Every year, around 10,000 students will collectively be looking for a place to stay at the same time in Groningen and Leeuwarden. As universities and colleges don’t provide any accommodation you’re unfortunately left to fend for yourself. This can be a very daunting and stressful experience, especially if this is your first time in the Netherlands. With these tips, we hope you’ll have a headstart finding your new place for the foreseeable future!
Start looking early
Like many student cities around the world, Groningen is also experiencing a housing crisis since rooms and studios are so scarce. While there are some options if you’re really stuck, it’s best to start looking as early as possible to give yourself more choice. The University of Groningen even advises students starting in September to start looking for places in April. However, many adverts for rooms tend to pop up about a month before their current tenant hands in their keys. It’s important to not have too many demands and not underestimate the search as it is often a long and stressful process, but always hold out hope.
History has shown us that the situation can get dire. In 2018, students were left spending their nights in tents as they couldn’t find any accommodation. In 2021, over 200 International students were forced to sign up for an emergency couchsurfing scheme.
Join Facebook groups
It’s important to cast your nets in different places. Especially if you’re not in Groningen yet and want to do something proactive it’s a good idea to join for a few housing in Groningen Facebook groups. The main ones are Free Housing Announcements in Groningen, Groningen rooms, studios, and apartments, Groningen Student Housing, and Groningen Rooms.
Here there are usually both posts from people who are looking for a place and people offering places that you can respond to.
Beware of scammers!!
Unfortunately, many scammers are trying to make money off students desperate for a room. If you see something offered on Facebook, check the person’s profile thoroughly and always visit the place before you sign a contract or pay a deposit. Simply receiving photos of it is not always enough and can be faked.
The main red flags are: fake profiles, people offering rooms while not living in Groningen or the Netherlands themselves, a limited amount of pictures of the place, a very high deposit (this should always be 2 months rent max), no way of identification, and the address either doesn’t exist or shows up as someone already living there.
If an advert for a room seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Try websites like Kamernet
Besides Facebook groups, it’s also recommended to sign up for websites like Kamernet. Here you can find rooms and apartments offered depending on your search filters and it’s a bit more legit and trustworthy as there are checks done every day and landlords are verified. Looking for places through filters is free, however, if you want to actually be able to apply for a room you’ll have to purchase a paid subscription. A premium account can either be €26 per 2 weeks which will be extended automatically every 2 weeks or €34 per month which will be automatically extended every 4 weeks.
Student Aoife, 24, from Ireland, got lucky on Kamernet, but with some persistence.
“I was looking for apartments and saw this one I really wanted on Kamernet, but got no response so I gave up hope. When I decided to follow the student moving out of it on Instagram I got a message 2 weeks later, the person who was supposed to move in cancelled and I could move in in a week,” she told The Northern Times.
Try AtHomeInGroningen.nl
The website https://www.athomeingroningen.com/ is set up by the municipality and educational institutions in Groningen and is intended as a ‘one-stop shop’ for finding accommodation. There is also a private directory of private sector rooms that explains Dutch rental terminology as well as tips on avoiding being scammed online.
Hospi Housing
The municipality of Groningen has started collaborating with Hospi Housing connecting students and verified local hosts and guest families. This way you can find a room and meet residents of Groningen who might be able to help you out down the line and create a cultural connection. Signing up for this is free of charge. If you find a room on the site there’s a one-time fee equalling 50% of the first month’s rent. In return, they ensure the platform is 100% scam-free and support you in the matchmaking process or help you draft contracts.
Check student residences
There are many student residences in Groningen and it’s always smart to check their websites. Some of them are short stay and only allow you to stay for one year, but this will give you time to look for a new place for the next year while in Groningen if needed, which is usually a bit easier.
SSH is a non-profit housing organisation providing housing for international students in Groningen, which you can get more info about here. This includes places like Upsilon (close to the Zernike Campus), Frascati (close to the train station), and Martinihouse (close to the Stadspark).
Xior is another private residence provider you can try, which is similar to SSH. Their prices range from €500 to €1200 per month.
The Sugar Homes container complex is located on the old sugar factory terrain just south of the city centre. Prices start from €660.
While Xior and The Sugar Homes offer a simple solution for guaranteeing accommodation without requiring you to physically be in Groningen to view the studios, both companies have faced numerous complaints from tenants over the years.
In 2022, students had to stage protests after The Sugar Homes refused to return their €750 deposit. A year earlier, students living in some of Xior’s studios faced sweltering temperatures of 50°C.
Ask around
If you have the luxury of already knowing people or when you meet people on the introduction days it’s always smart to ask around and have it be known that you’re looking for a place. Many landlords let the renters who are leaving find a new tenant themselves. Many student houses do ‘hospi’s’ which are sort of open houses for student houses where more people are invited and the people living there choose someone to move there when someone leaves.
Ask an agency to find a place for you (high budget)
A possible last resort is to ask an agency to find a place for you, which is quite expensive. The finder’s fee is usually equivalent to one month’s rent.
Maria, 22, from Romania told Groningen.nl that this is how she had found her apartment. She explained that she found an agency with rooms available that could only be contacted aftershe reserved a place. “My mum called them and was very persistent. They soon came back to us with the apartment I have now. So being a bit persistent works,” Maria said.
The Student Hotel
Another last resort is The Social Hub (formerly known as The Student Hotel)which is basically a hotel you can stay in long term. A basic room with a private bathroom will set you back a whopping €1334 a month while one with your own kitchen costs €1677.
You could potentially take a risk and book a hotel or hostel room for a few days in the hopes that you’ll be able to do some better house hunting while you’re physically in Groningen. However, the universities are now advising students who haven’t found accommodation by the 1st of August not to come to Groningen or Leeuwarden.
