In many cities it seems like an impossible task to find a student room. How difficult is that for students in Zwolle?
“It was very easy for me! I attended two ‘interview evenings’, and I got the room the second time. The first time I expected to be rejected. There were many candidates and I didn’t click with the residents. For me it wasn’t very urgent to move into student housing. I hear from friends in larger cities that it’s much more difficult there.”
Jade, student Journalism
“It is quite difficult to find a room. I have been looking for a while, sporadically. Sometimes I search actively, sometimes less. Also because I do not really know how to search best. An ‘interview evening’ is a bit of a strange system. You are invited and get hope, but then you do not get the room and you are back to square one. That is just difficult.”
Annick, student Communication
“I am not looking for a room now. But I was when I was still studying in Nijmegen, more than two hours away from home. That didn’t work out then. It is difficult to get invited. You have to apply via the internet and sometimes you don’t get a response at all. If I did get invited, I was one of many. Sometimes I heard about student housing in temporary subletting through others. Not ideal.”
Frank, student Teacher Education in Chemics
“I would like to live in a student house, but I have no idea where to look. You hear a lot about the housing crisis and that it is only getting harder. My classmates also say that rooms are expensive and that there is nothing good to be found anywhere. Maybe I will hear that a room will become available through friends, but I don’t think the chances are great.”
Julian, student Teacher Education in Physical Education
“I was registered with SSH for almost four years, the room came at the right time. At the housing corporation, the person at the top of the waiting list is allowed to come and have a look, so that wasn’t difficult. In my class, nobody wants to live in a student house, because they all live close by. At my previous study programme, more than half wanted a room, it usually took a few years before it worked out for them.”
Manon, student Education in Primary Schools
Text and photos: Indy Roozendal
