Housing
Arranging accommodation can demand a lot of time and effort for Dutch and international students. For this reason, finding a place to stay is one of the first things that need to be arranged when you are planning to study at Leiden University. But how do you actually find a room in Leiden?
Housing via Leiden University
Are you a new international student? Each semester, Leiden University reserves a limited number of rooms for international students via a local housing agency. These rooms are intended for new short-stay students only as the maximum rental contract duration is one year. So if you intend joining Leiden University for more than one year, you are instead advised to seek housing yourself – see below.
Find out more about requesting housing via the university on the housing website. Be aware that due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee a room to all applicants so it is essential that you request housing early.
Finding housing yourself
Arranging housing is your responsibility when studying at Leiden University. Both Dutch and international students should look for accommodation themselves and there are many ways to do so. Most students in Leiden find a room through DUWO, which is one of the largest student accommodation corporations in the Netherlands. There are other agencies and corporations as well, and they all offer rooms of all types and sizes, in or near the city center, making them the ideal place to start your search. Find more details on finding accommodation on Finding Housing Yourself.
Stay with a host or guest family
Hospi Housing is the biggest platform for homestay in the Netherlands. They offer a free-to-use platform with hundreds of verified hosts and guest families. Hospi Housing does not charge any registration fees, you only pay a one-time fee if you find a room. Before and during your stay they provide personal advice to get you well prepared for your arrival in Leiden. Staying with a host or guest family will give you a soft landing in town and is the perfect way to get in touch with Dutch culture and language. You’ll have your own private room and shared facilities like a kitchen and bathroom. Get more information and sign up for free at: hospihousing.com.
Living in student accommodation
You’ve found a room? Congratulations! Living and studying in Leiden will enrich your life. But it’ll probably take you a while to get used to too, because a lot will change after you leave home. You’ll have to do your own cooking and laundry for a start, and arrange your own finances. But on the other hand, living in student accommodation can be great fun; you’ll enjoy more freedom and you can make your own decisions.
Register as a resident
Once you have a place to live, it is very important that you register at your local town hall as soon as possible. This is particularly important for Dutch residence permit holders as failure to do so can result in the cancellation of your permit, see obligations for residence permit holders.
How much does it cost to live in student accommodation?
The average cost of a room (non-furnished) in Leiden is between €300 and €500 a month. Then, of course, you’ll also need money for things like contract costs, groceries, insurance, study materials, transport and going out. So you’ll need to consider how you financially plan for your study experience.