For undetermined (longer) stay

If you plan to study or work in the Netherlands, you'll need an accommodation for a longer period. Depending on the money you want to spend, you have the option of renting a room or an apartment.

RoomsRenting a room is probably the most affordable option. Again you've got two choices: renting a room in a student flat or at a private person’s home (hospita). In most cases you'll share the kitchen, bathroom and toilet with others. Room prices vary a lot depending on the city, living space and facilities. You can rent a room from about €200,- a month. But in cities like Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht prices can get as high as €400,- or more. The rent usually includes costs for gas, water and electricity. Normally you pay a deposit equal to a month rent, which will be returned when you move out, leaving the room in a good state.Room sizes also vary from about 10 m2 to 30 m2 or more.If your stay in the Netherlands is short, notice that some landlords want you to sign a contract for at least a year. Then you’re stuck to it and when you want to get out sooner, you still have to pay the rent. So if you want to rent a room for just 6 months, don't sign a year contract. Of course there are also landlords who offer you a temporary contract.How do you find a room? Here are some tips:

Check the advertisements in the (local) newspapers under the heading: "kamers aangeboden" (rooms offered). In some newspapers you can also place you own "wanted" advertisement ("kamer gevraagd").In most cities there are organizations which mediate in rooms. A disadvantage is that most of these organizations have long waiting lists.

If you come to Rotterdam the Youth Information Centre is can also mediate in rooms who are available immediately. They don’t charge you anything because they work non-commercially. For other non-commercial room mediators look at kamer.pagina.nl.

A fast but rather expensive way to find a room is through commercial organizations.
Most of them wor
k via the internet. In the first place you have to pay an enrolment fee of about €35, - . Secondly, when you accept a room, you have to pay a deposit, worth one (sometimes two) month's rent. Besides that you also have to pay the organization for their services. Usually an amount equal to one month rent. Keep in mind that you have to pay your first month rent as well.

ApartmentsPrices for an average apartment vary between €300,- and €600,-.  Gas, water and electricity are not always included in the rent, like with rooms. So take into account an extra amount of approximately € 100,- for this. As with rooms, owners of apartments often ask for a deposit, worth one or two month rent, which will be returned when you move out, leaving the apartment in a good state.If your stay in the Netherlands is short, notice that some landlords want you to sign a contract for at least a year. So if you want to rent a apartment for just 6 months, don't sign a year contract. Of course there are also landlords who offer you a temporary contract.

How do you find a apartment? Here are some tips:Check the advertisements in the (local) papers under the heading: "woningen aangeboden" (apartments offered).A fast but rather expensive way to find an apartment is through commercial housing organizations. In the first place you have to pay an enrolment fee of about €35, - Secondly, when you accept an apartment, you have to pay a deposit, worth one (sometimes two) month's rent. Besides that you have to pay the organization for their services. Usually an amount equal to one month rent. Keep in mind that you have to pay your first month's rent as well.