By Deborah Valentine
Those of us who have been living in the Netherlands for a while, have noted with sadness the number of international students starting their studies, without yet having a place to live. Each year, the lack of available accommodation for these students becomes painfully apparent. We were therefore delighted with the evolution of at least three, grassroots, peer-to-peer initiatives which arose simultaneously in three different parts of the country to address this need. Students, international and Dutch, coming together with recent graduates, academic institutions and others, to find ways of ensuring that students have a place to rest their head – and have a smoother start to their academic year.