Finding Housing in the Netherlands as a Migrant Worker

A step-by-step survival guide for EU workers looking for a place to live

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🏠 Why housing is one of your biggest challenges

For EU migrant workers arriving in the Netherlands, finding a decent place to live is often harder than finding work. The housing market is tight, expensive, and full of hidden rules. This guide will help you:

• Understand your options
• Avoid scams and unsafe contracts
• Know your rights as a tenant
• Learn how to register your address and get a BSN

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🔎 Step 1: Understand the housing types

It’s important to know the difference between the types of housing available:

Type	Description	Register address?
Social housing (huurwoning)	Low rent, often with waiting list	✅ Yes
Private rental (vrije sector)	Regular apartments or studios	✅ Yes
Employer-provided housing	Temporary rooms via your job	❌ Often no (RNI registration only)
Illegal sublet (onderhuur)	Renting from someone not allowed to sublet	⚠️ Risky – often no BRP registration
Short-stay/hotel/hostel	Expensive, no long-term solution	❌ Usually not

📌 To register with the gemeente and get full rights, you need a legal address with permission from the landlord or owner.

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🧭 Step 2: Decide your priorities

Before you start looking, ask yourself:

• Do I need to register my address (for BSN, DigiD, insurance)?
• Can I share a room or do I need privacy?
• How much can I spend?
• Do I want to live near work or near public transport?

A realistic budget for a room starts at:

• €400–€600 per month in small cities
• €600–€900 per month in larger cities (Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Utrecht)
• €900+ in Amsterdam or The Hague

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🖥️ Step 3: Where to look for housing

Here are common platforms and methods used by locals and migrants:

📱 Online platforms:

• Pararius – private apartments
• Kamernet – rooms for students and workers
• Funda – mostly for buying, but some rentals
• [Facebook groups] – Search: Rooms in [City] or Expats Netherlands
• Marktplaats – beware of scams

🤝 Personal connections:

Ask coworkers, friends, family, or others from your community — many find rooms through word of mouth.

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⚠️ Step 4: Watch out for scams

Scams are common, especially when you don’t speak Dutch or know the rules. Be suspicious of:

• Rent asked to be paid before visiting
• No contract provided
• Landlords refusing address registration
• Prices that are “too good to be true”
• Listings only via WhatsApp or shady websites

✅ Always:

• Visit the room first
• Ask for a written rental agreement
• Check if registration is possible (BRP)

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📄 Step 5: Signing a contract – what to check

A rental agreement (huurcontract) should include:

• Full name of the landlord
• Your name and ID/passport number
• Monthly rent and deposit
• Duration of rental
• Rules (noise, guests, termination notice)

💡 A deposit of 1 or 2 months is normal. More is suspicious.

Make sure you get a signed copy and ask about registration with the gemeente.

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🏛️ Step 6: Registering your address (BRP)

If your address is valid and permitted, you can:

• Register at the gemeente (city hall)
• Get a BSN if you don’t already have one
• Apply for zorgtoeslag or huurtoeslag (rent allowance)

⚠️ If your address is not registered, you might only be able to register via RNI with limited rights.

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❓FAQ

Can I live at my employer’s housing and register?

Often, no. Employer housing is sometimes not allowed to be used for BRP registration.

Can I register at someone else’s address?

Yes, but only with written permission from the main tenant or landlord.

Can I rent without a contract?

It’s risky. Without a contract, you may be evicted without protection or unable to register for a BSN.

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✅ Summary: Housing in the Netherlands

Task	Action
Find housing	Use trusted platforms or coworkers
Check contract	Ensure it includes your name, rent, duration
Avoid scams	Never pay before visiting, demand registration
Register address	Necessary for BSN, insurance, and benefits