Question 1

What is OpenHospi?

Accepted Answer

OpenHospi is a free, open-source platform where students in the Netherlands can find and list rooms. It connects students looking for a room with houses looking for a new housemate, through the traditional Dutch hospiteren process.

Question 2

Who can use OpenHospi?

Accepted Answer

Only verified students at Dutch universities and hogescholen. You log in with your institutional account, so every user is a real student.

Question 3

Is OpenHospi available outside the Netherlands?

Accepted Answer

Currently, OpenHospi is only available for students at Dutch educational institutions with institutional login. We may expand in the future.

Question 4

Is OpenHospi affiliated with any university or company?

Accepted Answer

No. OpenHospi is an independent, community-driven open-source project. It was started by a student and is not owned or operated by any university, company, or housing corporation.

Question 5

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click 'Log in with your institution' and sign in with your university or hogeschool account. Your account is created automatically. No separate registration needed.

Question 6

Why can I only log in with my institution?

Accepted Answer

Institutional verification ensures every user is a real, verified student. This prevents fake profiles, scams, and non-students from using the platform.

Question 7

What happens when I graduate?

Accepted Answer

When your institution deactivates your account, you'll no longer be able to log in. Any active room listings will be automatically paused.

Question 8

Can I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can delete your account and all associated data from your profile settings at any time. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.

Question 9

How do I apply for a room?

Accepted Answer

Browse available rooms, find one you like, and send a personal message to the house explaining why you'd be a good fit. If they're interested, they'll invite you for hospiteren.

Question 10

What is hospiteren?

Accepted Answer

Hospiteren is the traditional Dutch way of finding housemates. The house invites candidates for a visit: you meet the current housemates, see the room, and both sides decide if it's a good match.

Question 11

Can I filter rooms by city, price, or other criteria?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can filter rooms by city, price range, room size, availability date, and house type to find exactly what you're looking for.

Question 12

Do all students get the same visibility?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There are no premium placements or paid boosts. Every student's application is treated equally. No one can pay to get ahead.

Question 13

How do I list a room?

Accepted Answer

Log in, create your house profile with photos and details, then publish your room listing. Verified students across the Netherlands can see it immediately.

Question 14

Can I share my listing on social media?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every room gets a unique public link you can share on Instagram, WhatsApp, or anywhere else. Anyone can view the listing, but only verified students can apply.

Question 15

How many rooms can I list?

Accepted Answer

You can list one room per house at a time. If you have multiple rooms available, you can create separate listings for each.

Question 16

Can I pause or remove my listing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can pause your listing to temporarily hide it, or remove it entirely when the room is filled. You're always in control.

Question 17

Are my messages encrypted?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All chat messages on OpenHospi are end-to-end encrypted (E2EE), including group conversations. Not even OpenHospi can read your messages, only you and the other members of your conversation.

Question 18

Does OpenHospi use trackers or sell my data?

Accepted Answer

No. We don't use third-party trackers, analytics cookies, or sell your data to anyone. Your privacy is fundamental to how we operate.

Question 19

How do I report inappropriate behavior?

Accepted Answer

You can report or block any user directly from their profile or chat. Reports are reviewed by our team and we act quickly. You can also email abuse@openhospi.nl.

Question 20

How does OpenHospi protect against scams?

Accepted Answer

Every user is verified by their institution, so you always know you're dealing with a real student. Combined with E2E encrypted chat and easy reporting, we make it very hard for bad actors.

Question 21

Is OpenHospi really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 100% free. No hidden fees, no premium plans, no ads. OpenHospi will never be freemium or pay-to-win.

Question 22

How is the platform funded?

Accepted Answer

OpenHospi is currently self-funded by its founder. We are actively looking for donors and sponsors to help cover infrastructure costs. All contributions will be managed transparently via Open Collective.

Question 23

Will there ever be paid features?

Accepted Answer

No. We believe finding student housing should be fair and equal. No student will ever have to pay to use the platform, get more visibility, or access features that others can't.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Account & Verification

Finding a Room

Listing a Room

Safety & Privacy

Costs & Payments

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