Student housing in Antwerp: kot, shared housing or apartment?

Kot, shared housing or apartment: the options for a student in Antwerp, 2026 rents, the Flemish student contract and the neighbourhoods to look at.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

23 August 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

Positive client review with photo, 5-star rating, BFM TV, Le Parisien and France 2 logos on a blue background.

As a student in Antwerp, you have three main options: a kot (a room or studio rented to a student, under a contract specific to student housing), a shared flat or house, or an apartment rented on your own under a standard lease. The kot is still the most common option. Shared housing becomes worthwhile as soon as you want more space or stay for several years. Renting an apartment alone is the most expensive option.

Context matters: Antwerp is one of the most expensive cities in Flanders for housing. According to the half-yearly rent barometer from the professional federation CIB and the insurer Korfine, relayed by VRT in September 2026, an apartment there rents for an average of €1,009 per month in the first half of 2026, just behind Leuven (€1,132). The same study counts an average of 50 to 100 applicants per rental property in Flanders.

A student's overall budget follows the same slope. According to the CEBUB budget expertise centre at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, cited by Business AM in September 2026, a student without a scholarship renting a kot in Flanders spends at least €18,229 per academic year across all items, almost 50% more than in 2016-2017.

Two hands exchanging keys, with icons and text about support, reviews and human availability.

Kot, shared housing or apartment: comparing the three options

The kot and its student contract

In Flanders, a kot is rented under a student tenancy agreement (studentenhuurovereenkomst) governed by the Flemish decree on housing rental. It is intended for students enrolled full-time in an educational institution, for whom the kot is a second residence. The 2026-2027 model contract distributed by Kotweb, the student housing platform of higher education institutions and the City of Antwerp, sets out the main rules:

All-inclusive rent: all costs and charges must be included in the rent, except energy and water consumption, which can be billed separately if the contract provides for it.
A deposit capped at two months' rent, paid no earlier than three months before the contract starts.
A fixed-term contract, which ends on the agreed date with no tacit renewal.
Possible termination before move-in: free up to three months before the contract starts, then with compensation of two months' rent.

Shared housing

Sharing an apartment or house with other students gets you a bigger kitchen and living room for a cost per person often close to a kot. Mind the legal framework: an apartment rented as a main residence falls under the standard Flemish lease, not the student contract. Check who signs the lease, how the rent and bills are split, and what happens if one of the housemates leaves during the year.

An apartment for yourself

This is the most comfortable and most expensive option: with an average rent of €1,009 for an apartment in 2026, it exceeds the budget of most students. The standard main-residence lease lasts nine years in Flanders, short leases of up to three years exist, and the deposit can reach three months' rent, to be held in an account in the tenant's name.

Together we will find your home

Person in a hat pulling an orange suitcase while travelling.

Get help!

Neighbourhoods to look at

Antwerp has nine districts. For a student, the right neighbourhood depends first on the campus: the University of Antwerp, AP University of Applied Sciences, Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and the KU Leuven campus in Antwerp are spread across several parts of the city. Check the journey by tram or bike before committing.

Historic centre

Close to the central station and the cathedral, this is the most convenient area if you want to do everything on foot. Rents are high and the density is heavy.

Het Zuid and 't Eilandje

Two lively, sought-after neighbourhoods: Het Zuid for its cultural life, 't Eilandje for its former port warehouses turned into housing. Rents here are among the highest in the city: they suit a shared flat better than a studio on your own.

Zurenborg

Known for its Belle Époque houses and Dageraadplaats square, Zurenborg has a village feel. Demand is strong, so you need to act fast.

Berchem, Borgerhout and Deurne

These are the most affordable options. Berchem is residential and well served by tram and Antwerpen-Berchem station. Borgerhout, working-class and multicultural, has some of the lowest rents in the city. Deurne, quieter, in the east, offers moderate rents. For a shared house, these three areas are often the best compromise.

Paperwork and pitfalls to avoid

For a kot, the landlord may ask for proof of enrolment at your institution. For an apartment, prepare an ID document, proof of income (or that of a guarantor) and, if you come from a country outside the European Union, your residence permit.

Do a detailed move-in inspection, dated and signed by both parties. For a kot, it must be drawn up before move-in or at the latest during the first month of occupancy. Without it, you will struggle to get your deposit back.
Never hand over the deposit in cash: it must be paid into a blocked account in the tenant's name or into a landlord's account.
Check that the contract is registered: the landlord must have it registered within two months of signing. Registration is free.
Read what is included: for an apartment, many listings show a rent excluding charges. For a kot, only energy, water and telecoms can be added to the rent.
Don't pay anything before viewing the place, in person or through someone you trust, and without having checked the landlord's identity.
Register with the municipality if Antwerp becomes your main residence: registration in the population register is expected within eight working days of moving in.
Plan ahead: demand peaks before the start of the academic year. Start your search several months in advance and check listings as soon as they are published.

Searching remotely with support on the ground

Preparing for the start of term in Antwerp from France or another country means acting fast, viewing places without being there and reading a contract that is often written in Dutch. A Remoters home finder based in Antwerp can search for you based on your campus and budget, view kots, shared flats or apartments, put together your application and review the contract before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.