Peak-Period Housing Returns for International Students This Year
With over 800 temporary beds available, the Proxima student complex is once again providing short-term accommodation to help ease the housing shortage for incoming internationals.
International students arriving in Groningen this academic year without permanent housing can once again rely on temporary accommodation through the city’s peak housing program. Located at the Proxima student complex on the Zernike campus, the facility offers short-term rooms to help students bridge the critical housing gap that often occurs at the start of the academic year.
A Temporary Solution to an Annual Challenge
The peak period in Groningen—typically August through October—is a high-pressure time for the housing market. New students pour in while many outgoing students have not yet vacated their rooms. To help mitigate the shortage, Proxima will make 401 rooms available, each equipped with a regular bed and a fold-out bed. By pairing two students per room, the total capacity expands to 802 students.
This temporary housing allows internationals to stay for three months while searching for more permanent accommodation. Students sharing a room are matched with a roommate of the same gender and split the rent. Booking is available via the SSH (Student Housing Foundation) website.
Support for Exchange Students
This year, 100 of the fold-out beds are set aside specifically for exchange students who stay in the Netherlands for about six months. Because the usual three-month peak stay doesn’t align with their program timelines, these students are offered longer-term contracts to avoid being forced to relocate mid-semester.
A Coordinated Effort
The peak housing initiative is part of the Groningen Youth and Student Housing Agreement 2023–2026, a joint strategy between the University of Groningen (UG), Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Municipality of Groningen, and SSH. Together, these partners aim to improve the student housing situation in the city through short-term solutions like Proxima and longer-term investments.
In 2024, 175 students made use of the peak accommodation. While it’s not yet clear how many will enrol in the program this year, the increased capacity suggests strong demand is expected.