Hausing vs Roommatch: Dutch Rental Platforms Compared

Introduction

This comparison examines Hausing and Roommatch—two different Dutch rental services that target distinct renter needs. If you’re searching for Amsterdam apartments, Rotterdam rentals, or student housing Netherlands-wide, this guide explains how each platform works, where they cover, pricing and paywalls, features, data quality and who should use them. Use this to find the best rental websites Netherlands options for expats, students, families and young professionals.

Coverage & Inventory: Hausing vs Roommatch

Hausing is a boutique agency focused on Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with occasional listings in nearby Almere. Its inventory emphasizes long-term studios, apartments and houses suitable for expats, families and professionals. As an agency rather than a classifieds portal, Hausing represents properties directly and offers a curated subset of available rentals in the Randstad.

Roommatch is an aggregated student housing platform operating inside the national ROOM registration system. It lists around 998 active student rooms and apartments across cities such as Amsterdam, Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Haarlem, Wageningen, Groningen and Deventer. Roommatch’s coverage is student-centric and geographically broad among university towns, but it does not aim to list the full private-market rental stock.

Why coverage matters

• If you need to find housing in Amsterdam across the entire private market (individual landlords, multiple agencies), Hausing alone won’t cover everything—use it when you want agency support. For the widest apartment search, pair agency listings with broad portals or aggregators.
• If you are a student looking for affordable, fair allocation of rooms near campus, Roommatch’s ties to housing corporations and the ROOM system make it a primary channel.

Pricing & Paywall

Hausing

• No browsing paywall: you can view the service and contact the agency freely.
• Pricing model: agency fee for tenants—one month’s rent with a minimum of €2000 + VAT, charged on a no-cure-no-pay basis. This fee covers search assistance, viewings, offer handling and lease review.
• Best for renters who value concierge service and can budget for a representation fee.

Roommatch

• Free to register and browse for students. No browsing paywall in the conventional sense.
• Pricing model: freemium/zero-cost for tenants; allocation is handled by ROOM.nl with fair/randomized assignment in some cases.
• Best for students on a tight budget who prioritize affordability over premium services.

Why pricing matters

Cost affects who can use each service. Hausing’s fee is significant for long-term or higher-end rentals where representation shortens search time and reduces paperwork risk. Roommatch is effectively free and optimized for students who expect lower rents and fairness in allocation.

Features & Tools

Hausing features (service-led)

• Agent-verified listings and agent-led viewings (in-person or virtual).
• End-to-end support: contract checks, offer negotiation, and check-in support.
• English-language support available (supportedLanguages: en), helpful for expats and international professionals.
• Local presence with offices in Amsterdam and Rotterdam and 7-day availability.

Roommatch features (platform-led)

• Aggregation of student housing through the ROOM system and affiliated housing corporations (e.g., DUWO, Idealis).
• Free registration and access; login required to apply.
• Allocation mechanics designed for fairness; students may be assigned by reaction-time or lottery depending on the provider.
• Multilingual interface including Dutch and English (nl, en).

Feature gaps and user experience

• Filters: Hausing’s service model relies on agent intake rather than self-serve advanced filters. Roommatch is built around standard student-housing filters but does not typically offer advanced commute maps or isochrones.
• Maps & commute tools: Neither platform emphasizes advanced public isochrone mapping similar to specialized aggregators; Hausing compensates with human guidance and local knowledge, while Roommatch focuses on allocation fairness and campus proximity.
• POIs and distance measures: Roommatch lists location info relevant to students; Hausing can provide tailored neighborhood information on request.

Data Quality & Verification

Hausing

• Explicitly verifies listings through agent checks, which reduces the risk of scams and duplicate or stale ads.
• As an agency, it controls the flow of offers and can confirm landlord identity.

Roommatch

• Aggregates listings from certified housing corporations. While this provides institutional reliability, Roommatch does not advertise an individual listing verification workflow like agency-led checks; instead, listing quality is tied to the originating housing providers.

Why verification matters

Verified listings and agency representation matter in markets with scam risk or when renters are abroad and cannot visit in person. For expat housing Netherlands searches—especially in Amsterdam—verification and agency support can reduce uncertainty.

Who Should Use Each Platform (Expats, Students, Families)

Hausing — Best for:

• Expats who want English-language support, lease guidance and help with Dutch rental formalities.
• Young professionals and families seeking longer-term apartments or houses in Amsterdam or Rotterdam and who value concierge-style help.
• Renters who can pay a one-time agency fee in exchange for time savings and lower administrative friction.

Roommatch — Best for:

• Students searching for rooms near universities in Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, Leiden, Groningen and other student cities.
• International students who need a fair allocation process and free access to apply to multiple housing providers.
• Those prioritizing affordability and institutional housing stock over private-market options.

Pros & Cons — Quick Comparison

Hausing

Pros:

• Agent-verified listings reduce scam risk.
• Full-service offering: viewings, contract review, and negotiation.
• English support and 7-day availability.

Cons:

• One-time agency fee (one month’s rent, min €2000 + VAT) can be expensive for budget renters.
• Regional focus—primarily Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Almere—so less useful if you need nationwide coverage.

Roommatch

Pros:

• Free to register and browse; democratic allocation for student rooms.
• Wide coverage of student cities and connections to housing corporations.
• Multilingual UI in Dutch and English.

Cons:

• Designed for students only—limited value for families or working professionals seeking long-term houses.
• No direct agency representation or per-listing verification workflow beyond what housing corporations provide.

Decision Guide: Choosing Between Hausing and Roommatch

Choose Hausing if:

• You are an expat or professional moving to Amsterdam or Rotterdam and want help with paperwork, virtual viewings, and contract checks.
• You prefer a curated, agent-verified set of listings and are willing to pay an agency fee for speed and security.

Choose Roommatch if:

• You are a student looking for low-cost housing near campus and want to use the ROOM system’s fair allocation.
• You need free access to many student-room offers across Dutch university towns and don’t require agency representation.

Practical workflow suggestions

• If you’re an international student in Amsterdam: register on Roommatch (via ROOM) for campus-aligned offers, and also browse broader portals or local agencies if you need a private-market studio.
• If you’re an expat relocating for work: contact an agency like Hausing for concierge help, but cross-check the market via aggregators to understand price ranges and availability.

Final Thoughts

Hausing and Roommatch serve very different use cases within the Dutch rental ecosystem. Hausing is a hands-on agency built for expats, families and professionals in Amsterdam and Rotterdam who are willing to pay a representation fee for verified listings and end-to-end support. Roommatch is an affordable, student-focused aggregator operating within the ROOM system that offers broad coverage for university towns and fair allocation mechanics.

For those looking for the best rental websites Netherlands options, the right choice depends on your profile: use Roommatch for student housing Netherlands needs and Hausing for agency-led private-market rentals in the Randstad. If possible, combine channels: use Roommatch or student networks for campus options and agency or aggregator searches to cover the private rentals market. That blended approach helps you find housing in Amsterdam or other Dutch cities more effectively while managing cost, verification risk and convenience.