🦉 General Wisdom

It’s hard. Really.

House hunting in the Netherlands is a full-time job. It's demanding, often disheartening, and honestly, it just sucks. But, as the Dutch saying goes, "It is what it is." 😊 The best approach is to adapt and look for ways to streamline the process. Once you're done, you'll be happy in your new home!

Setting Realistic Expectations

If you're on the hunt for your first apartment, temper your expectations. It's unlikely to tick every box on your wishlist, and that's perfectly okay. View this initial rental as a stepping stone — a way to get to know the country and its various neighbourhoods. Your second apartment is always MUCH closer to a dream home!

Don’t Be Too Picky

The reality is that landlords are selecting tenants, not the other way around. For every apartment you're interested in, expect extremely high competition. Keep this in mind while scrutinising every detail of an apartment. Often, it's best to just submit your application asap.

Higher Prices Mean Less Competition

This is a simple fact. The highest competition is for apartments priced below €1,200. Viewings for these properties often involve large groups and are packed. On the other hand, when you look at apartments above €2,000, you'll find significantly fewer applicants. As prices increase, the rental process generally becomes smoother and quicker.

How Long Will It Take?

On average, the rental search takes anywhere from 3 to 10 weeks, depending on factors such as location, budget, and specific requirements.

Seasonal Trends

June to October are crazy. This is largely because most students and expats are moving to the Netherlands during these months.

The low (if you could call that — low) season is from November to February. During this period, competition is at its lowest, but the overall number of available properties also decreases.

March to May has moderate demand.