Frequently asked questions
And information for residents.

You need to be at least 16 years old to stay at Student Experience Amsterdam Amstel. If you’re 16 or 17, you can stay with permission from a parent or guardian to sign the contract. From 18 onwards, you can sign the contract yourself.

Study conditions vary by location; for more information, visit the FAQ page specific for your location:
Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

All Student Experience studios are exclusively available for students. You can upload proof of enrollment during the booking journey, or later in your service portal.

When you check in, you must be registered as a student at an educational institution.

Your proof of enrollment must contain the following information:

• Your name
• Study program
• Whether you're a full- or part-time student
• The name of your school
• The academic year

Campus clause

For those staying at a long-stay location in the Netherlands (Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas, or Leiden), the contract includes a campus clause. Every year before October 1, you must upload proof of ongoing enrollment in your service portal.

This campus clause also determines that after you end or complete your studies, you can stay in your studio for up to 6 additional months. If you end or complete your studies you must notify us and terminate your contract through the service portal.

For Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas, and Leiden:
We only accept conditional proof of enrolment for the upcoming academic year (starting in September) from June onwards. If you are not currently enrolled as a student, you are not eligible to apply for our studios (yet).

For more information, visit the page specific for you location:
Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo
 

Yes, international and Erasmus students are welcome at all Student Experience locations, and in some cases you do not need to be enrolled at a local university to qualify.

For Amsterdam, we recommend our Minervahaven location. It is specially designed for stays of 12 months, for students from abroad doing a one-year Erasmus or other exchange program, an internship, or a PhD in Amsterdam. There is no waiting list, so you can book right away. Explore Amsterdam Minervahaven.

At Granada and Madrid Pozuelo, students from any university worldwide are eligible, including Erasmus students whose home university is outside Spain.

For all locations, the entire booking process can be completed from abroad. You can visit the locations virtually or via our 360º tour. In-person visit is not required to register, select a studio, or sign your contract.

Yes, you can use your Student Experience address for official address registration in both the Netherlands and Spain, and this is one of the most important administrative steps to complete when you arrive.

In the Netherlands, residents at a Student Experience location must register their address at the local municipality (BRP, Basisregistratie Personen). This gives you your BSN (citizen service number), which unlocks your DigiD, Dutch bank account, healthcare, and housing allowance (huurtoeslag) if eligible. 

In Spain, all students staying in Spain for 6 months or more are required to complete "empadronamiento" (municipal address registration) at the local town hall. This is the first step towards obtaining your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero: your Spanish identification number), TIE, opening a bank account, and accessing local services. 

→ For full registration guidance specific to your location, visit:
Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

Yes, you can explore every Student Experience location online through a 360° virtual tour: Just select your specific location on our locations page.

At most locations, you can also visit in person before committing.

• Amsterdam Amstel, NDSM, Zuidas, and Leiden: if you're selected through the automated draw, you can book a 30-minute introductory meeting with the duty manager within 48 hours, on-site, by FaceTime, or by phone.
• Amsterdam Minervahaven: explore the building through the online 360° tour before booking or book a virtual tour with the duty manager. After check-in, the duty manager will give you an in-person tour of the facilities.
• Granada and Madrid Pozuelo: visit in person if you're nearby, or take a virtual tour from further away. Book a tour in Granada or Madrid.

Student housing runs on two booking models: first-come, first-served with no waitlist (book directly once a studio is available, or using an automated draw: you register, respond to a studio, and get notified if selected. Every studio requires proof of enrollment at an educational institution, and contracts are tied to your student status (a campus clause for long-stay locations, a fixed end date for short-stay ones). Around the studios, shared facilities are organized to build a student community alongside the private living space.

Did you check the terms and conditions, and are you eligible to live at Student Experience? Then register to be kept informed of our available studios in Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas, and Leiden. 
During the registration, you can select your preferred country and location(s). That way, we only send you a notification when a studio that matches your preferences becomes available.

Registering with multiple email addresses to increase your chances is not allowed. All of your registrations will be removed from the system automatically.

For our locations Amsterdam Minervahaven, Granada and Madrid, you can book a studio directly here!

For more information, visit your specific location page:
Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

How to apply as an international student

First, check the eligibility requirements for your preferred location, as these may differ. You will need to provide proof of enrollment at an educational institution.

For Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas and Leiden, you can register online and respond to available studios. Studios are allocated through an automated draw.

For Amsterdam Minervahaven, Granada and Madrid Pozuelo, there is no waiting list or draw. If a studio is available, you can book it directly online.

You don't need to visit the location in person before applying or signing your contract. You can explore our locations through a virtual or 360° tour and complete the booking process online from wherever you are.

For Amstel, NDSM, Zuidas, and Leiden: conditional proof of enrollment for the next academic year (starting September) is accepted from June onwards.

For Minervahaven, Madrid Pozuelo, and Granada: no waitlist, book directly once a studio is available, studios for 26/27 are already open, so check early for the best options.

At Student Experience, our goal is to give everyone an equal chance. That's why there's no waitlist! 

For our locations Amsterdam Minervahaven, Madrid Pozuelo, and Granada, we operate on a 'first come, first served' basis. If there's a studio available you can book it straight away. Curious how? Click on the location to learn how to book a studio: 
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Madrid Pozuelo
Granada

For our locations Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas, and Leiden, you can respond to a studio by entering the automated draw. If you've been selected for the automated draw, you'll be notified within a few days. Click on one of the locations below to read everything about responding to a studio: 

Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden

Student housing in Amsterdam is designed specifically for students and often requires proof of enrollment. Compared with regular rentals in Amsterdam, it typically offers student-focused facilities, services and rental conditions.

Yes, studios at Amsterdam Minervahaven are available to book directly: no draw, no waiting list, first come first served. 

Did you check the terms and conditions, and are you eligible to live at Student Experience Amsterdam Minervahaven? Then, you can book your studio now here.

You can also book a virtual tour of Amsterdam Minervahaven here.

Student housing at Student Experience in Amsterdam offers you your private, fully furnished studio in a community designed for students. Your studio includes a private kitchen and bathroom, while shared facilities and common areas give you plenty of opportunities to meet other students.

How you can get a studio depends on the Student Experience location. At Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM and Amsterdam Zuidas, available studios are allocated through an automated draw. You register, respond to an available studio and take part in the draw.

At Amsterdam Minervahaven, there is no waiting list or draw. Available studios can be booked directly online on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility requirements also differ per location, so always check the requirements of your preferred Student Experience location before applying.

1. Check eligibility for your target location (study status, nationality/address requirements for Minervahaven).
2. Register for updates (draw locations: Amstel, NDSM, Zuidas, Leiden) or book directly online (Minervahaven, Madrid Pozuelo, Granada).
3. Take a virtual tour if you can't visit in person before booking.
4. Upload proof of enrollment and sign your contract digitally.
5. Pay the down payment/deposit and first month's rent to secure your studio.
6. Schedule your check-in appointment in advance — bring a valid ID (passport, ID card, or driver's license).
7. After arrival, register with the municipality if required (needed for stays of 4+ months at some locations).

Yes, finding student housing in Amsterdam can be challenging. The city is facing a housing crisis, and with thousands of Dutch and international students looking for accommodation each year, demand is often much higher than the number of available rooms and studios.

To improve your chances, it's a good idea to:

• Start your search as early as possible.
• Register with multiple trusted housing providers.
• Check whether your university offers student accommodation.
• Keep an eye on new availability and booking windows.

At Student Experience, we offer different ways to book. Studios at Amsterdam Minervahaven can be booked directly when available, while studios at Amsterdam NDSM, Amstel, and Zuidas are allocated through an automated, random draw. We do not work with waiting lists, which means everyone who joins a draw has an equal chance of being selected. Some of our studios are also offered through the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

Planning ahead, keeping an eye on new availability, and exploring multiple housing options will give you the best chance of finding accommodation before your studies begin.

Once you have made your studio selection, switching to a different studio is not possible. Your contract will be finalized based on the studio you selected during the online booking process.

In exceptional cases where relocation becomes essential, for example, due to a technical issue, we will contact you personally.

All Student Experience studios are designed for single occupation only. Sharing your studio to live together with a friend or partner is therefore not allowed.

In Granada, a couple of studios are designed for sharing. You can see these studios here. 

It is possible to let someone else stay in your studio temporarily. If you're going abroad for an exchange, for example, you can let someone live in your studio for a maximum of 6 months.

Subletting without our permission (renting your studio out to someone else) or cohabiting is not permitted and will result in a fine for breaching the contract.

You can submit a request for house sitting. To ensure this complies with Student Experience guidelines, we ask to meet with the person who will be living in your studio.

House sitting is only permitted once the application process is complete and you have received formal approval from us by email. For more details and rules, and to apply for house sitting, log in to the service portal.

It depends on which Student Experience location you live at.

At Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas*, and Leiden, your contract includes a campus clause linking your right to stay to your student status. If you graduate or end your studies, you can remain in your studio for up to six months, after which your contract ends. You can terminate at any time during that period with one month's notice via the service portal. If you are between programs  (finishing a bachelor's and starting a master's the following year), you can stay during the gap provided you upload confirmation of your upcoming enrollment when it becomes available.

* For Amsterdam Zuidas there are also contracts that do not have a campus clause but a fixed end date.

At Amsterdam Minervahaven, Granada, and Madrid Pozuelo, your contract has a fixed end date agreed at booking. It ends automatically on that date, with no action required from you.

For the full contract termination process at your location, visit the FAQ for:
Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

Want to know how to terminate your contract? Check the 'For residents' page of your location.

Student Experience Amsterdam Amstel
Student Experience Amsterdam Minervahaven
Student Experience Amsterdam NDSM
Student Experience Amsterdam Zuidas
Student Experience Leiden
Student Experience Madrid Pozuelo
Student Experience Granada

It’s not allowed to bring pets into any Student Experience location. This rule includes owning a pet in your studio, temporarily taking care of someone’s pet (pet sitting), or a visitor bringing a pet along to your studio or in the communal areas.

The prices of studios vary per location and studio type. For an overview of prices for a specific location, go to:

Student Experience Amsterdam Amstel
Student Experience Amsterdam Minervahaven
Student Experience Amsterdam NDSM
Student Experience Amsterdam Zuidas
Student Experience Leiden
Student Experience Madrid Pozuelo
Student Experience Granada

What's included varies per location and studio type. For the full breakdown of what's included at your location, see the price overview for your location:

Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

The easiest way to pay your rent is by direct debit: once you authorize it in your service portal, your rent is automatically debited each month, so you never miss a payment. Your payment should be in our account before the 1st of the month.

For information about other payment methods, bank details, and payment dates, visit the FAQ page for your location:

Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

In the Netherlands, you can apply for housing allowance (Huurtoeslag), which is possible if you’re 21+ years old and live at one of the following Student Experience locations:
Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden

You can apply for housing allowance directly with the Tax Authorities. Click here to start the process.

In Leiden, 200 studios have been prioritized for students between 18 and 21 years. These studios have a rental price below the maximum. They can request housing allowance here.

Calculating housing allowance
To calculate how much housing allowance you are entitled to, click here.

Before check-in, a deposit must be paid together with your first month’s rent. The deposit varies per location. You can check the deposit for each location here:

Student Experience Amsterdam Amstel
Student Experience Amsterdam Minervahaven
Student Experience Amsterdam NDSM
Student Experience Amsterdam Zuidas
Student Experience Leiden
Student Experience Madrid Pozuelo
Student Experience Granada

For Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas, and Leiden:
The base rent (excluding service costs) may be adjusted each year based on government regulations defining the maximum percentage increase allowable. Before May 1 of every year, you will receive an email about the new rent rate. Any rent adjustments will take effect on July 1.

For Amsterdam Minervahaven, Madrid Pozuelo and Granada:
Your contract specifies a fixed period during which the studio price remains unchanged and will not increase.

If you are studying in Amsterdam on a limited budget, it is important to look beyond the monthly rent and consider whether you may be eligible for housing allowance.

- Check if you are eligible for housing allowance (huurtoeslag). If you rent an eligible self-contained studio in the Netherlands, you may be able to apply for housing allowance from the Dutch government. From 2026, students aged 21 and over fall under the standard rent limit used to calculate housing allowance. Students aged 18 to 20 may also qualify, but a lower maximum rent is used to calculate their allowance. Your eligibility and the amount you receive also depend on factors such as your income and assets.
- Look at the points assigned to your studio. In the Netherlands, the maximum base rent of regulated accommodation is determined using a government points system (woningwaarderingsstelsel or WWS). Points are awarded based on characteristics such as the size of the studio, its energy label and WOZ value. The total number of points determines the maximum base rent that may be charged.
- How Student Experience determines its prices. Student Experience uses this government points system to determine the maximum rent for applicable studios. We cannot charge more than the maximum rent resulting from the points system, although we can charge less. This helps ensure that the rent reflects the characteristics and quality of the studio.

At several Student Experience locations in the Netherlands, including Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM and Amsterdam Zuidas, eligible residents can apply for housing allowance. Because the amount depends on your personal situation, we recommend making a calculation with the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) to find out how much you could receive.

When comparing your options, consider your net monthly housing costs after any housing allowance, rather than looking at the advertised rent alone.

At Amsterdam Minervahaven, Madrid Pozuelo, and Granada, you'll stay in a fully furnished studio. All you have to do is unpack your suitcase, and then the best time of your life can begin!

Amsterdam Minervahaven
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

At Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, and Amsterdam Zuidas, you'll stay in an unfurnished studio. Let your creativity flow and personalize your studio entirely in your own style :). Drilling is not permitted, but there are many different ways to furnish your studio and create more storage space. See our tips here.

In unfurnished studios, you can even give your floor a new look by laying laminate up to 6 mm thick on top of the existing floor covering. When you move out, you must return the floor to its original condition.

In Leiden, your studio comes with all the major pieces of furniture, such as a bed, desk, table with chairs, and more. Bring your own accessories to give your studio a personal touch, and take a look at the IKEA cart we've filled with all the essential items you'll need in your studio.

Want to know exactly which pieces of furniture are included with your studio in Leiden? Then check out the Leiden location page.

Looking for inspiration to decorate your furnished studio? Then take a look at this article.

Student Experience studios range from 17 m² to 45 m², depending on the location and studio type. Every studio is a private space with its own kitchen (or coffee corner) and bathroom.

Each location offers different studio types, so the exact floor plan and size depend on the studio you choose. For all floor plans, sizes, and prices at your location, see the studio overview for:

Amsterdam Amstel
Amsterdam Minervahaven
Amsterdam NDSM
Amsterdam Zuidas
Leiden
Granada
Madrid Pozuelo

Every Student Experience location is built around shared facilities designed to help you study, relax, and meet people.

Facilities you'll find across most locations include:

• Study rooms and quiet workspaces
• Lounges and communal social areas
• A laundromat
• A regular programme of community events
• 24/7 security and on-site management
• Bicycle storage

Some locations offer additional facilities, such as rooftop sports field, gym, game corner, dining room, onsite restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, carpark, and much more!

Yes, your safety is a priority at every Student Experience location, with secured access and on-site support available around the clock.

Security measures across our locations include:

• Electronic key card access, so only residents can enter the building and communal areas
• A duty manager on site during the day to help with any questions or issues
• Security staff overseeing the building at night
• 24/7 support, so there is always someone to contact in an emergency

Yes, and they are at the heart of what makes Student Experience more than just a studio. From the moment you move in, you become part of a community: we organise activities and events designed to help you focus, unwind, and meet the people living right next door.

You can join Co-Study Sessions to stay focused during exam week, take part in Masterclasses with inspiring speakers, sweat it out at a bootcamp or rooftop yoga session, or play football with FC Urban. There is always something happening, whether you are looking to study, stay active, or simply hang out.

And the events are not only organized by us: you can plan your own. Fancy hosting a game night, a picnic, a city walk, or a sports session to get to know your neighbours better? Let us know, and we will add it to the community event calendar for everyone to join.

Your studio is your private space, but the events, the shared facilities, and the people are what turn it into a home. Many of the friendships our residents make here start at an event just like these.

Discover what's coming up on the event calendar, or follow your us  on social media to stay in the loop: Facebook, Instagram (Netherlands), Instagram (Spain), TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest!

Yes, and they're where Student Experience really comes to life. Your studio is your own private space with is own kitchen and bathroom, but step outside your door and the whole building becomes your living room.

Across our locations you'll find lounges to unwind in, study rooms for focusing during exam season, game corners, and shared dining areas. Some locations offer even more: garden with hammocks, rooftop sports field, gym, and much more!

Every Student Experience complex is in a well-connected location, with direct public transport or cycling routes to the major universities in the city.

In Amsterdam, our four locations each suit different campuses. Amsterdam Amstel sits beside the Amstel river, close to the city centre and well connected to UvA and HvA. Amsterdam Zuidas is in the business district, just minutes by bike from VU Amsterdam. Amsterdam NDSM is in Amsterdam Noord, a short free ferry ride across the IJ to Central Station. Amsterdam Minervahaven is in the west of the city, within easy reach of the centre and Central Station.

In Leiden, you're close to Leiden University and the Bio Science Park. In Granada, our residence is well connected to the University of Granada's health sciences campuses. In Madrid, the Pozuelo complex is close to Complutense University Somosaguas campus and other campuses in the area.

For the exact address of each location, visit our contact page.

Absolutely, every Student Experience city is a renowned student destination, each with its own character. Wherever you choose, you'll land somewhere built for student life.

Amsterdam is one of Europe's most international student cities, home to around 110,000 students and two leading universities: the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). With a famously bike-friendly, English-speaking culture, it consistently ranks among the top 15 best student cities in the world in the QS Best Student Cities index. Our four locations let you pick the neighbourhood that suits you, from the creative energy of NDSM in the north to the riverside calm of Amstel.

Leiden is a classic Dutch university town, built around Leiden University: the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575. Home to roughly 35,000 students, it's charming, walkable, and just 15 minutes by train from The Hague and around 35 minutes from Amsterdam.

Granada is one of Europe's most popular Erasmus destinations: the University of Granada welcomes around 6,000 Erasmus & international students each year. Known for its vibrant tapas culture, and the backdrop of the Alhambra and Sierra Nevada, it's a warm, social city where international students feel at home fast.

Madrid is Spain's cosmopolitan capital, home to more than 300,000 university students across some of the country's top institutions, including Complutense University of Madrid, one of the oldest universities in the world. With the quieter, greener setting of Pozuelo de Alarcón on its western edge, you get the best of both: city life and calm.

A private studio is a self-contained unit with its own kitchen and bathroom, offering full privacy, while a shared room means sharing a room (and usually the kitchen/bathroom too) with another person.

A student room is a private bedroom in a shared house with a communal kitchen and bathroom, while a student studio is a self-contained unit with its own private kitchen and bathroom. Student Experience only offers studios.

• Furnished studios: in our fully furnished (kitchen, bathroom, bed, desk, etc.) studios you can move in with just a suitcase. Regular private furnished studios exist but vary widely in quality/completeness and cost more.
• Unfurnished studios (private kitchen/bathroom only): you buy your own furniture, no drilling allowed. Regular unfurnished studios are similar but mostly without shared facilities or all-in service costs.

Yes. Student Experience is an established, independent property manager and developer that has provided high-quality student housing since 2015.

Founded by Johan Verweij with a simple vision, to create student housing he would trust his own children to live in, Student Experience opened its first residence in Zuidas in Amsterdam in 2015. It has since grown to seven locations across the Netherlands and Spain.

Our commitment to quality and sustainability is recognized through independent awards and certifications, including:

• BREEAM certification (four-star), the leading international standard for sustainable building
• ISAE 3402 certification, an internationally recognized standard for operational and financial controls
• Best in Class Awards 2025 and Coliving Awards 2025 winner for Student Coliving
• Best Environmental Management award

Read our story here and see our full list of awards and certifications.

No, Student Experience does not require a parent or third-party guarantor (borgsteller) to sign your child's rental contract. If they are 18+, your child enters into the contract with Student Experience directly, based on their student status, so you do not take on any legal or financial liability as a guarantor.

(If you child is between 16 and 18 years old, they need permission from a parent or guardian to enter into the contract.)

This is different from many private landlords in the Netherlands and Spain, who often require a guarantor with local income before they will rent to an international student, a requirement that can be a real barrier for students moving from abroad. At Student Experience, no guarantor and no agency fee are needed.

If you would like to pay your child's rent directly, you can do so easily by setting up direct debit from your own bank account or by making a monthly bank transfer. Your child simply needs to meet the eligibility requirements and provide their documents to finalize their contract.

If your child lives at a qualifying Student Experience location in the Netherlands, they may be able to receive Dutch housing allowance (huurtoeslag), a monthly government subsidy that reduces their rent.

Housing allowance is available at Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam NDSM, Amsterdam Zuidas, and Leiden. To qualify, your child generally needs to be 21 or over, hold a Dutch address registration (BRP) and a BSN, and meet the income limits set by the Dutch Tax Authority. At Leiden, 200 studios are priced below the threshold so students aged 18 to 20 can also apply. 

Your child applies directly through the Dutch Tax Authority using their DigiD, you cannot apply on their behalf, and the allowance is paid to their bank account even if you pay the rent.

Your child can check eligibility and apply at belastingdienst.nl.

Yes, safety and well-being are the top priority at every Student Experience location, and there is always someone on hand to help.

• Each complex has secured entry, so only residents can access the building and communal areas using an electronic key card.
• A duty manager is on site to support residents day-to-day: whether that's answering questions, helping with a maintenance issue, or dealing with anything urgent.
• There is 24/7 support, so help is available at any hour, including overnight.

If your child ever needs help, the duty manager's contact details are available at reception and in their online service portal. As a parent, you can also reach the central team via studentexperience.com/contact.