0 Student halls of residence in Leiden

If you’re going to study in this Dutch city, you are probably looking for student residences in Leiden. You aren’t sure if this is the type of accommodation for you? In this article we’ll answer all your questions and help you decide. We’ll start with the pros and cons of student residences in Leiden, continue with the characteristics of private and university residences, cheap residences in the city, and FAQs. Let's get started!

There is a prominent shortage of accommodation in the Netherlands. Because of this, it’s essential that you start looking for your residence, room or flat asap and book when you find the right one for you. Don't leave the booking to the last minute!

Pros and cons of living in a residence in Leiden

Characteristics of this type of accommodation are:

Pros of living in student residences in Leiden

• Student community allows you to meet people from all over the world, enriching the cultural experience to the fullest.
• Opportunity to live close to Universities and the city centre, taking advantage of all that Leiden has to offer. In fact, since they are well located, you can explore the city, enjoy its historic atmosphere and canals in your free time.
• Most are furnished and equipped with everything you need, so you won't have to worry about anything when you move in.
• Access to common-use facilities such as study areas, leisure spaces like TV lounges, terraces, gyms, and some even have barbecue areas and patios.
• Variety of services that make daily life easier, including cleaning of common areas, maintenance of the facilities and 24-hour security.

Cons of living in student residences in Leiden

• Cohabitation rules, such as the hours of silence or use of common areas, may limit night-time activities.
• Prices tend to be high due to demand and the limited supply in Leiden.
• Flats are often compact and small, limiting personal space.
• Living surrounded by other students can be overwhelming if you are looking for a quieter environment. In fact, the social environment can be noisy, affecting rest and concentration.
• Services such as cleaning can have extra charges, increasing monthly expenses.

Private student residences in Leiden

There’s a limited number of residences available, so you should book asap if this is the type of accommodation you prefer. Residences are usually located in neighbourhoods close to the city centre and university buildings, such as Verbeekstraat and Kaiserstraat. That is, they are conveniently located for access to classes and the most popular student hangouts.

Most common type of accommodation in private residences is a studio flat. These are small, compact flats that combine a bedroom, kitchen and living room in the same space, and also have a separate bathroom. Each accommodation is furnished with basic items such as a bed, wardrobe, desk with chair, and usually includes a sofa. The kitchen in each unit is equipped with a microwave, ceramic hob and refrigerator.

One of the differences from private flats is the availability of common-use facilities for residents. These spaces are designed to create a sense of community and to be able to spend time with friends. Some of the most common facilities are study areas, leisure spaces such as TV lounges, rooftop terraces, gyms, and some even have barbecue areas and patios. So life is a lot more fun!

Private residences also include some services in their cost; for example, cleaning of communal areas, security and maintenance of facilities. They also provide access to laundry facilities with washing machines and dryers (although there’s usually a charge for each use). However, check if water, electricity and heating are included in the rent. If not, they usually have a fixed cost that you’ll have to add to the monthly price.

University halls of residence in Leiden

In this section we’ll talk about the halls of residence of the Universities. In the Netherlands, institutions don't usually have their own university residences. This means that students have to rent private accommodation on their own.

Some of the institutions do reserve some places for international students in private accommodation, but supply is usually much lower than demand. This makes it very difficult to get one.

University Residence Hall in Leiden University

This institution doesn’t have its own university residences. However, it does reserve some places for international students in private accommodation. However, the institution itself says that this number of places is not enough for the number of applications they receive, so it’s most likely that you won’t get one. It’s better to look for private accommodation on your own!

If you want to know about accommodation near Leiden University, read this article.

Rent cheap student residences in Leiden

If you want to find cheap student accommodation in this city in the Netherlands, we recommend using the Erasmus Play search engine! On our platform you can compare between the different types of accommodation available to find the one that meets all your requirements, such as price, location and what's included. This will make it much easier to find your ideal accommodation!

FAQ about student residences in Leiden