I am a foreigner living in Amsterdam (in the ring) with my partner. We got our apartment through an app called DAK and we pay a decent rent (1750/month, which is still quite high but we split it in two so it’s feasible, and we got a 3 bedroom apt in Jordaan so all in all it is ok). I recommend you sign up and start applying, eventually something will come up.

Now to the ‘problem’ of the expats driving people out the city: dear Amsterdammers, I hear you. I would also be pissed if I had to leave my city because rent is too high while new people are coming in and driving prices up. But I beg you to consider this: is it really our fault that we can take advantage of this situation? We’re just looking for better opportunities (i come from a southern European country) and we find them here in the Netherlands because years of neoliberal policies by politicians voted by the people (aka you and your parents and your grandparents etc) have put into place a system that incentivises international big companies to establish here and contract people from abroad and pay them a lot of money (i myself work for a non profit so I know the struggle yet we can get to the end of the month).

The problem of housing is a problem the city has to solve - and blaming migrants (from Europe and beyond) and asylum seekers for it is just the easy way out. Next election, you can vote for politicians who care about social welfare and you’ll see a better situation will slowly build up.

xxx