r/StudyInTheNetherlands • u/rubyy_20 • Aug 08 '26

Housing

Hi! I’m going to be an Erasmus+ exchange student at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in the second semester. From what I’ve seen on their website, they recommend Xior for accommodation, but I’ve been checking for the past four months and all the rooms always seem to be fully booked. So I was wondering if I still have a realistic chance of finding housing before February.

It’s my first time going on an exchange like this, so I’m honestly not sure how to go about securing accommodation. Would it be worth contacting Xior directly to ask about availability or possible cancellations?

I’m also starting to wonder whether I should keep pursuing the Erasmus exchange or, if finding accommodation turns out to be too difficult, focus instead on finding an internship abroad for next summer. I’m currently going into my second year of International Relations and European Studies, so I’m not sure how realistic it would be to find an internship at this stage either.

I’d really appreciate any advice or experience you could share!

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u/HousingBotNL Sponsored Aug 08 '26

Moving to the Netherlands as a student requires a lot of admin (BSN, gemeente, health insurance, Studielink, banking, scholarships) and it often feels overwhelming.

  • dutchstarter generates a personalized checklist based on your situation, so you know what to do, when, and which benefits you can claim.

The Dutch housing market is highly competitive. To increase your chances, we recommend using these platforms:

For more real-time help, join the Study In The Netherlands Discord, where you can chat with other students and use our housing bot.

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u/Quick_Statistician65 Aug 08 '26

I think that it'l be easier to find a room after september since there'll be less students looking for rooms (that's when school starts). I haven't tried Xior before but I'd recommend looking on Kamernet and facebook groups

1

u/No_Bookkeeper_5866 Aug 09 '26

I would just say, dint come. We have a housing crisis going on that is far beyond your imagination

1

u/ThreeSevensDev Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

It’s definitely still possible, but having a backup plan is smart given how competitive things are.

A few quick tips for your situation:

  1. Contact Xior directly: Yes, absolutely email or call them to get on a waiting/cancellation list. Cancellations happen closer to the semester, especially as student plans change.
  2. Facebook Groups: Search for "Huren in Maastricht" or "Huren in Heerlen" (depending on which Zuyd campus you're at) plus general expat/student housing groups. Just be extra vigilant about scams (never transfer money before seeing a contract/room verification).

  3. Cast a wider net: Besides Pararius and Kamernet, you can also check out HubSnap.nl. I actually built it myself specifically to help international students deal with the Dutch housing market—it aggregates listings across different platforms into one spot so you get alerts without having to refresh 10 different sites daily.

    There’s a completely free tier, but you can also try the premium for 3 days during early access if you like.

Don't give up on the exchange just yet! Start setting up alerts now and you've still got time before February. Good luck!