Fantastic, nothing to add. Mathilde managed to find us an apartment that met all our criteria. Thank you so much for your help and professionalism.
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The total monthly occupancy cost for a student in Groningen typically breaks down as follows:
Sources: Good Landlordship Act (Municipality of Groningen, 2023); University of Groningen Living Expenses page (2025); HousingAnywhere Groningen student housing guide (2025); ESN Groningen tenant rights guide.
Groningen in brief for international students:
Finding long-term rental accommodation in Groningen as an international student requires early preparation and a clear understanding of the local rental market. With two major universities — the University of Groningen (RUG) and Hanze University of Applied Sciences — attracting tens of thousands of students, demand for housing consistently outpaces supply, particularly at the start of the academic year in September.
Monthly rents for student housing in Groningen range from approximately 300 EUR/month for a shared room to 900 EUR/month for a fully furnished studio with utilities included (HousingAnywhere, 2025; University of Groningen, 2025). Affordable neighbourhoods such as Paddepoel (near the Zernike Campus) and Schilderswijk are the most sought-after by students on a budget. Key rental platforms include SSH, Kamernet, Pararius and HousingAnywhere.
Dutch rental law provides important protections for tenants: under the Good Landlordship Act (in force since 1 July 2023), deposits are capped at two months' basic rent, and letting agents cannot charge intermediary fees to tenants. Since 1 July 2024, most new rental contracts must be permanent agreements under the Fixed Rental Contracts Act. Low-income students may also be eligible for the Dutch housing allowance (huurtoeslag).
Groningen is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands and one of the country's most prominent student cities, with over 60,000 students in a city of approximately 240,000 inhabitants. The University of Groningen (RUG), founded in 1614 and ranked #139 in the QS World University Rankings 2024, and Hanze University of Applied Sciences together attract thousands of international students each year. Monthly rents for student accommodation range from around 300 EUR/month for a shared room to 900 EUR/month for a furnished studio with utilities included, according to HousingAnywhere (2025) and the University of Groningen (2025). Popular student neighbourhoods include Schilderswijk/Zeeheldenbuurt, close to the Noorderplantsoen park, and Paddepoel, which offers affordable housing near the Zernike Campus. The rental market is highly competitive, and international students are strongly advised to begin their housing search several months before arrival and to use verified platforms such as SSH, Kamernet or HousingAnywhere.
Finding long-term rental accommodation in Groningen as an international student requires early preparation and a clear understanding of the local rental market. With two major universities — the University of Groningen (RUG) and Hanze University of Applied Sciences — attracting tens of thousands of students, demand for housing consistently outpaces supply, particularly at the start of the academic year in September.
Monthly rents for student housing in Groningen range from approximately 300 EUR/month for a shared room to 900 EUR/month for a fully furnished studio with utilities included (HousingAnywhere, 2025; University of Groningen, 2025). Affordable neighbourhoods such as Paddepoel (near the Zernike Campus) and Schilderswijk are the most sought-after by students on a budget. Key rental platforms include SSH, Kamernet, Pararius and HousingAnywhere.
Dutch rental law provides important protections for tenants: under the Good Landlordship Act (in force since 1 July 2023), deposits are capped at two months' basic rent, and letting agents cannot charge intermediary fees to tenants. Since 1 July 2024, most new rental contracts must be permanent agreements under the Fixed Rental Contracts Act. Low-income students may also be eligible for the Dutch housing allowance (huurtoeslag).
Groningen is one of the more affordable student cities in the Netherlands compared to Amsterdam or Utrecht, but demand for rental housing significantly exceeds supply. The University of Groningen estimates that students spend on average 800 EUR to 1,000 EUR per month in total living costs, excluding tuition fees (University of Groningen, 2025). Housing typically accounts for the largest share of this budget.
To keep costs down, many international students opt for shared accommodation in student houses, where rent can be as low as 300 EUR/month. Those seeking more privacy should budget at least 550 EUR/month for a studio. Students on low incomes may be eligible for the Dutch government's housing allowance (huurtoeslag), administered by the Belastingdienst, which can partially offset rental costs.
Starting your housing search at least three to four months before your arrival date is strongly recommended, as the Groningen rental market is highly competitive, particularly at the start of each academic year in September.
One of the most frequent mistakes made by international students searching for housing in Groningen is starting too late. The rental market is highly competitive, especially ahead of the September academic intake, and affordable rooms are taken within days of being listed.
Other common errors include:
Fantastic, nothing to add. Mathilde managed to find us an apartment that met all our criteria. Thank you so much for your help and professionalism.
Gaëlle provided excellent service. We finally found accommodation that suited us. At first, I was a little pessimistic, but in the end, everything went well.
Justine was an invaluable help. She quickly found us a rental that perfectly matched our requirements. Her availability, kindness, and responsiveness are undeniable. I highly recommend her services!
Thank you to Aude for her availability, follow-up, and smile! A room was found for my daughter very quickly. Thank you for all the information, answering our many questions, and for your support right up to the key handover! I highly recommend her.
Use recognised platforms: SSH, the student housing organisation linked to the university, Kamernet, HousingAnywhere, Pararius and athomeingroningen.com. For areas, the Schilderswijk and Zeeheldenbuurt are close to the centre and the Noorderplantsoen, Paddepoel is near the Zernike campus, and Korrewegwijk or Oosterpoort offer other options.
A Home Finder based in Groningen can follow listings for you, view rooms with photos or video and put your application together.
Landlords in Groningen first expect a complete application: ID, proof of income and bank statements, with closer scrutiny if you have no income history in the Netherlands. If they ask for a guarantor, your Home Finder tells you before you apply.
The deposit, for its part, cannot exceed two months' basic rent and must be returned within 14 days of the end of the lease.
A room in a student house is the cheapest, from €300 a month, and around €450 in Paddepoel. Furnished rooms managed by SSH cost €700 to €900 a month including bills, and a private studio on the open market about €800 a month.
For more privacy, budget at least €550 a month for a studio. In private rentals, utilities are usually billed on top of the rent.
Three to four months before you arrive, especially for the September intake: affordable rooms are taken within days of going online. To avoid scams, stick to recognised platforms such as SSH, Kamernet, HousingAnywhere or Pararius.
If you are staying more than four months, register with the BRP at the municipality as soon as you arrive. Since 1 July 2024, most new leases must be open-ended.
Rent ranges from about €300 a month for a shared room to €900 for a furnished studio including bills. The University of Groningen puts the total cost of living at €800 to €1,000 a month, excluding tuition, with housing the largest share.
In private rentals, add €50 to €150 a month for utilities, contents insurance at €5 to €15 a month and a deposit of no more than two months' basic rent.
First contact:Your home finder offers a free call to understand your needs.
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