Rental homes in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is compact, busy and almost entirely cyclable, and that convenience comes with a tight rental market. Inside the ring road, the Jordaan, De Pijp and Oud-West offer narrow canal houses and mostly smaller apartments. Renters who need more space often look further out, in Amsterdam-Noord, Oost or Nieuw-West, where there is more recent housing.

The people renting here are a mix. Students at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit usually look for a room. Expats and young professionals tend to want an apartment close to work, for example around the Zuidas business district. Trains from Amsterdam Centraal and Amsterdam Zuid run to Schiphol, Utrecht, Haarlem and Leiden, and within the city the bike, tram and metro get you everywhere.

Before you sign anything, ask whether you are allowed to register at the address with the municipality. If you are new to the Netherlands, registering is how you get your BSN, the citizen service number you need for work, banking and health insurance. A landlord who refuses registration is a warning sign. Good homes go quickly, so reply to listings early.