Housing in Maastricht
April 2024
Are you a student moving to Maastricht and struggling to find accommodation or unsure where to start? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many other students are in the same situation, and we’re here to guide you. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about securing a place in Maastricht and its surrounding areas, including average budgets, location tips, where to search, and subsidies.
#1: Start your search early!
We cannot emphasize this enough: starting early allows you to avoid a great deal of stress and gives you more control over where you choose to live. It is absolutely in your best advantage to give yourself the time to get acquainted with the system of finding a house and to explore your possibilities because the housing market in Dutch (student) cities is rather crowded at the moment. Consequently, we advise that you begin your search at least a few months before your arrival date!
#2: Know your budget!
Firstly, understanding your requirements is crucial. Do you prefer a studio or a room in a shared house? What’s your budget, and how far from the university are you willing to live? These factors should guide your search. Once you’ve determined your preferences and explored the Maastricht housing market, you’ll start to grasp the rent prices. On average, rents range from 300 euros to 1000 euros, depending on the location and size of the accommodation. Being closer to the city center generally means higher rents. However, since the School of Business and Economics (SBE) is located in the heart of the city, living nearby can be very convenient. Popular student neighborhoods include Brusselsepoort, Emmaplein, the city center, and Wyck. These areas offer vibrant surroundings, but don’t worry too much about distance; Maastricht is not a large city.
#3: Know your area!
As you might know, Maastricht is not a very big city and almost everything is within a 15-minute bike reach. However, there are certainly some areas that are more popular among students than others. For instance, living in the city centre means you are close to where everything happens and the SBE faculty. Cheaper options include the neighbourhoods Emmaplein, Brusselsepoort, and Mariaberg. These are a bit further from the centre and SBE faculty, but still relatively close and therefore highly populated with students.
If you don’t mind a longer bike ride, and you already know that you will be spending a lot of time at the gym, then you should also consider accommodations on the East side of the Maas, specifically around the neighbourhoods of Wyck and Randwyck. These districts also have a lot of nice shops and bars and should therefore not be dismissed too quickly!
In any case, make sure to always check the location of your prospective accommodation on Google maps, and its (biking) distance from the SBE buildings in Tongersestraat 53 and Tapijnkazerne 11. You can even check how long it will take you by bike — the indication is usually quite accurate.
However, many towns and cities close to Maastricht are home to UM students and staff. Most are within easy commuting distance. Towns like Lanaken, for example, are just across the border and easily reachable by bike. Other nearby cities like Heerlen and Sittard have excellent train or bus connections with direct routes to Maastricht.
With an OV-chipkaart and discounts available, public transport doesn’t have to be all that expensive. Of course, if you consider a location outside Maastricht, make sure to check your commute and public transport beforehand.
#4: Join Facebook groups
It is very common to find your room through Facebook groups here. We recommend you the following groups: “rooms/ kamer/ zimmer in Maastricht”, ‘’(1) Maastricht Room Search | Facebook’’ “Kamers, studio’s en appartementen huren in Maastricht” or “apartments and rooms Maastricht”, or “Flat hunting Maastricht…”. New offers and housing opportunities are posted on a regular basis by students and landlords. Therefore, do not panic if you cannot find something immediately, but keep an eye out for new posts and try to respond as quickly as you can. People who post rooms often get hundreds of messages (unfortunately I’m not exaggerating) and therefore it is of utmost importance your message stands out to them!
When people do respond to you, it is common to do a viewing of the room. Depending on the people in the house, in the Netherlands, we also refer to this as “hospiteren”. This is a concept introduced in most student houses where it almost feels like an interview, for your potential housemates to decide who they want to live with. Do not let this discourage you and never take their decision personally though! If you are not in the country, you can always ask for an online viewing, which is possible most of the time.
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS!
Unfortunately, there are always people that want to take advantage of students looking for a new room. There are a few things you can detect a scammer from. Usually, a scammer will ask you to transfer a deposit upfront and will ask for your phone number instead of continuing talking on Facebook. Check the profiles of people who are posting, be very critical of weird-looking profiles (check their previous posts, how many friends they have etcetera) and double-check if the offer is not a scam by asking a lot of detailed questions and/or do a viewing of the room. Here you can find another article on how to avoid housing scams. In addition, you can find more information about housing scams and red flags here.
#5: Housing Agencies
Next to Facebook groups, it is also possible to find your room through agencies. However, most of these agencies ask for a small fee. Maastricht Housing is the official housing agency for Maastricht University and is, therefore, one of the more reliable ones out there. Keep in mind that there is a waiting list, and it is hence highly recommended to subscribe as soon as you can. A couple of other well-known agencies in Maastricht are Kamernet, Woonpunt, KamersMaastricht, Maasland relocation, and Pararius.
Another option you can consider is HospiHousing, where you will stay with a host or guest family, which is a perfect way to get in touch with locals and Dutch language. You will have a private room for yourself, with shared access to common areas such as the kitchen and bathroom. They collaborate closely with the Maastricht municipality and Maastricht University, boasting an extensive network of verified hosts and guest families. They can assist in facilitating connections and offer all the necessary guidance you might require!
On a more practical note, most of these housing agencies ask for a minimum stay of a year. If you are only coming to Maastricht on an exchange, these housing agencies are probably not able to help you. However, through Maastricht Housing you can also access reservations for the UM Guesthouse, which is a very good place if you are looking for short-stay furnished accommodations.
ONCE AGAIN: PLEASE BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS! Due to the large number of students moving to Maastricht each semester, there are scam artists that try to take advantage of this. Be cautious and alert when they are asking to pay a fee in advance or sign a contract before someone has seen the room.
#6: Know your rent subsidy options!
Did you know that the Dutch government provides rent subsidies to people with monetary restrictions (like students)? This so-called “huurtoeslag” can be requested when you are renting a place by yourself or even with someone else. How do you determine your eligibility? You must be over 18 years old and have independent accommodation. For more detailed information, you can visit MyMaastricht’s page on huurtoeslag here. They offer an extensive explanation of the subsidy and its requirements.
#7: The Social Hub, NewNewNew, and the Wauwhaus
Are you having a hard time finding accommodation and is your arrival date coming closer and closer? Some accommodations are a bit more expensive but can offer some relief from the pressure.
The Social Hub is located at the Sphinx court (roughly 5–10 minutes from SBE). The Social Hub describes itself as: “Comfortable, fully-equipped rooms to make your student life at The Social Hub Maastricht as easy as possible”. You can reserve a room for a period of 5 to 12 months. The room you get is furnished and a single person room. You share a kitchen with a maximum of 9 other students and get access to the gym, a study room, an awesome lobby with ping pong tables, a pool table, and a personal bike that you can use to explore the city!
NewNewNew offers studios located on Sorbonnelaan and are equipped with its own kitchen and bathroom, and most of them are already fully furnished, so you won’t have to worry about decorating. These studios provide ample space for studying, allowing you to live and learn in a peaceful environment. In addition to the private studios, there are also shared spaces available within the complex where you can socialize with your flatmates.
The Wauwhaus is a newly renovated complex that offers both studios and apartments to students looking for housing. It is located a bit further away from SBE, but in close vicinity to both the train station and the University Sports Centre (roughly 15 minutes by bike from SBE). The building offers study rooms, a laundry area, a shared kitchen within a social area, and underground parking for both bikes and cars. You can take a virtual tour of this facility here.
#8: MyMaastricht
If you want to have more information about housing in general, such as finding a room, housing expenses, household essentials, recycling and trash disposal, rights and obligations as a tenant, safety in Maastricht and living in Maastricht, then check out: Finding a room | mymaastricht.nl
In summary, navigating the housing situation in Maastricht is not for the weak, but with early planning, staying updated, and persistence, you’ll find the right place for you. Good luck with your search!
Greetings!
