Finding a home

It’s helpful to let everyone know that you are looking for housing. Use your network: friends and social media. And don’t be too picky. Of course you want a large room with private bathroom only five minutes by bike from the university, but that is often hard to find. Be prepared to settle for less.

There are several organisations, corporations and agencies which offer accommodation.

Stay with a host or guest family

Staying with a host or guest family will provide you with a soft landing in town and is the perfect way to get in touch with the Dutch culture and language. You’ll have your own private room and shared facilities like a kitchen and bathroom. Hospi Housing has a big network of verified hosts and guest families. You can apply and use their platform for free at hospihousing.com. 

International Student Houses
SSH is a non-profit organisation that acts as an intermediary in finding temporary and furnished accommodation for international students. They offer a room for a maximum period of twelve months. You can register at SSH as soon as you have received your (provisional) letter of acceptance.

SSH has several international student houses and in each student house, there will be a (Dutch) residence assistant. He or she is your first contact before you arrive in your room. Most of them will live in the same house.

Housing corporations
There are several official housing corporations offering both private and shared housing in Groningen. They concern themselves with social housing and affordable living for everybody.

Lefier:

• To apply for a room, you must register with ROOM.nl.
• You can register with ROOM from the age of 16.
• The registration costs are €35,-.
• To rent a room, you must be registered with an educational institution (MBO, HBO WO or PhD).
• You can respond to rooms from 4 months before the start of your study.
• You can apply for rooms on ROOM in Groningen if you are studying or going to study in Groningen or Leeuwarden.

Nijestee, De Huismeesters, Patrimonium, Woonborg, Wierden en Borgen

To rent accommodation in Groningen from these housing corporations you have to apply via Woningnet. You will pay € 20 for your registration and € 11 for the annual renewal.

Estate agencies
Many apartments that are rented out to expats or students are found through agencies, such as Groningse Panden, Rotsvast, 123Wonen, Van der Meulen  and Sons Real Estate. They offer different options and give advice on anything regarding housing. If you decide to let an agency work for you, there are often costs involved which are not legally valid. Many tenants paid a fee to an agent that, according to Dutch law, is often not permitted. It is only permitted to pay a fee when you ask the agency for a search request to find accommodation for you. In most cases, the price is one month’s rent + 21% tax.

The Rent Support Center also offers free legal advice to students who experience problems with housing and have disagreements with their landlords. With the handy Housing Guide of the Groninger Students Union (GSb), you can find a lot of information.

XIOR Student

Xior Student offers her students fully furnished studio’s and is located right next to the Zernike Campus. All rooms at Xior Groningen come with a double bed and a private bathroom and kitchen area. Their brand-new residence has plenty of social & study spaces, a TV lounge and games area, private parking & bike storage and an on-site gym.  Visit xior.be for more information about their accommodation.

Each of the 180 furnished studios at the Oosterhamrikkade has a laminate floor, floor heating, curtains, television, private bathroom and private kitchen. The building has a common study room and bike storage. You can contact groningen@xior.nl to register.