For expats and internationals

Expat housing in Groningen

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01 · Expat housing

Renting as an expat in Groningen

Groningen is the largest city in the north and a true student city: the University of Groningen, the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the UMCG draw many international students, researchers and staff. There are also companies in energy and engineering.

The city is compact and almost everything is within cycling distance, but the rental market is strongly shaped by students. Competition peaks around the start of the academic year, and for a self-contained home you compete with students, researchers and young professionals. So decide first which areas suit your work or studies.

This page explains what the rental market in Groningen looks like for international tenants, which neighbourhoods many expats consider, what to arrange after you arrive, and how to avoid missing new listings. For current listings and a neighbourhood overview, see our Groningen rentals page.

International and expat apartment options in Groningen

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In Groningen, supply comes from private landlords, agents and building managers. Unfurnished and shell-finished apartments make up the largest share. Furnished homes through agencies for international tenants exist too, but they cost more per month. Relocation housing is usually arranged through your employer.

In and around the centre: the Binnenstad and the Oosterpoort have plenty of cafés and amenities and are popular with students and young professionals. Helpman is greener and quieter. Paddepoel and Selwerd are close to the Zernike campus, where a large part of the university and the Hanze are based.

Further from the centre: De Wijert and Vinkhuizen are residential areas with quieter streets, generally larger homes and good cycling connections to the centre. Hoogkerk is on the west side of the city and a quieter alternative if you use a car.

Which area fits depends mostly on your commute. Check the travel time at the hours you actually travel, not just the distance on the map. Looking for a room, or are you a student? Then also see our pages on room rental in Groningen and student housing in Groningen.

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What landlords in Groningen expect from international tenants

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Landlords and agents in Groningen usually ask for a signed employment contract or an official offer letter, recent payslips or other proof of income, and a copy of your passport or ID. Many landlords use a rule of thumb that your gross monthly income should be about three times the rent. For new rental contracts, the deposit may be at most two months' base rent.
No Dutch rental history or guarantor? Ask straight away whether an employer's statement, a larger deposit or several months' rent in advance is accepted. This differs per landlord, and asking costs nothing. Do you study or work at the university, the Hanze or the UMCG? Ask the institution whether it can help you find a home.
After you arrive, you register with the municipality of Groningen. In principle you do this within five days of arrival, by appointment, and you need a valid address for it, for example through your rental contract. At registration you also receive your BSN, which you need for a bank account, health insurance and an energy contract. Book the appointment as early as possible.
Always check who you are dealing with before sending documents or money: does the contact person match the owner or managing agent, and never transfer a deposit before you have seen the apartment or signed a contract you have read in full.

How to search for expat housing in Groningen

Choose two or three neighbourhoods and set a maximum budget that includes service costs and, for an unfurnished home, your furnishing costs. In Groningen you can get almost anywhere by bike, so travel time within the city is usually short. If you travel to the Randstad regularly, allow about two hours by train to Amsterdam.

Suitable listings in Groningen disappear quickly, often within days and sometimes within hours. Whoever responds first with complete details has the best chance of a viewing. So set your preferences once: Addressly follows new rental listings in Groningen and sends a viewing request from your own email address as soon as something suitable appears. You can read more about this approach on our page about automatic responses to Groningen listings.

Searching from abroad? Ask for a live video tour instead of relying on photos alone, and confirm the start date in writing. If you view in person, check whether the heating is central or runs on a private boiler, what condition the stairwell is in, and whether the deposit and first month's rent are due before or on the day you receive the keys. For an overview of the whole province, see our page on renting in the province of Groningen.

See today's rental listings and a full neighbourhood breakdown on our Groningen rentals page, or read our general guide on finding rental housing as an expat.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Addressly reply to new listings in Groningen for me?

Addressly scans the major housing platforms such as Funda, Pararius and Kamernet day and night. As soon as a home in Groningen that matches your profile goes online, we automatically send a personal viewing request to the landlord, usually within minutes. That is much faster than you could respond yourself.

Is the viewing request sent from my own email?

Yes. Every request goes out from your own email address, based on your profile. Landlords reply directly to you, and every message sent is right there in your own inbox.

Is Addressly the same as a rental alert?

No. An alert only tells you a home exists; you still have to respond yourself, often when there are already dozens of replies. Addressly responds for you straight away with a personal message, so you're among the first.

What if Addressly doesn't work out for me?

You get a full refund until we've sent your first viewing request. No questions, no hassle.

Can I rent a home in Groningen without a Dutch guarantor?

Often, yes. Many landlords accept an employer's statement, a larger deposit or several months' rent in advance. Ask the landlord or agent directly what they accept.

Do I need a BSN to sign a rental contract in Groningen?

Usually not. You receive your BSN when you register with the municipality, which you do by appointment after you arrive. You then need it for a bank account, health insurance and an energy contract.

Which neighbourhoods in Groningen are popular with expats?

Many internationals look at the Binnenstad, the Oosterpoort, Helpman, Paddepoel and Selwerd (near the Zernike campus) and De Wijert. Which one suits you best depends on your work or studies, budget and travel time.

How quickly do I need to respond to a rental listing in Groningen?

Quickly: suitable listings are often let within days, sometimes within hours. Addressly sends a viewing request on your behalf from your own email address within minutes, so you don't have to respond yourself the moment a listing goes online.

How does Addressly help with finding expat housing in Groningen?

Set your preferences once and Addressly follows new rental listings in Groningen and sends a viewing request from your own inbox as soon as something suitable appears.

CitiesRenting in the province of Groningen Province

For expats and internationals