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FlashNetherlandsAugust 28, 2026

Netherlands: Student Shared Housing Drops 19% as Landlords Sell, Replaced by Costlier Studios

PublishedEditorial policy

Small private landlords in Dutch university cities are selling off affordable shared student housing, leading to a 19% drop in availability over three years. This trend is replacing shared rooms with more expensive studio apartments, impacting students, especially international ones.

Netherlands student housingDutch residencyInternational students NetherlandsStudent accommodationHousing market NetherlandsНидерланды

Key takeaways

  • If you are an international student planning to study in the Netherlands, be aware that affordable shared rooms in city centers are becoming scarce. Start your housing search well in advance of your arrival, as prices are expected to continue rising.
  • The shift from shared rooms to studios is primarily a business decision by landlords, who find studios faster and more profitable to sell. This trend unfortunately puts students at a disadvantage.
  • Adjust your housing budget upwards. Securing a studio apartment in a university city is increasingly becoming the norm rather than an exception.

Shift in Dutch Student Housing Market

Small private landlords in the Netherlands are increasingly selling off affordable shared student housing, a type of accommodation traditionally favored by students for decades. This trend has resulted in a significant 19% decrease in the availability of such housing in university cities over the past three years.

Data from Kadaster (the Dutch land registry) and published by NRC confirms this shift. Instead of shared rooms, the market is seeing an increase in studio apartments. While studios are generally more expensive, they are also easier for landlords to sell, making it a business-driven decision.

This leaves students with fewer options: either pay higher prices for a studio or seek accommodation further away from city centers. International students arriving in the Netherlands, often expecting budget-friendly options, are immediately confronted with this new reality.

Sources

Based on Emigro corridor reporting. Primary links below.

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