Affordable housing is hard to get by, especially in popular cities like Utrecht and Amsterdam. We recommend you start to search for accommodation as soon as you know you will be coming to the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, so space is scarce. Since Utrecht is an economic growth area, housing is hard to get by and is generally considered very expensive. Unlike what you might be used to, a substantial part of your budget will probably be spent on rent and other housing related costs. Depending on the neighbourhood and size of the apartment or house, count on approximately 800-1500 euros a month for just rent. In addition, there will bemandatory costs for utility and water bills, municipal taxes and insurances.
Housing programme
To get you started Utrecht University offers a housing programme called Reserved Accommodation. The programmeis offered exclusively for international staff, guests and PhDs who do not yet live in the Netherlands. We advise you not to rely solely on the housing programme, but to try and find housing yourself as well. Read more about how to apply for the housing programme and about other ways to find accommodation at Finding housing.
More information
Also, have a look at the information about Housing on theAccess website. Access is a not-for-profit organisation supporting the international community in the Netherlands.
