Choosing the place you want to pursue your education is such a big decision. You want to make sure you are provided with the best education possible while alongside enjoying your student life. Vlissingen or Middelburg will become your home away from home and the accommodation providers have the biggest hand in doing so. Luckily, HZ is partnered with a housing corporation, Accommodation Portal Vlissingen (APV), that help students find what is most suited to their lifestyle. They provide housing in Vlissingen and Middelburg, so you don’t need to worry.
Depending on what you would like, there are mainly three kinds of accommodations that could be an option for you. There’s an option to live in a shared student house, in the campus building or in a studio.
APV is a preferred partner for a reason as they have a wide range of student accommodation options to choose from, like the following:
Campus
APV has a campus building located in Vlissingen and Middelburg where they offer different types of rooms: single, shared or studios, all for different prices. Studios are all inclusive which means you would have a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom for yourself but it is obviously a more expensive option - though, you would be eligible for governmental subsidy (you can ask APV to help you out). For the single rooms you would have a bedroom that is furnished with a closet, bed and a table all to yourself but you would have to share the bathroom and kitchen with other people. If you choose the option for a shared room you would share the room with another person and have a small kitchen in there too. APV also provides other facilities within the Vlissingen campus such as a gym, a cinema, a gaming area. They go out of their way to make the living environment as comfortable as possible for you and make sure to fulfil your needs.
As someone who has stayed in the campus in my first year, I can guarantee that it is one of the best options because it’s student-budget-friendly and most importantly you’ll meet so many people and make friends for life.
Student House
Living in a student house means you’ll be renting a room and sharing the common areas like the bathroom, kitchen, living room or any other areas the place offers with other students. This could range from 3-7 students in a house. Most student houses are fully furnished but to feel completely at home you can rearrange the furniture and buy decorations.
I lived in a student house from my second year up until my fourth year and it was so much fun living with my friends, it was like having a sleepover every single day.
Studios
If you would like your own space and choose not to live in one of the studios in the campus building, there are more studios around Vlissingen and Middelburg. The biggest advantage of living in a studio is not worrying about whether other people have cleaned up after using the common areas because you would be living alone, and it definitely is a cheaper option if you would like to live with your significant other.
APV have a "first come, first serve" quota so if you have already received your LOA from HZ then it would be best to start registering for a room and prepare for your arrival to the Netherlands :D
You can check their website for a better picture of the places they offer and contact them if you have any questions: https://www.apvlissingen.com/
Things to keep in mind when choosing student housing
Keep in mind that no location is perfect. Some amenities that we take for granted at home - such as having an oven, a washing machine, and a television - may not be available. There are numerous second-hand stores and Facebook groups where you can find what you require at a reasonable price.
Another common practice is paying a deposit, which is a specified amount of money that the supplier receives and holds in case you do considerable property damage. Ideally, you will receive your money back at the end of your rental period. You'd be amazed how frequently minor mishaps occur, so don't panic! Stuffed pipes, broken appliances, and other issues that can arise in a typical household should be handled by the supplier without damaging your deposit.
For more information about the student life check out the “HZ prospective students“ group on Facebook. Post your questions or message someone and you‘ll certainly get your questions answered! If you have urgent questions, then you could ask a study advisor.
Good luck and see you soon!
