Relocating staff to Rotterdam: housing market update 2026

When preparing to relocate staff to Rotterdam or the wider Rijnmond / Maasvlakte industrial region, securing suitable housing quickly becomes a core operational priority. Due to limited availability and high demand, the Rotterdam housing market requires proactive planning, especially for international hires, engineers, consultants, shipyard personnel, offshore staff, and project-based deployments.

Below is a concise, up-to-date market overview specifically for HR, Global Mobility, Project Managers, Procurement and Operational Leads coordinating assignments in Rotterdam.

1. Current pricing levels (furnished, private rental sector)

Pricing in strong, safe, and central neighbourhoods has increased notably due to sustained demand and reduced supply.

Typical Monthly Rent (Excl. Utilities)
1-bedroom apartment €2.000 – €2.250
2-bedroom apartment €2.250 – €2.850
3-bedroom apartment €2.850+
Family homes (expat-ready) €3.000 – €4.000+

Areas commonly preferred by international staff:
Kralingen, Scheepvaartkwartier, Hillegersberg, Kop van Zuid, Noordereiland, Blijdorp, or closer to Maasvlakte, Brielle, Oostvoorne Spijkenisse (less activitiy to do)

Note: These price ranges apply to relocations with move-in timelines within ±4 weeks.

2. The disappearance of the middle-rental segment

Properties renting between €1.100 – €2.000 are being sold instead of re-listed due to:

• Expansion of the WWS points regulation (mid-2025)
• Reduced landlord incentives to maintain mid-range rentals
• Long-term investors exiting the segment

This shift has sharply reduced mid-budget availability and increased competition in the higher range.

3. Competition is driven by speed and network access

Public platforms (e.g., Pararius & Funda) frequently generate hundreds of responses within hours. As a result:

• Most suitable homes never appear online
• Access depends on relationships with Rotterdam brokers and owners
• Pre-qualification and fast decision alignment are crucial

Relocations relying on public listings alone typically face:

• Long search timelines
• Temporary accommodation extensions
• Additional onboarding stress for employees & families

4. Strategic advantage: working with a local housing partner

Rotterdam Rental Service maintains trusted relationships with 50%+ of all reliable real estate agencies and private landlords in the city.

This enables:

• Off-market and pre-market access
• Fast matching to expat-ready inventory
• Prioritized placement for screened candidates

Shared Housing for Junior / Early-Career Profiles

Where individual budgets are below €1.750, a shared corporate housing setup (combined €3.000+) offers:

• Safer & higher quality housing options
• Faster placement
• Better neighbourhood availability

5. Recommendations for HR, Mobility & Procurement teams

Start planning 6–8 weeks pre-arrival
Reduces onboarding delays
Confirm budget ranges early
Reflects current Rotterdam pricing reality
Use a local relocation partner
Provides access to off-market supply
Align decision timelines internally
Properties move within 24–72 hours

6. Flexible pricing models for corporate & project deployments

We work with two clear pricing structures, depending on your company’s procurement preferences:

Pricing Options

1. Fixed Fee
A clear, pre-agreed amount for finding a suitable home and guiding the full process.
No percentages.
Ideal when your team needs predictable costs.

2. One Month Rent
Our fee equals one month of the property’s rent.
This is the standard model in the Dutch rental market and works well for individual relocations or one-off transfers.

Both pricing structures include:

• Housing search & shortlisting
• Viewings coordination (live or remote)
• Lease negotiation & compliance review
• Check-in and onboarding support for the employee

For larger project deployments, phased arrivals, or 2+ placements, package and volume pricing can be discussed.

Next step: deployment & employee intake planning

We support:

• Individual employee moves
• Group / phased arrivals
• Project-duration stays near Maasvlakte & port terminals
• Family relocation

Rotterdam Rental Service provides:

• Property sourcing & viewing coordination
• Lease negotiation & local compliance checks
• Check-in / onboarding support
• Ongoing tenant liaison during the stay (optional)

Ready to Coordinate your project housing?

We are prepared to move forward as soon as your timeline, arrival profile and budget framework are confirmed.

→ Request a Project Intake Call
Send us the following:

• Number of employees
• Expected arrival dates
• Required contract duration
• Budget guidelines

We’ll take care of the rest.