How to Get an Apartment in Amsterdam Fast
Let me start with the truth: finding an apartment in Amsterdam is extremely tough. There is a lot of competition, and especially within affordable price ranges: not a lot of availability.
Having said that, it's still very possible to get an apartment in 1-2 months, if you're well prepared, and have a solid strategy.
In this article, we'll go over some of the key points that have landed three friends of mine an apartment in under a month, and was part of the reason I built RoofHunt.
Some parts of this article may not apply, particularly if you're a Dutch resident, or you've been around for a while and have established yourself here already. Just cherry pick the relevant bits, in that case.
Be Well Prepared
This goes for everything in life, but make sure you are well prepared. This includes:
- Have a registered address. For the first few months, this can be a temporary stay. Even a hotel or an Airbnb will suffice.
- Request a BSN on the Government's website if you do not already have one. You will need this for a bank account, insurances, etc.
- Have a Dutch bank account, or at the very least a European bank account. If you are from the US, or any other non-European country, you will not be able to make your deposits in time to rent a place. No landlord accepts cards.
- If you are employed, make sure you have your werkgeversverklaring or a permanent contract
- If you are self-employed, make sure you have a financial track record of at least 12 months, preferably in Euro
- If you are not a European citizen, make sure you have your residence permits and all the associated paperwork
Alright, paperwork in hand, we're ready to actually look for an apartment.
Be The First
For every single listing you view, check the date it was posted at. If it's been more than 2 days, you can safely assume it's gone. Look elsewhere. The exception to this rule is larger projects by investment funds, these may let apartments over an extended period of time.
In the Amsterdam housing market especially, timing is the most critical part of landing an apartment. In the free rental sector, the owner of the apartment decides who gets to rent it – if you are unsure what free and social rent is, check out our detailed guide – and that basically means you should always try to be the first to call.
Here is what you should do to land an apartment fast:
- Use a notification service. RoofHunt's is one, but there are others out there. You don't want to be manually scrolling through endless pages of listings
- Make sure the apartment you are looking for is one you can afford. There will be income checks, and you WILL be rejected if you don't meet them. These requirements are usually mentioned in the listing
- Always call, never send a message. As mentioned before, timing is key. Messages are slow, always call. If they don't answer, call again in 30 minutes. Make sure you are the first one they call back
- When you speak to the owner, make sure you mention you have all the paperwork ready to go. Landlords like reliable tenants, and by showing you've done all the preparation, you will outshine the competition
- Make sure you have sufficient resources to cover 1 month rent, and up to 2 months of deposits – anything over 2 months is atypical; double check
- Be on time for viewings, and make sure you dress well for the occasion – this doesn't mean a suit, but a nice shirt and clean clothes can't hurt. It's all about gaining the landlord's favor, and impressions do last
Of course, you may not land the first apartment you're responding to, but you'll be doing everything in your power to maximize the chances of you landing the apartment you want.
Landlords are just looking for reliable returns; make sure you're the person they are looking for!