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international

Hundreds of international students search for accommodation

Henk Strikkers,
21 september 2018 - 10:18

269 students are on the waiting list for student accommodation in Amsterdam, according to the UvA.

The number of international students on the waiting list has ‘dropped considerably’, says Hans den Boer of the UvA housing development department. Two weeks ago, there were about 350 people registered. Now there are 269.

‘I realise this will not provide a direct solution for those students currently in need’

According to Den Boer, the decline has two major causes. ‘Most significant is there are students for whom the UvA was not their first choice and have started at another university. These students were still registered as looking for accommodation by the beginning of September, but have now been removed.’ The second reason is that many have found alternative accommodation by their own initiative.

 

It is very difficult even for students on the waiting list to get a house, says Den Boer. ‘We arranged 240 rooms in the Bijlmerbajes, a former prison, and a hundred spots on recreation park Spaarnwoude and soon there will be 80 rooms available in the Oudemanhuispoort.’ The rooms at the Oudemanhuispoort, however, are strictly intended for Dutch students.

 

The university continues to put pressure on housing corporations, property developers and the municipality to build student accommodation. Den Boer: ‘I realise this will not provide a direct solution for those students currently in need.’