Amsterdam, Aug. 20, 2009 — There is a dramatic shortage of student housing in the Netherlands, says DUWO, a Dutch foundation that specialises in building and managing a diverse range of residences primarily for use by students.
“The shortage is dramatic,” says DUWO director Jan Benschop. “It has never been as bad as it is now.”
DUWO, with 17.000 residences the largest student housing provider in the Netherlands, is in the process of building 4.500 new homes — but they will not be ready on time for the new flood of students arriving this September.
According to the organization at least 18.000 additional residences are needed in Amsterdam, Leiden, Delft and The Hague alone.
Benschop says the housing shortage is due in part to the fact that the Netherlands sees an influx of international students. At the same time, the economic crisis makes it difficult for student who have graduated to find jobs. Since dedicated student housing must be vacated within half a year of graduation, many students therefore opt to take an additional course. — DutchAmsterdam.nl
Last updated CET (Central European Time)
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