So the search for apartments is quite difficult with the housing shortage in the netherlands. There are just too many people for not enough land!...


Especially in Amsterdam, expect to pay very high prices for very little space.

Usually, you can find a single room in a large/ medium house where you share toiletries and kitchens.

depending on where you go, rooms come as cheap as 275 Euro ($360). THe only problem is you end up getting a literal hole in the wall at 75 square feet.

I'd expect to pay between 400-700 euros for a single room.

If you want something more private, an apartment will run you anywhere from 800 on upwards of 1500 euros per month. Again with very limited square footage.

Since the netherlands is very small, and the majority of their land space is reclaimed land. That means they are below sea level and have literally pumped the water out of the area.... you remember the old view of the netherlands, windmills and Dykes and wooden shoes.

The windmills actually pumped out the water from the surrounding area and the dykes keep it out.

But I digress, There is little space and lots of people. Most places will be thin and tall... watch out for those ridiculous staircases....


Things to make sure you ask:
What is included in price? ( many adds say inclusive or exclusive, the former being including gas, electric, heat, and maybe internet, exclusive is without these things)

Is internet included?


What are the regulations with garbage/ recycling?


and do all those other things you do when searching for an apartment.


Useful Dutch words:
Kamer- Room

étage- a single floor in a house, usually only available to girls

appartement- apartment (yeah thats easy)
voor vrouw- for women

voor man- for man

te Huur- to rent. (you'll see signs around the area over rooms on the street)


Recommended sites:

www.remax-netherlands.com
Yes remax is everywhere, and in the netherlands they are in the renting business. The agency has a fee when you sign your contract, usually of one months rent plus a bit. This is standard practice among almost all the housing agencies.

www.kamernet.nl
Now this is an interesting website. The specialize in cheap housing, especially small rooms. It's more a do-it-yourself kinda thing, and you can contact those selling the house directly. You can find a lot of deals on here, but make sure you watch out. The price is 10 euro for 10 reactions (each response you send is a reaction) and 13 euro for 20 reactions. quite cheaper than the comission fees of the agencies, but you do a lot of leg work.... and keep babelfish handy because the site is NOT in english.... It's in Dutch.


www.directwonen.com
another housing agency, same standard information.



Well, for a little update on myself, I've just rented myself an apartment in the Netherlands (Leiden) for about 425 euro a month inclusive for a 22 sq. meter room, and i'm quite happy about the arrangement. I start school in a week and am Livin the dream man!!


peace out,
hippy