Student room-hunting experiences: Thesa

Each year the Netherlands welcomes thousands of international students. But the housing crisis creates big challenges for many of them.

Each year, the Netherlands welcomes thousands of international students seeking a study abroad experience. But the housing crisis makes it hard to find a room. Student Thesa tells about her experiences to find a room.

Meet Thesa, a masters student at Utrecht University School of Economics from Indonesia who struggled to find housing in the Netherlands at the beginning of her studies.

From her experience, she learned that a couple of months of searching is not enough for new international students looking for accommodation - especially in Utrecht. The most common obstacles Thesa faced in finding accommodation included age restrictions, salary requirements, and plain luck.

Months of searching and sending in hundreds of applications only led to a few interviews - most of which Thesa was rejected. She also explains the mental toll this took on her on top of her studies: "Every time I got rejected I always kept wondering 'what was the reason?', I mean what did I do wrong?".

Thesa was lucky enough to have connections in the Netherlands who were able to accommodate her during her search, but unfortunately this is not the case for most international students. "I cannot imagine for those people who are complete strangers... who have never been abroad for instance... probably it would be more frustrating for them".

And although Thesa struggled to balance both her studies and accommodation search, she never gave up and remained optimistic.

For new internationals hoping to study in the Netherlands, Thesa advises students to begin searching months in advance, not be too picky with your choices (unfurnished rooms, different cities/towns, etc.), and lastly to be patient - your time will come!

Thesa is one of many - help us spread awareness and let us know about your experience with the housing shortage.