This section is under constant development. Questions and answers will be added along the way.
Housing search
Most students prefer to live in the neighborhoods Kralingen, City Centre, Delfshaven and Noord. But overall, all neighborhoods in Rotterdam are great to live in. Also the above mentioned neighborhoods are because of their popularity also the most expensive ones to live. So we would definitely advise you not to only focus on these neighborhoods but also expand your horizon. Keep in mind that Rotterdam has excellent public transport so you can easily (within 30 minutes) commute from one part of Rotterdam to the other.
We also recommend students to search not only in Rotterdam, but also in other close by cities like Capelle aan den IJssel and Schiedam. Find more info on our webpage on neighbouring cities.
First read our webpage “Housing in Rotterdam in 7 steps” for all the information regarding housing in a nutshell. Then use our EUR housing Selection Guide to check which housing options are available for you and within budget.
Unfortunately, there are some housing frauds online.
- Start by reading this very useful article by Erasmus Magazine
- You can join this Facebook page in order to stay informed about active scammers on the housing market. In this group, tips and tricks are shared regarding housing in the Netherlands. Also, they expose scammers who are active in the Dutch housing market.
Reserved accommodation
Yes, you can apply for more than one EUR reserved accommodation provider to increase your chances, but please make sure that you are aware of the cancellation policy once you made a complete booking. Some providers will ask for a cancellation fee or you will only receive back your down payment partly. On our website you can find the cancellation policy per reserved accommodation provider.
The apartments at XIOR are very popular and lots of students will try to book an apartment at once. Although Xior has increased already the data traffic of their booking website it might be possible that the website crashed. We hope the best but want to give you a heads up about this. In case this happens, try again later.
For the reserved EUR apartments at Xior you don’t need a code.
Xior has several collaborations with other Universities in the Netherlands and those Universities decided to make use of a code. EUR however is the only one that doesn’t use a code.
Unfortunately each program at the Erasmus University Rotterdam can only approve a limited number of accounts. If your account is not approved by the faculty or the status of your registration has been changed to “on hold” instead of “for approval”, this means that there are no more rooms available for your program.
Even though you can still see rooms available, the faculty will not be able to approve your registration. The remaining available rooms are meant for other faculties at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. You will receive an email from the faculty when they are no longer able to approve your registration.
Unfortunately, the chances of being approved later on are quite low. Most students who receive approval proceed with booking a room immediately. Only if some of these students do not finalize their booking within the given timeframe can faculties approve additional students.
For example, if RSM initially approves 100 students, but only 90 go on to book a room, the faculty may approve 10 more students after three days. However, since hundreds of RSM students have registered, the majority of students placed on hold will unfortunately not receive approval.
Our advice is to not wait in the hope of being approved later—start looking for alternative housing options as soon as possible. If you are approved at a later stage, you will receive a notification, please don’t contact your faculty or the housing department about this because this will not influence the process.
Do not wait in the hope of being approved later—start looking for alternative housing options as soon as possible. If you are approved at a later stage, you will receive a notification, please don’t contact your faculty or the housing department about this because this will not influence the process.
Private market
Room rates start at about €700 ranging up to €1000. The use of gas and electricity is usually included in the rent (but not always). Landlords usually charge a deposit. You can use the Rent Checker to estimate a correct price.
Our page on legal aspects includes a checklist that will help you to find out what is and isn’t included in the rent of the room you’re considering.
By signing up to the service of HousingAnywhere via the Erasmus University Sign-up form you’ll receive Priority Access to the platform.
By singing up through the above link, you will get automatically 20% off your subscription plan. Additionally, if you're seeking accommodation outside the Netherlands (for outgoing students), the link will grant you the same 20% off on the Tenant Protection Fee, which applies instead of the subscription.
Look for more information on our Housing Anywhere website.
The rooms on offer will be situated all over Rotterdam and its neighbouring cities. Be sure to check out the neighbourhood and the distance to the university when applying for housing. However, it is good to know that a daily commute is quite common for students at Dutch universities and distances may be easily covered by bike, (rental) scooter or public transportation.
To familiarize yourself with Rotterdam’s neighbouring cities we have created a short introduction on the closest cities.
While there are many rooms available, the quality is often similar. We recommend evaluating the room as best you can based on the photos, description, and reviews provided.
Erasmus University Rotterdam is not involved in any privately offered accommodation and does not mediate between students and landlords.
However, in case a student has a valid complaint about a landlord or agency EUR may decide to remove the link from this website after looking into the matter and/or receiving multiple complaints.
Yes, always ask for a rental contract. Legitimate landlords or rental agents should provide one. If a landlord refuses, it may be a red flag (e.g., to avoid taxes). Make sure to read up on the legal aspects of renting before signing anything.
Before signing, check how much notice you need to give if you want to end the contract. If you don’t follow the notice period correctly, the landlord may refuse to return your deposit.
No room found
Since our schools are not offering online education as default, you are expected to be present on campus at the start of the semester.
We advise you to not travel to Rotterdam when you haven’t found a place to stay. If you decide to start your study without having secured housing, please note that you may find yourself in hotels or hostels for a long period of time, which may result in high costs, inconvenience, and stress. Unfortunately, Erasmus University will not be able to help you find a place to stay.
Practical matters
If you will be living in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register at the City Hall in the town in which you are living. Read more about the requirements on the following website: https://www.eur.nl/en/education/study-rotterdam/living-here/city-hall
At the start of every semester, we provide our international students the opportunity to register at the City Hall during the One Stop Shops on campus. So make your appointment today!
For certain neighborhoods and streets in Rotterdam you need a housing permit. You can find a list of those neighborhoods and streets on the Municipality website of Rotterdam.nl - huisvestingsvergunning
How much money you will actually need depends on your lifestyle. We strongly recommend you to make a budget plan.
Experience has shown that students living and studying in Rotterdam spend approximately €1200 a month. This amount is needed to cover daily expenses, meals, accommodation costs, insurance, study books etc. The estimate below does not include tuition fees and unforeseen costs, and should be used as a general indication of the costs of living in the Netherlands. Although with current energy crisis your living expense might be even higher.
The costs for housing, for example, may differ considerably. Also, if you plan to travel during your stay, you will obviously need more money.
Read more about this topic here!
Rent benefit is a form of compensation on high rents provided by the Dutch government to residents on a low income. Want to know more? Read more on the following website and see if you and the accommodation you are about the rent qualifies you for rent benefit.
The apartments at XIOR are very popular and lots of students will try to book an apartment at once. Although Xior has increased already the data traffic of their booking website it might be possible that the website crashed. We hope the best but want to give you a heads up about this. In case this happens, try again later.