ROTTERDAM, 18 December 2024 – Plans to address the student housing shortage in Rotterdam continue to progress, with over 2300 units expected to be built by 2025. New developments in the city centre and key transport hubs aim to provide more options for students.
Rotterdam progresses on student housing goals
Rotterdam is on track to significantly increase its stock of student housing, with over 1900 units projected to be constructed by the end of 2025. This marks a considerable step beyond the initial goal set in 2022 by the municipal council, which aimed for 1600 new homes during the current council period.
Chantal Zeegers, the city councillor for Climate, Building, and Housing, expressed optimism, stating, “If we continue at this pace, over 2300 student housing units will have been built during this council term. This is an important step towards meeting the high demand in the student housing market. We will continue working to ensure a broad and affordable range of options for students.”
New developments underway in Rotterdam
Construction of 250 student homes at Westblaak in the city centre and 413 homes at Benthemstraat in the Agniesebuurt is set to begin in mid-December. These projects will offer a mix of self-contained apartments and shared facilities.
Self-contained units will dominate the new developments, but common areas are planned to foster a sense of community and reduce isolation. Shared housing will include communal spaces such as living rooms, laundry areas, and bicycle storage.
Artist impression of the new student housing at Westblaak in the centre of Rotterdam. Visuals provided by Sweco Architects.
Strategic locations for student housing
New student housing is being planned near educational institutions and transport hubs, including Brainpark, Rotterdam city centre, and Zuidplein. By 2025, the municipality and developers aim to begin constructing 1300 units at various locations, such as Hoge Wiek near the former Havenziekenhuis, Toepad in De Esch, Hoofdweg in the Alexanderknoop, and the Rush project in Brainpark.
Beyond 2026, additional projects are expected at Weena, Zuidplein, and on the Erasmus University campus in Kralingen. The municipality is also investigating the feasibility of building student housing at Rijnhaven (Veemtoren).
Tackling the student housing shortage collaboratively
Rotterdam is home to over 100,000 students across vocational (MBO), higher (HBO), and university (WO) institutions. The demand for student housing remains high, prompting the city to collaborate with educational institutions, student housing providers, and student organisations to address the issue.
In 2023, the city introduced the Student Housing Implementation Plan (Uitvoeringsplan Studentenhuisvesting) to address these challenges. The plan aims to spread student housing more evenly across Rotterdam, reducing pressure on popular neighbourhoods such as Kralingen.
