How to Find a Room
Without Losing Your Mind
Finding housing in Groningen is a competitive sport. Here is your playbook to beat the crowd, avoid scams, and secure a home.
The 30-Second Summary
Start Early. Most Dutch students start looking 4-6 months before the semester begins.
SSH is Key. Register on SSHXL.nl immediately. It is the only guaranteed fair pricing.
Be Fast. Reply to new Kamernet/Facebook listings within 1 hour or lose out.
Where to Look (Ranked)
SSH Student Housing
The non-profit housing corporation. They own huge student buildings (like Upsilon, Winschoterdiep). The rooms are basic but furnished and affordable.
Kamernet
The giant of Dutch housing. Private landlords post rooms here. There is huge supply, but also huge competition. You must pay a monthly fee to reply to ads.
Holland2Stay
High-quality modern studios. Very popular for international students. However, most bookings are a Lottery system, you sign up and hope you get picked. It is luck, not speed.
Groningen Living (Us)Coming Soon
We are currently building this platform to fix the trust gap in the market. We are manually onboarding verified landlords right now. Listings will be live soon!
The “Winning Strategy“
Prepare
Have your passport, proof of enrollment, and a “Proof of Income“ (or guarantor letter) ready as PDFs.
Apply Fast
Refresh sites at 09:00 and 17:00. Send messages immediately. Quantity matters.
Call
If a phone number is listed, call them. It puts you ahead of 100 emails instantly.
View
Take the first viewing slot offered. Bring cash for a deposit? NO! Never pay cash.
Warning: The “I am abroad“ Scam
If a landlord says “I am currently in the UK/Spain/etc., so I cannot show you the room, but I can mail you the keys if you pay a deposit“... IT IS A SCAM.
Never pay money until you have seen the room and signed a contract.
The Copy-Paste Template
Landlords read the first two sentences. Be polite, state your income/guarantor status immediately, and mention you don't smoke/party.
Do This
- • Create a complete profile on Kamernet with a photo.
- • Check distance to Zernike Campus (Google Maps).
- • Ask for a video tour if you are abroad.
Avoid This
- • Don't mention “parties“ or “nightlife“ in your intro.
- • Don't pay via Western Union or anonymous transfer.
- • Don't trust listings with no photos or blurry photos.
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