Students are more often choosing a nice apartment with its own kitchen and toilet rather than the old-fashioned rented rooms, according to estate agents CBRE.

CRBR looked into the housing needs of the growing group of students at HBO colleges and universities.

It found that although a large number live with their parents and the cheap student flat with shared facilities is still in favour, a growing number want a place where they can study undisturbed now that further education is more expensive.

Foreign students and Dutch students in their final years in particular are looking for more luxury, CBRE’s Joep van Vliet told the Volkskrant. ‘And they are prepared to pay more for an apartment,’ he said.

Conversions

Over the past few years, a number of university cities have been taking this group into account. Former office buildings have been converted into studio flats, with gym, supermarket and cafe in or next door to the building. These flats often have a basic rent of €403 a month, the housing benefit maximum for a youngster up to 23.

More expensive flats are also easily filled, according to CBRE. A former newspaper office in Amsterdam has recently been converted into the Student Hotel by investment company Perella Weinburg. Students can rent a furnished flat for ten months for around €800 a month, which includes a bike, wifi and gym.

On Monday, family spending body Nibud said one-third of students borrowing from student loan company Duo do so in order to save for later, often towards a mortgage or to pay for a gap year, with 15% saying they use the money to buy luxury products.