this big red sofa, in my own cosy studio.

Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta-ta-ta...

Season 1: Life at Upsilon

In my first year, I lived at Upsilon, a student accommodation on Antaresstraat that’s managed by SSH – one of the many non-profit organisations offering affordable housing for students. Five minutes by bike from campus and ten from the city centre. If you're coming from abroad, I always recommend trying to get one of these places. They're limited, but not impossible to get if you're fast.

The key? As soon as you get your letter of acceptance, register for free on the student accommodation platform. They’ll announce a date when all the available rooms go live. The locations vary and so do the prices, and setups. Some are shared units/1apartments, other - private studios. On the booking day, be online a few minutes early, have your favourite room open, and refresh exactly when the clock hits. The site crashes every single year for three minutes. It’s practically tradition or the fast people all over the world are booking a room at the exact same time. If you miss out, check again exactly 24 hours later – unpaid rooms often become available again a day after they were originally booked.

Back then, living in Upsilon cost me €550 a month, including utilities. I shared a unit with seven others – we each had our own rooms and bathrooms and shared a spacious kitchen. That kitchen quickly became the heart of our home. It was always alive – sometimes chaotic, often a bit messy – but filled with laughter, late-night chats, and real friendship. Those countless sleepless nights weren’t because I couldn’t sleep, but because there was always something going on. We kept each other company, supported one another like family, and those moments helped keep homesickness away.

My best friend from back home lived in the unit above. Somehow, our two units blended into one big community. Every morning, it was the same question in the group chat: “First or second floor?” We'd gather for coffee before lectures, or just to hang out. Looking back, those days were magical – full of true connection, fun, chaos, and comfort.

Getting student housing saved my parents from potentially huge deposits, rental scams, and endless uncertainty. I arrived in the Netherlands on 10 August, early enough to explore the city, join the introduction weeks, rent a bike, and settle in properly. Trust me: all of that takes time.

Moving and a half

Applying online wasn’t great, honestly. At first, my best friend and I wanted to find an apartment together, but being first-year students without jobs wasn’t exactly a selling point. Most places were either off-limits or meant for couples, meaning one of us would have had to sleep in the living room. Not ideal.

Eventually, we split up and started looking for rooms separately. I got lucky. I replied to exactly one Facebook post, got a viewing, and after a bit of persistence, I landed a small room on the second floor for €465 a month. I shared the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet with two others (technically three, but one was never home). Moving across the city without a car was rough, but my new housemates helped – and I’m still grateful.

Meanwhile, my best friend struggled for a bit longer but eventually cracked it by going straight to agency offices. They offered her proper viewings, and she soon found a lovely two-bedroom apartment for €1,400 a month (utilities included), sharing with another girl. The apartment was amazing.

Half a year later, in my house, the almost-never-home roommate moved out. Their room was twice the size of mine, and I got the chance to upgrade. Finding someone to take my old room was quick and easy.

Then things took an unexpected turn: just three months later, a colleague at my part-time job mentioned he was leaving his studio. A good price, a nice location. I had to see it.

Legendary leap to living solo

Luckily, my colleague, who was also a friend, was incredibly helpful. He let me come see the place first, and the moment I stepped inside, I knew. It’s going to be legen - wait for it - dary. The studio was lovely, fully decorated with great style, and felt so cozy from the start.

He stopped looking for other people, and I bought all the furniture from him. That’s how it usually goes.

Not going to lie, the first month felt weird. I'd always lived just a wall away from someone else. Suddenly being completely alone was... an adjustment.

But after a month of settling in, it started to feel like home - 3000 kilometres away from my real home, but cozy, safe, and mine. Of course, living in a studio comes with a higher price. Rent was €750 a month (utilities included) but with a part-time job and DUO support, it was manageable even without my parents’ support.

Final episode (for now): Looking back

Looking back, all those days when I was emailing agencies daily and checking housing websites first thing in the morning weren’t as bad as they felt at the time. Moving took a week, and yes, it was overwhelming - but I had never faced anything like that before. I started my journey abroad at 19. By 20, I was already attending viewings - something most of my friends back home won’t experience until they’re 25 or older. Managing everything on my own was, and still is, challenging, but it has taught me a lot. In the end, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?