Brussels · Belgium · Trusted Since 1998

Trusted housing for
international students
in Brussels.

A personal, structured housing service for international students, interns, Erasmus participants and young professionals relocating to Belgium — backed by 25+ years of residential experience and thousands of successful placements.

Request Housing Information Meet Dirk Van Der Linden
1998
Year founded
500+
Units coordinated
5,000+
Rental contracts
80+
Nationalities served
✓ Belgian regulatory compliance
✓ Pre-arrival documentation support
✓ Pre-arrival accommodation documentation
✓ Multilingual communication
✓ Institutional partner network
Dirk Willem van der Linden — Founder, Brussels International Housing
25+ Years of residential
experience in Brussels
The founder

I came to Brussels as a foreign student myself.

"I know exactly what it feels like to arrive in a new country with no local contacts, no local knowledge, and the pressure of finding a place to live before classes begin."

Originally from the Netherlands, I moved to Brussels to study at the VUB in the early 1990s. That personal experience — the uncertainty, the language barriers, the administrative complexity of the Belgian rental market — became the foundation of everything I've built since.

Since 1998, I have personally coordinated housing for international students, interns, Erasmus participants, PhD researchers, and young professionals arriving in Brussels. What started as a local network has grown into a structured housing coordination service trusted by universities, international offices, and relocation partners across Europe and beyond.

Former international student at VUB, Brussels
Operating continuously in Brussels since 1998
Personally involved in 5,000+ rental contracts
500+ units across Brussels neighbourhoods
Students from 80+ countries served
Practical familiarity with Belgian administrative and registration procedures
Why it matters

Finding housing from abroad is one of the
hardest parts of relocating to Brussels.

01

Distance & distrust

Booking accommodation remotely — often without speaking French or Dutch — requires a level of trust that generic listing platforms cannot provide. Students fall victim to scams, misrepresented properties, and last-minute cancellations that destabilise their entire arrival.

02

Pre-arrival documentation complexity

International arrivals often need to provide a confirmed Belgian address as part of their pre-arrival administrative preparation — yet securing accommodation from a distance, without local knowledge, requires a level of trust that is difficult to establish remotely. Without a reliable local accommodation partner, this practical gap can delay and complicate the entire arrival process.

03

The first days define everything

International students who arrive to uncertainty — no confirmed address, no local contact, no orientation — begin their programme already stressed and behind. A structured arrival directly correlates with academic performance, wellbeing, and long-term satisfaction.

Our process

A structured journey,
from first contact to settled arrival.

01

Initial enquiry & matching

You or your institution contacts us with arrival details — dates, budget, location preferences, and any special requirements. We respond personally within 24 hours with available options suited to your specific situation.

24h responsePersonal contactNo automated systems
02

Pre-arrival documentation

For students who need an accommodation confirmation letter as part of their pre-arrival preparation, we provide a formal housing confirmation document stating their reserved address and rental terms. We work flexibly within arrival and enrolment timelines — coordinating with universities or international offices where helpful.

Accommodation confirmation lettersFlexible timelinesInstitutional alignment
03

Arrival & structured onboarding

On arrival day, the accommodation is prepared, clean and ready. We guide new tenants through municipality registration (required within 8 working days of arrival by Belgian law), transport access, neighbourhood orientation, and local emergency contacts. We do not hand over keys and disappear.

Municipality registrationTransport briefingNeighbourhood orientation
04

Ongoing local support

Throughout the tenancy, students and institutional partners have a direct, named contact. Maintenance requests are handled through our technical team. We maintain communication with the student's institution if required. Partners receive updates at key milestones.

Direct contactTechnical teamInstitutional reporting
Accommodation

Three comfort levels.
One standard of care.

We manage accommodation across a range of buildings and comfort levels — from affordable, well-maintained student rooms to modern furnished studios. Every unit meets Belgian regulatory safety standards. Pricing is all-inclusive: utilities, Wi-Fi, and support.

Essential
Classic Student Room

Older, character-filled Brussels buildings with shared common areas. Budget-conscious, well-located, and fully compliant. Perfect for Erasmus and exchange students.

Starting from
€680 / month
  • Private furnished room
  • Shared kitchen & bathrooms
  • Wi-Fi included
  • Utilities included
  • Near public transport
  • Municipality registration support
Most Popular
Modern Studio

Contemporary purpose-built studios with private bathroom and kitchenette. Ideal for PhD researchers, interns, and students seeking privacy and independence.

Starting from
€775 / month
  • Self-contained studio
  • Private bathroom & kitchenette
  • Wi-Fi & utilities included
  • Modern furnishing
  • Secure building access
  • Bike storage on-site
  • Music room access (select buildings)
Premium
Executive Studio

Higher-spec studios and small apartments for young professionals, senior researchers, and corporate relocations. Larger footprint, premium finish.

Starting from
€875 / month
  • Fully equipped apartment
  • Premium finish & appliances
  • Central Brussels locations
  • Flexible contract lengths
  • All utilities & Wi-Fi
  • Priority onboarding
  • Dedicated support contact

Rental prices shown are indicative starting prices and may vary depending on building, room type, floor level, lease duration, included utilities, and seasonal availability. Unit specifications, furnishings, and included services differ by property. Final rental conditions, pricing, and availability are confirmed individually during the reservation process.

Who we serve

Built for every kind of
international arrival in Brussels.

🎓

Erasmus & exchange students

Semester or year-long stays. Clear rental terms, flexible move-in aligned with programme start dates, and structured support from day one.

🔬

PhD researchers

Multi-year stability. Quiet, study-focused environments with reliable long-term tenancy management and minimal friction.

💼

Interns & trainees

Brussels hosts EU institutions, NATO, and multinationals. Short-to-medium contracts tailored to internship durations, including EU institution timelines.

🌍

International degree students

Full academic year accommodation with enrolment-aligned timelines, municipality registration guidance, and ongoing local support.

🏢

Young professionals

First move to Brussels. We provide a credible entry point into the rental market for those without Belgian references or local networks.

👨‍👩‍👧

Parents & families

We communicate directly with parents upon request. Many families across Asia, the Middle East, and South America work with us specifically for the reassurance of a named, reachable local contact.

Why Brussels

Europe's most international capital city.

Brussels is unlike any other European city. As the de facto capital of the EU and home to NATO headquarters, it draws students and professionals from every country in the world. It is multilingual, cosmopolitan, and surprisingly affordable relative to other major European capitals.

10+
Major universities
180+
Nationalities resident
3
Official languages
#1
EU institutional hub

University ecosystem

ULB, VUB, KU Leuven Brussels, Solvay Brussels School, ICHEC, HEC Liège Brussels campus, and numerous specialised institutions. We have placed students at all of them.

Exceptional connectivity

Metro, tram, and bus network with a single integrated STIB pass. Brussels Midi connects to Paris in 1h22, London in 2h01, Amsterdam in 1h49. Cycling infrastructure across most neighbourhoods.

Well-regulated rental market

Belgian tenancy law provides clear protections for both tenants and landlords. Contracts, deposit rules, and notice periods are legally defined — no surprises.

Safe & structured municipality system

Every resident registers at their local commune within 8 working days. This registration underpins access to Belgian administrative services and is something we guide every student through personally.

Affordable relative to comparable capitals

Brussels offers a quality of life equivalent to Paris, Amsterdam, or Zurich at meaningfully lower cost of living — a key factor for students and families comparing European study destinations.

Student voices

What students and partners say.

★★★★★

"Arriving in Brussels without knowing anyone was daunting. Dirk had everything organised before I landed — the municipality registration, the keys, even a local SIM card recommendation. I felt settled within 48 hours."

YK
Yuki K.
🇯🇵 Japan · Master's student, ULB
★★★★★

"As an international office coordinator, I need a Brussels housing contact I can trust completely. Dirk provides the documentation my students need, communicates professionally, and never leaves them without support. He's irreplaceable."

SF
Sophie F.
🇫🇷 France · International Mobility Coordinator
★★★★★

"My parents were very worried about me living alone in Belgium. They called Dirk directly and within one conversation they were completely reassured. That kind of personal response to a family is rare."

AM
Amira M.
🇲🇦 Morocco · Erasmus student, VUB
Institutional partnerships

Built for the professionals who
support international mobility.

We work directly with universities, international offices, education agents, and relocation professionals. Our partnership model is designed to be simple, transparent, and genuinely useful — not just another vendor relationship.

Universities & international offices

We work alongside universities and international offices as a Brussels-based accommodation and onboarding partner — providing structured housing coordination for incoming students that aligns with your enrolment timelines and institutional communication standards.

  • Named coordination contact for your mobility or international team
  • Pre-arrival accommodation support aligned with your intake calendar
  • Structured onboarding communication throughout the student's stay
  • Ongoing support contact available for students during the tenancy
  • Partnership framework document available upon request

Education agents & recruitment agencies

Extend your Brussels offering with a reliable local accommodation and onboarding partner. We coordinate housing, pre-arrival communication, and practical settlement support — allowing you to focus on the client relationship while your students receive structured local coordination from day one.

  • Structured referral arrangements tailored to your workflow
  • Professional accommodation documentation for your client files
  • Clear, transparent communication with students and families
  • Flexible pre-arrival coordination packages
  • Consistent, dependable local follow-through in Brussels

Accommodation & pre-arrival support

We are familiar with the practical timelines and accommodation documentation often required when international students and professionals arrive in Belgium. We provide structured housing confirmation letters and pre-arrival coordination support to help ensure a smooth logistical transition — within our role as an accommodation and onboarding partner.

  • Accommodation confirmation letters for pre-arrival administrative use
  • Flexible documentation timelines aligned with arrival schedules
  • Direct onboarding communication with students and families
  • Practical pre-arrival coordination and settlement support

Brussels International Housing is an accommodation and onboarding coordination service. We are not a law firm, immigration consultancy, or legal advisory practice, and we do not provide immigration advice or guarantee any administrative or visa outcomes.

Relocation & HR professionals

For corporate relocations, EU institution placements, and professional transitions to Brussels, we offer structured accommodation coordination and practical onboarding support that goes well beyond a standard property transaction.

  • Professional welcome, orientation, and local settlement support
  • Practical guidance regarding municipality registration procedures
  • Clear documentation and communication for corporate files
  • Flexible accommodation terms suited to trainee and assignment timelines
Frequently asked questions

Everything institutional partners
and students need to know.

Yes. We can provide a formal accommodation confirmation letter stating the student's reserved address in Brussels and the terms of their housing arrangement. This type of document is commonly requested as part of pre-arrival administrative preparation. We work flexibly within student arrival timelines and can coordinate with the student's university or international office where helpful. Brussels International Housing is an accommodation and onboarding service — we are not an immigration consultancy or legal advisory practice, and cannot advise on or guarantee any administrative or visa outcomes. Students with questions about visa or permit requirements should consult their institution or a qualified immigration professional.
Every person living in Belgium must register at their local commune (municipality) within 8 working days of arrival. This registration is required by Belgian law and provides access to administrative services, public health coverage registration, and — for students requiring a Belgian residence permit — the official residence card. We guide every student through this process personally: what documents to bring, which commune office to visit, what to expect, and how to follow up. It is part of our standard onboarding, not an extra service.
We recommend contacting us at least 6–8 weeks before the intended arrival date for most cases. For students with longer administrative preparation timelines — such as those requiring pre-arrival accommodation documentation — 10–12 weeks is advisable. For late enquiries (under 4 weeks), we do our best to find solutions — but availability is not guaranteed. Institutional partners who work with us regularly can benefit from advance availability planning for their upcoming intakes.
Yes. All quoted rental prices include utilities (electricity, water, heating), Wi-Fi internet, building maintenance charges, and our onboarding and support service. Students do not receive unexpected bills for utilities. The only costs not included are personal expenses such as groceries, transport, and optional services. We are explicit about this in writing before any agreement is finalised.
Absolutely. Many parents — particularly from Asia, the Middle East, and South America — contact us directly before their child's arrival and appreciate speaking with a named person rather than a platform. We are happy to take a brief call or respond to email enquiries from families. We can confirm the property, explain the support structure, and reassure families that their child will have a real local contact throughout their stay. This is something we consider part of the service, not an inconvenience.
We maintain a technical team for maintenance and repairs across our managed properties. Students report issues directly to us — not to a distant property owner — and we coordinate the response. For urgent issues (heating failure, water damage, security), we have a dedicated emergency contact. Standard maintenance requests are acknowledged within 24 hours and resolved within a timeframe appropriate to the urgency of the issue.
Yes. For institutional partners — particularly universities and international offices — we can provide a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or partnership agreement that outlines the terms of our collaboration, response time commitments, documentation standards, and communication protocols. This gives your institution a professional framework for recommending us to incoming students and provides a documented basis for the partnership. Please contact us to discuss.
Brussels is a large, cosmopolitan European capital with all the variation that implies. The neighbourhoods where our properties are located are well-connected, well-served by public transport, and appropriate for student and young professional living. We specifically avoid placing students in isolated or poorly connected locations. As part of our onboarding, we brief every new arrival on neighbourhood orientation, local safety awareness, and emergency contacts. We have been placing students in Brussels since 1998 and have extensive experience advising on neighbourhood choice for different profiles.
Get in touch

Let's give your students a confident start in Brussels.

Whether you represent a university international office, a student mobility programme, an education agency, or a relocation consultancy — we welcome the conversation. There is no obligation in an initial enquiry.

✉
☎
Phone & WhatsApp
+32 487 37 38 78
◎
Office address
Avenue Louise 85, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
⌚
Response commitment
We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours
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Request information
For students, parents, universities, and partner organisations.

We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. Your information is never shared with third parties.