Antwerp, Belgium's fashion and port capital, is home to the University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen), and offers exchange students a distinctive mix of historic architecture, a buzzing creative scene, and genuine urban energy. As in most Belgian cities, though, landlords aren't always keen on renting to international students for just a semester, short-term rooms are limited, and the usual crop of rental scams targets students searching for a place from abroad.

What does student housing cost in Antwerp?

Antwerp's student housing costs sit in the middle of the Belgian range. University residences near the city campus typically rent from roughly €360 to €495 per month, all-inclusive, while individual rooms near the Drie Eiken campus in Wilrijk — offered through specialist student housing operators — provide another mid-range option with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Private-market shared flats can run somewhat higher, particularly closer to the historic centre.

How difficult is it to find a room?

Antwerp's market is generally more manageable than Leuven's or central Brussels', thanks to a reasonably developed system of university-affiliated and specialist student residences. Even so, exchange students should expect competition for the best-located and most affordable rooms, especially close to the start of the academic year, so applying early through the university's housing office is worthwhile.

Where to look for accommodation

Check the website of your host university, University of Antwerp, for housing tips specifically aimed at exchange students, and look out for short-term options that aren't as widely advertised. Even if you're not officially enrolled yet, it's worth contacting their support services directly.

Also check Gate15, Antwerp's official student information point, which has housing resources for the city's student population alongside general information about life in Antwerp.

Getting around Antwerp

Antwerp has a well-developed tram and "premetro" (underground tram) network alongside regular buses, all run by De Lijn, and a student subscription makes it very affordable. The city is also highly cycle-friendly, and many students choose a bike as their main way of getting to campus. Antwerpen-Centraal, one of Europe's most architecturally striking stations, offers fast connections to Brussels (under an hour), Ghent, and Amsterdam, making the city a convenient base for weekend travel.

Watch out for scams

A lot of exchange students end up on Facebook groups or other social media to hunt for a room. It's often the only option that comes to mind, but it's also where most scams live. Never transfer money before viewing a room (in person or via video call), and check with your host institution's housing office or the local municipality if a listing looks too good to be true. Favour platforms with verified listings over anonymous posts.

Why Exchange Rooms is different

None of the options above were built specifically with exchange students in mind. Exchange Rooms was. It's a housing platform made exclusively for exchange students, offering only short-term rooms listed by real fellow students who understand exactly what you're looking for. Have a look at the rooms currently available on our platform.

A bonus tip most students overlook

Finding housing often starts with offering housing. If you have a room available while you're away on exchange, post it on Exchange Rooms and send the link to the international office of your host university in Antwerp. Let them know that incoming students from your host university can rent directly from you. It's a simple way to add listings exactly where they're needed.

Don't have a room to offer? No problem — you can still create an account without listing anything yourself, and you can help by sharing Exchange Rooms with your home and host university. The bigger the network grows, the better everyone's odds of finding a place become.

Exchange Rooms

Exchange Rooms can help you secure housing in Antwerp. Search for rooms in the area or learn more and create an account!

Good luck finding housing — we're rooting for you!