How Much Does a Student Room Cost in the Netherlands in 2026?
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If you're an international student coming to the Netherlands, your biggest expense will be housing. The Dutch student room market is notoriously competitive — with a national shortage of over 20,000 rooms — and prices have risen steadily. In this guide, we break down exactly what you'll pay in each major student city.
Key figure: The average student room in the Netherlands costs €705/month (Q4 2024, Kamernet data). Amsterdam is the most expensive, while cities in the north and east offer significant savings.
Price Overview by City
Below are the average monthly rents for a student room in the six major student cities. These figures reflect unfurnished rooms in shared houses — the most common type of student housing.
| City | Price Range | Avg. Rent | Rooms on KamerJager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | €650 – €950 | €780 | 294 |
| Rotterdam | €500 – €850 | €680 | 220 |
| Utrecht | €550 – €800 | €695 | 129 |
| Groningen | €400 – €650 | €520 | 143 |
| Leiden | €500 – €700 | €620 | 48 |
| Delft | €450 – €650 | €570 | 23 |
Tip: Groningen consistently offers the best value for students. It's a true student city (1 in 4 residents is a student), with a lively culture and significantly lower rents than the Randstad.
Room Type Matters
The prices above are for a basic room in a shared house. Here's how other room types compare:
- Shared room (kamer) — €400-800/month. You share kitchen and bathroom with housemates. Most common for students.
- Studio — €700-1,200/month. Your own kitchen and bathroom. 20-40% more expensive than a room.
- Apartment (1-bedroom) — €900-1,500/month. Standalone unit, rare for students due to price.
- Anti-kraak (anti-squat) — €200-400/month. Very cheap, but temporary and with limited tenant rights.
What's Included in the Rent?
This is where many international students get surprised. Dutch room listings use specific terms:
- Inclusief (all-in) — Gas, water, and electricity included. Sometimes internet too. This is the total amount you pay.
- Exclusief — Utilities are NOT included. Budget an extra €100-200/month for gas/water/electricity, plus €30-50 for internet.
- Kaal (bare) — No floor, no curtains, no furnishing. You need to install everything yourself.
- Gestoffeerd (furnished floor) — Has flooring, curtains, and basic appliances but no furniture.
- Gemeubileerd (furnished) — Comes with bed, desk, wardrobe. Costs €50-150/month more but saves you the hassle of buying furniture.
Watch out: A listing showing €500/month "exclusief" can easily become €700+ once you add utilities, internet, and service costs. Always ask for the total monthly cost before signing.
Deposit and Extra Costs
Beyond monthly rent, expect these one-time costs:
- Deposit (borg) — 1-2 months' rent. Refundable when you leave (minus damages). By law, landlords must return your deposit within 30 days of moving out.
- Administration fee (contractkosten) — Some landlords charge €50-100 for the contract. Higher fees are a red flag.
- Agency fee (bemiddelingskosten) — Since 2015, it's illegal for agents to charge tenants a fee when they also represent the landlord. If an agent asks you to pay, refuse — it's likely illegal.
- Key money (sleutelgeld) — Completely illegal in the Netherlands. Never pay this.
- Contents insurance — €5-10/month. Covers theft and damage to your belongings. Most students skip this, but it's recommended.
Rent Allowance (Huurtoeslag)
The Dutch government offers rent allowance (huurtoeslag) to people with low incomes. As an international student, you may qualify if:
- You're an EU/EEA citizen working at least 56 hours/month in the Netherlands
- Your rent is below €879.66/month (2026 limit)
- Your room is zelfstandig (self-contained — own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom)
- You're registered at the address
- You're 18 or older
If you qualify, huurtoeslag can reduce your effective rent by €100-300/month. Apply via belastingdienst.nl.
Important: Most shared student rooms are niet-zelfstandig (not self-contained), which means you do NOT qualify for huurtoeslag. Only studios and apartments with their own facilities qualify. Keep this in mind when comparing room types.
7 Tips to Save Money on Rent
- Look outside the city center. A room 15 minutes by bike from the university is often €100-200 cheaper than one in the center. In a cycling country like the Netherlands, distance matters less.
- Consider smaller student cities. Groningen, Delft, and Leiden are significantly cheaper than Amsterdam while offering a great student experience.
- Start early. Rooms get more expensive as the academic year approaches (June-September). Start looking in March-April for the best deals.
- Join housing communities. Some student associations (studentenverenigingen) have their own housing. SSH, DUWO, and other housing corporations offer below-market-rate rooms — but waitlists can be years long.
- Share with more people. A house shared among 5 students is cheaper per person than a house shared among 3.
- Negotiate. Especially for longer stays (12+ months), landlords may be willing to lower the rent slightly.
- Use KamerJager. We aggregate rooms from multiple platforms, so you see the full market — including rooms that may not appear on the biggest (most expensive) platforms.
Ready to start your search? Search 840+ Rooms on KamerJager