1. Finding a Place to Live

As in many big cities, it is hard to find a nice room for a fair price in Amsterdam. The worst season is August till October, when thousands of first year students enter the city. Because there is always a great demand, prices can be exorbitant. It is sad that ISMA cannot help you in finding a place to live. However, we do have some suggestions:

You can register at some Dutch websites, such as: www.kamernet.nl or www.kamer.nl. Fill in your personal data and email address, the maximum amount you can afford, and the city where you want to live. After that you will start receiving offers for rooms. Some are good, some are temporary, and some are way too expensive, but that is for you to find out. We do know some international students who found a room this way. You have to respond very quickly though, and check your email messages very frequently. Another option is to put an ad on this site, about who you are and what kind of room you are looking for. They are well-read and you may well get a response. Although this is a Dutch site, it is not very complicated, and sometimes messages in English appear.

You can become a member of ASVA, which is a letting agency that works with a kind of lottery system. Monday to Friday a draw takes place and maybe you are the lucky one! More information at the ASVA Studentenunie Kamerbureau, (part of the University of Amsterdam), 9 Binnengasthuisstraat 9, phone 6238052.

A similar system is used by the Amsterdam Steunpunt Wonen (ASW). More information is available from their office, 5230130 or the information line, 8235037.

The student union of the Free University also has some offers. Look at their notice board in the SRVU office for more information. It is room N096 or you can phone 4449424. If you want a room from them, you need to become a member first, which is not very expensive.

Finally, you can put an advertisement in the supermarket or in papers and magazines, for instance the ViaVia, sold at newspaper stands, and the Echo, a free local paper.

Finding Things for your room

If you need to buy furniture or things to make your room a nice home, you have several options. If you want to buy things new, a very popular store is IKEA. If you want to buy some bargains, you can go to a second hand store (Kringloopwinkel) or check out the ads of people who move away and sell their belongings on sites like www.expatica.com or www.elynx.nl

2. Finding a Job

If you would like to have a job while you are here, you have to get a so-called SOFI number first. You can get it at the Tax Office (Belastingdienst), Kingsfordweg 1, which is located near the train station of Sloterdijk. You have to bring your passport and residence permit (verblijfsvergunning). For the latter you need to be registered at a Dutch address at the municipal register (the Bevolkingsregister). For more information, call them first on 6877999. When you dial this number, you will hear a recording in Dutch. First press 2, then wait, then press 5, and then press 6 to speak to an employee.

If you come from a EU country, you are free to work here and don't need a working permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning). If not, you can choose between two kinds of permits: one for 10 hours during the whole year or one for full time work during June, July and August. Ask your employer for more information as they will usually arrange it for you. If not, phone the CWI, 020-6060640, and if they don't know call their legal office on 023-5532419.