How to Find an Apartment in Amsterdam
- 1). Determine your budget for an apartment and the type of apartment you want. Are you looking for furnished (gemeubileerd), partly furnished (gestoffeerd) or unfurnished (ongemeubileerd)? This depends on if you want a completely empty place to fill or want anything from appliances to decor included.
- 2). Gather together the information you will need to give to a landlord or rental agent. This is most often a proof of identify and a proof of income, like a pay stub or letter from employer.
- 3). Check local Amsterdam newspapers on the Internet in the classifieds, especially the weekend papers. These are most often area-specific and through property agencies. All the information you will need to contact or understand the property will be listed. The ViaVia Classified newspapers in Amsterdam are one of the most reputable sources for apartment ads, but it is best to call to discuss listings or pick up a copy from the many newsstands in Amsterdam.
- 4). Use an agent that you find either through a website or the local papers. They have access to several types of property listings, and can search for properties on your behalf after you supply them with all your requirements and budget. Although they charge a fee for their services, they are knowledgeable and usually speak English. Well-known Amsterdam rental agencies include A1 Rentals and Pararius Agency.
- 5). Consider searching for a roommate to lower your costs of finding an apartment by placing an ad in the local paper, on websites such as Craigslist or by living with a friend.
- 6). Look into renting a room accommodation that is like an apartment, but is part of a larger establishment, like a house. These can be less expensive and mimic the life of living in an apartment but for a smaller price. Rooms like this are most prevalent on websites and have price ranges, features and locations listed. An agency to help with these type of rentals specifically is City Mundo Agency. When choosing where to rent, consider the different districts in Amsterdam for your lifestyle or needs. Noord has the largest population, but with the lowest number of foreign inhabitants and is divided from the rest of the city by a large river so for those who work in the city the commute is longer. Zeeburg district is one of the newer districts and has a young population with a small population of foreigners, and is less family-friendly than other districts, but more trendy. Oud-West district was built before WWII so it is very historic, and has one of the highest populations of Western foreigners. It is less expensive to live in but has a smaller housing market. Jordaan is a desirable neighborhood with great views of canals and architecture but is quite pricey. Oud-Zuid is open with lots of parks (including Vondelpark), international schools, walking paths and cafes. Housing here can be expensive, but apartments can be found here for less than average and still in a nice area.
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