The ideal window to start your hunt is 2.5 to 3 months before your expected move-in date. Here’s why:
Students are generally looking for more affordable housing such as rooms or studios. Here’s where to look:
Kamernet offers a lot of rooms and apartments. It’s one of the biggest rental platforms in the Netherlands and is well-known among both tenants and landlords. It’s great for students as well as working professionals. You can communicate directly with landlords, which makes it easier to secure a place. To respond to listings, you must subscribe to a premium account (as of August 2024, it’s €34 per month).
Housing Anywhere is good for both short-term and long-term rentals. It allows payments via non-Dutch credit cards, and you can book your accommodation online. Like Kamernet, Housing Anywhere is great for students as well as working professionals. To respond to listings, you must also subscribe to a premium account (as of August 2024, it’s €34 per month). The biggest disadvantage is that it’s not possible to view a property in person; you have to trust the pictures. However, we’ve never heard of an Uprent user renting an apartment that differed from the pictures. The prices are generally slightly higher than the market — mostly, because it’s much easier to rent from Housing Anywhere.
Marktplaats is the number 1 platform in the Netherlands for selling second-hand stuff. It also includes rental listings. Marktplaats is a good option for finding budget-friendly accommodations. You will be communicating directly with landlords. However, the site is only available in Dutch. And, frankly, the quality of photos can be rather bad, since landlords make pictures themselves. :-)
Holland2Stay is great, since it has quotas for student accommodation. Apartments are modern and well-maintained. The platform offers easy online booking for short-term and long-term stays. To respond to listings, you must create an account and pay a one-time registration fee of €26.50.
ROOM.nl is a dedicated platform for student housing. It has many unique rooms that aren’t available elsewhere. It’s particularly good for international students looking for affordable options. However, you must be enrolled at a Dutch university to use the platform, and you can only respond to rooms in the region where you study. A registration fee of €35 is required (it’s valid for 8 years, though), and the competition can be high despite the exclusive listings.
This platform mainly services working professionals, however, many of its listings are also available for students.
The Social Hub offers fully furnished rooms with utilities included, catering to both students and young professionals. Its building often have amenities like coworking spaces, gyms, and social events. The Social Hub is ideal for both short- and long-term stays, although it tends to be more expensive than traditional student housing.
XIOR provides student housing in various cities across the Netherlands. They offer modern, fully furnished rooms and studios close to universities. Rent usually includes utilities, internet, and maintenance. It’s great and you’re lucky to get a place in XIOR :-)
RoomPlaza.com offers fully furnished apartments and rooms, often for students who want to share accommodations.
Pararius is the largest rental platform in the Netherlands with many options. Only real estate agents can post listings, which means the properties are generally reliable. The platform is free for tenants, but most listings require an income that is 3-4 times the monthly rent.
Same as for students, these platforms are great for working professionals.
Funda is a well-known platform, mainly recognized for property sales but also offering rental listings. The platform is very similar to Pararius, with most listings being the same.
Using the platforms below in your rental search is not advisable. This is because most housing listings on these platforms are scraped from other (free) resources, and they often require a subscription. Some may even involve debt collectors if you don’t pay on time.
Great selection of rooms in Maastricht.
Great selection of rooms in Heerlen.
A mix of housing options for students and internationals in Maastricht.
Now that you’ve gathered a wide selection of homes, it’s time to narrow them down to what suits you best. The easiest way to do this is by using Uprent’s browser extension. It automatically scans any property you view and quickly checks if it meets your eligibility criteria. The extension will then display a handy Summary widget right on the property page, like the one shown below, to give you all the details you need at a glance.
The summary provides the most important data about a property, prioritized from top to bottom. While everyone may have different criteria, for most, the tenant conditions are crucial. This section highlights any restrictions on specific groups of people. In the summary widget, Uprent even calculates the expected monthly energy bill.
Luckily, Uprent helps you even with that. You can opt in to be notified of new listings. That way, whenever there is a new listing detected at one of the supported platforms, you will receive an instant alert on your email or phone (depending on what you select).
As mentioned earlier, timing is key, but it’s not the only factor in securing a viewing. A well-crafted application message is just as important. You definitely don’t want to be the first one to get rejected, right?
Your application message is what will ultimately make you stand out. It’s not just about sending a quick note; it’s about presenting yourself in the best possible light. A well-structured message should include the following:
Uprent’s browser extension lets you create a viewing request message in under a minute, for free. When you find a home on any supported website, simply click the Create Message button and answer a few questions. Once you’ve answered all the questions, the viewing request message is automatically generated. This message has been proven to increase your chances of securing viewings by 174% compared to the usual approach.
Not all application messages should be the same. Adjust your message depending on who will be reading it:
Uprent lets you store multiple viewing request messages and automatically fills them in on all rental platforms across The Netherlands.
If you’re applying through platforms like Funda or Pararius, don’t just rely on their built-in application systems. Visit the real estate agent’s website directly and submit your application there as well. Often, real estate agents prioritise viewing requests sent from their website.
Often, a phone call can make the difference. Uprent will let you know if it’s worth calling the agent based on the specific agency. If the agent prefers not to schedule viewings by phone, or if the phone lines are often busy, Uprent won’t suggest calling. But if it might help, you’ll see a prompt with the agent’s phone number.
Many tenants skip PDF forms or online applications required by real estate agents, thinking it takes too much time. However, filling out these forms can give you a significant edge, as it shows you’re committed. Plus, fewer people complete these, reducing your competition.
In the past, many people used Google Sheets or Notion databases to track their rental applications — or didn’t track them at all — leading to missed opportunities and forgotten applications. With Uprent, every application is automatically saved to your dashboard. This allows you to easily manage and monitor all your applications in one place. Uprent also sends reminders for important follow-ups and automates tasks like creating Google Calendar events for viewings. You can even share your dashboard with your flatmate, allowing you to collaborate on the rental search.
Be prepared for additional requests specific to the agency or landlord.
Upload all documents into a Google Drive folder. Make sure Anyone with the link can view this folder. This allows you to easily share your documents by simply providing the link when requested.
Only 30% of properties allow online viewings. That means, with a 70% chance, you will have to visit in-person. If you’re not able to attend yourself, it's best if you find someone who can go on your behalf. Whether it’s a friend, a relocation service, or even a professional, having a trusted person attend the viewing will significantly increase the amount of properties you can get approved for.
It’s important to arrive at the property at least 15 minutes early. Finding the right door can sometimes be tricky. Arriving early also gives you time to get settled and make a good first impression.
Viewings are a chance for the landlord or agent to get a first impression of you. Make yourself memorable: smile, engage with the agent/landlord, share your situation, and ask if there's anything else you can do to improve your chances.
Let’s be blunt: you’d be surprised how often applicants miss out because they bring kids or pets to viewings, and they’re too active. It’s best to only bring adults to the viewing.
Using Uprent’s dashboard, you can keep track of all your viewings. When you move a property to the Viewing Scheduled stage, you can select the date and time of the viewing. You can even create a Google Calendar event directly from the dashboard.
The day before your viewing, Uprent will send you a recap email with all the details, including Google Maps directions, to ensure you’re fully prepared.
While formal attire isn’t necessary, being well-presented, friendly, and thorough during the viewing can make difference. Agents and landlords often rely on their impressions from the viewing when making their decisions. By dressing appropriately, smiling, and being polite, you increase your chances of making a positive impression that could be relayed to the landlord.
You’re allowed to open closets, cabinets, and other storage spaces to get a complete sense of the property. Just be mindful of your surroundings, especially if the property is currently occupied.
You’re on a viewing. You like the property. Do you want to get it? You have the highest chances if you’re the first one to apply. Ideally, submit your application within an hour or two after the viewing, but no later than the same day. If you apply later, the chances someone else will be selected are high.
When it comes to submitting an offer, follow the instructions provided by the real estate agent or landlord during the viewing. Whether it's via email, a form, directly on a website, or another method, follow their preferred process.
Overbidding can indeed be effective. Offering even just €50 more than the asking rental price can make you stand out from other applicants.
Once you move a property to the Sending offer stage on Uprent’s board, you’ll be guided through a few questions, and a rental offer will be generated for you.
Let's say, you have been approved for a home. Next step is to sign a rental agreement. In the Netherlands, there are four main types of rental agreements. The choice of contract is determined by the landlord, not the tenant. If you want to learn about Dutch rental agreement types, access templates, and stay updated on legislative changes effective from July 1, 2024, read Uprent's guide on rental agreements.
Often, you receive a 16-page contract in Dutch, and you have no idea what it says, nor have you time to dive into specifics of the Dutch rental law. With Uprent, you can simply upload your contract and get it analysed. Uprent will break down key clauses, such as termination terms, rent increases, and more, into clear, plain English.
At the time of the key handover, you and the landlord or agent will inspect the property together. Agent will then complete a check-in report detailing the condition of the property, which you will then sign.
In the Netherlands, after moving into a rental property, you typically have a 14-day window to report any additional issues or imperfections not noted during the initial check-in inspection. You can learn more about the check-in process and access the check-in template by reading Uprent's check-in guide.
Social Housing vs Free Market in Almere
In Almere, the housing market is divided into two main sectors: social housing and the free market. Ultimately, this guide is focuing on the free market, as social housing, despite its benefits, remains largely inaccessible to many, particularly expats, students and higher-income individuals.
You can read more about the detailed differences between social and free-market housing on this webpage.