Student housing near Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences spreads its faculties across the Centrum district and nearby eastern neighbourhoods, putting you within cycling distance of the canal belt but also in one of Europe's tightest rental markets. With around 47,000 students competing for a limited supply of rooms, knowing where to look and when to move makes a real difference to what you end up paying and how long your commute takes.
Typical rent
€700to€1400
per month, single room
Most private landlords in Amsterdam advertise kale huur, meaning a bare rent figure that excludes gas, water, electricity and internet. All in pricing covers those costs and is more common in student lets. Expect a deposit of one to two months rent on top of first month's payment. Some student housing providers charge a service cost for communal facilities. Budget an extra 100 to 200 euro per month for utilities if your listing shows kale huur.
The neighbourhoods
Where HvA students live
5 areas to compare on rent, commute, and vibe.
📍De Pijp
€850 to €135015 min by tram or bicycle
Busy market streets, dense cafes, young international crowd.
Best for: Students who want city life within easy reach of multiple HvA buildings.
📍Oost
€750 to €120010 min by metro or bike
Diverse, creative neighbourhood with parks and local markets.
Best for: Students looking for slightly lower rents while staying close to campus.
📍Noord
€700 to €105020 min via free ferry then walk or tram
Former industrial area now home to studios, venues, and younger renters.
Best for: Students who prioritise space and value and can manage the ferry crossing.
📍Bos en Lommer
€700 to €110020 min by tram line 13 or metro line 50
Quieter residential streets with growing food and arts scene.
Best for: Students who want lower costs and do not mind a slightly longer commute.
📍Jordaan
€950 to €145010 min by tram or bicycle
Historic canal streets, small galleries, relaxed neighbourhood feel.
Best for: Students with a higher budget who want to be inside the canal ring.
Getting there
Getting to HvA
HvA's main buildings sit in and around Centrum, with key locations near Wibautstraat and the Amstel area served directly by metro lines 51, 53 and 54 as well as several tram lines. From Oost, metro line 54 reaches Wibautstraat in under ten minutes. From De Pijp, tram lines 3 and 4 connect to Centrum in around fifteen minutes. Cyclists from most inner neighbourhoods can reach campus in ten to twenty minutes along flat, dedicated lanes.
A second hand bicycle costs roughly 50 to 150 euro from Waterlooplein market or specialist shops on Van Woustraat, and cycling is faster than public transit for most inner city commutes.
OV chipkaart holders under 18 get free travel, but most international students should check the NS student discount subscription, which offers 40 percent off during off peak hours on a registered student card.
If you live in Noord, the free GVB ferry from Buiksloterweg or NDSM runs around the clock and is a reliable if slower link to Centraal Station, from where trams and metro reach campus.
The timing
When to start looking
Amsterdam's rental market moves fast. For a September start, begin searching in April at the latest, with May and June being the peak months when listings and competition peak simultaneously. February intake students should start looking in October. Rooms in Oost and De Pijp are typically claimed within days of listing, so having alerts set up before you reach those months matters significantly.
Other Amsterdam universities
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Jordaan from HvA?+
The Jordaan sits about two kilometres from HvA's Wibautstraat buildings. By bicycle it takes roughly ten to twelve minutes along the canal routes. By tram, lines 13 and 17 connect the Jordaan to Centraal and onward to Centrum in around fifteen minutes total.
What's the average rent near HvA?+
A furnished room within cycling distance of HvA typically runs between 700 and 1,400 euro per month depending on the neighbourhood, size, and whether bills are included. That is broadly in line with the Amsterdam city average for student rooms, which sits around 900 to 1,100 euro, and noticeably above comparable rooms in cities like Rotterdam or Utrecht.
When should HvA students start looking for housing?+
For a September start, begin no later than April and ideally in March. For a February semester, start in October. Amsterdam has one of the tightest student housing markets in the Netherlands and rooms in popular neighbourhoods like Oost and De Pijp are often claimed within two to four days of being listed.
Where can I see live listings near HvA?+
Socials.homes tracks listings from over 250 housing platforms covering Amsterdam, so you see rooms from across the market in one place rather than checking sites individually. You can filter specifically by neighbourhood near HvA, and new matches are pushed directly to WhatsApp so you hear about listings within minutes of them going live, which matters a lot in a market this competitive.