Renting a room in Amsterdam: the complete guide

Amsterdam has far more people looking for a room than rooms to rent. Good rooms are often taken within a day or two, and many are offered to friends or through networks before they reach a website.

That means speed matters, and so does being ready: when the right room comes along, you want to reply first and have everything at hand.

Before you start, write down what really matters. The tighter your list, the faster you can decide.

• Your maximum budget per month, including service costs
• The neighbourhoods you would live in, and the ones you would not
• Your move-in date and how long you want to stay
• Whether you need to register at the address
• What kind of house you want to live in: quiet, social, students, professionals

A rented room in the Netherlands comes with more protection than many people expect:

• The rent of a room may not be higher than its points under the rental points system allow. You can check it with the Huurcommissie.
• Since 1 July 2024, a permanent contract is the norm. Temporary contracts are only allowed for specific groups, such as students.
• A deposit may be at most two months' base rent.
• You may register at the address where you live. You do not need the landlord's permission.

Our guides on contracts, registration and prices go into each of these.

In a shared house, your future housemates often help choose who gets the room. Be yourself, be on time, and ask questions about how the house works: cleaning, guests, shared costs.

Bring a short introduction about who you are, what you do and why you want to live there. It helps people remember you.

1. Check that the landlord is who they say they are.
2. Read the whole contract, and ask about anything you do not understand.
3. Check the rent and service costs against the points system.
4. Ask whether you can register at the address.
5. Never pay anything before you have seen the room and signed.

We search the market for you every day, screen rooms and landlords, and check the contract with you. Signing up is free; you pay €1,500 only when you sign for a room we found.