Shared apartments, spare rooms and roommates in Antwerp

Are you thinking of going on an exchange programme to Antwerp but you are a little scared of completely alone upon your arrival? Don’t worry! For that same reason and other advantages, most international students choose to live in shared flats. With this type of accommodation, you will be accompanied from the moment you arrive in Antwerp since your flatmates will welcome you and help you integrate into the city easily.

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Antwerp

These are some of the pros and cons of living in a shared flat in the Belgian city:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Antwerp 

• Winter days are very short, the sun sets around 4 in the afternoon and comes out at 9 in the morning. This can affect your mood a lot, but living with roommates can surely lift your mood easily on those days when the weather is bringing you down.

• Antwerp receives a lot of expats and international students, so you will surely live in a multicultural and fun environment. One of the factors that attract young people is the high-security index that the city has.

• The rooms can be part of both apartments and kots, a typical Belgian building that stands out for being narrow and can have up to four floors.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Antwerp 

• Whether you live in a shared apartment or a kot, the only space you will have for yourself will be the room. The rest of the common areas (kitchen, living room, bathroom, etc.) are shared with the rest of the tenants.

• Normally, many of the shared apartments in Antwerp do not have a washing machine, so you will have to do your laundry somewhere nearby that offers this service.

Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Antwerp 

The apps for Erasmus+ are intended to make the exchange process simpler, both before, during and after it. For example, you will find that several students from previous years giving advice and recommendations, such as shopping at the Sunday markets to save on the cost of food, since it is usually cheaper than buying in supermarkets.

How to meet people in Antwerp

There are several ways to meet people in this Belgian city. Keep in mind the ones we mention below, in addition to organizing different activities with your roommates.

Student associations in Antwerp

As in several European cities, the most prominent student association is the ESN Antwerp. Volunteers help international students integrate easily through support and the organization of various activities. Some of them include soccer tournaments, international dinners, events in bars and clubs, excursions to nearby cities and even craft beer tasting (something you can’t not try in a Belgian city!).

Facebook groups for Erasmus in Antwerp 

In this case, the most prominent Facebook group for international students is also the ESN Antwerp group. In it, you will be able to see the calendar of planned activities, as well as ask any questions you have about life in Antwerp.

Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Antwerp 

Whatsapp groups have the purpose of making students contact each other directly, being able to meet each other and organize plans among yourselves.

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Antwerp

Keep in mind the following suggestions for living in a shared flat in the Belgian city:

• Students from previous years recommend that you rent or buy a second-hand bicycle to save money on public transport. Plus it's a fun way to get around town! Of course, try to get a spare room closer to downtown to be able to get there easily.

• In Antwerp, there are three official languages: French, German and Dutch. This can complicate the learning process of some of them, but the positive thing is that the locals usually speak English very well, so you will not have a problem communicating in any of those languages.

Frequently asked queries about sharing a flat in Antwerp

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