Before you start your search
First things first, figure out how much you can afford to spend on rent and write down your requirements on a list. Stick to your budget while you are searching for a place and if you need to compromise ask yourself if it’s worth it. If you have a reasonable budget and you are not too picky you have great chances of finding an apartment. However,if you have high standards but are on a low budget, it’s almost impossible to find an affordable apartment in the city centre.
Instead look for a property that’s on the outskirts of the city or even in another town. This will save you a lot of time and money. The Netherlands has an excellent public transportation and cycle path network. Most cities and areas are well connected to bus, train and cycle networks making it easy to commute from one town to another.
Find out where the best neighbourhoods are
Walk around the town’s different neighbourhoods to find out in which area you could see yourself living in. Exploring a town on foot is also a great way of finding your bearings and finding out where things are in relation to each other. Ask the locals about which areas are nice to live in and which ones you should avoid. If you’re planning to use public transportation frequently, find out how well connected the property is situated.