Housing for PhD researchers

Welcome to The Hague - the city of peace and justice!

The city has some great residential areas but finding lettable accommodation in and around The Hague is very difficult. Good residential areas include the beach area (Scheveningen), the city centre and green suburbs in quieter areas. The links below should help you make a start in finding the accommodation that's right for you.

(If you consider bringing your family, we recommend to secure housing before coming over with the entire family. Our (1-person) student rooms normally have availability for new PhD researchers in the period January to August, not in the last 4 months of the year. If lettable accommodation is available on the private market, it comes at a cost. Take a look at the Housing page on Erasmus University Rotterdam's website for average rental prices. Your budget and your choice of location play an important part in this process.)

Things to note when planning your move

Dutch law requires certain formalities for all residents of The Hague who plan to stay in the city for 4 months or longer. Please take note of the points below when planning your move to the Netherlands:

Register your address

You are legally obliged to register a valid Dutch address (not a hotel!) with your municipality 5 days after arrival. Failing to provide a valid address can have consequences for your residence permit.

Your Citizen Service Number

Once registered, you will receive a Citizen Service Number (in Dutch: ‘BSN’). This is compulsory for everyone living in the Netherlands and enables you to carry out all number of other formalities such as opening a bank account. 

Housing via student housing association

The independent Dutch student housing corporation DUWO has some housing available for PhD researches, just around the corner of the institute. This housing is primarily meant for MA students but may also be occupied by PhD researches.

Ten rooms are reserved for PhD researchers and subject to availability. The rental period for PhD researchers, visiting researchers and other visitors can start at any time throughout the academic year, though there is a preference for January. See also the student housing page on our website.

Using the ISS postal address

International staff and PhD candidates are allowed to use the ISS address when registering with the municipality of The Hague. The ISS address can be used as a valid address for a maximum of three months. However, this should be a last resort solution; please make every effort to find permanent accommodation.