Study or working abroad: Spain, the Netherlands, and France are top destinations for Germans in 2024

This is the English version of a German press release. Read here the original content

• HousingAnywhere releases its annual review of the most popular destinations for users located in Germany looking for accommodation abroad.
• Properties in Spain, the Netherlands, and France were the most sought-after, while the USA, Hungary, and the Czech Republic gained significant popularity compared to 2023.
• New year, fresh start? January usually sees a surge in activity, with 30% to 40% more users compared to December.

Rotterdam, 19 December 2024 – Whether for a semester abroad, an internship, or as a stepping stone before permanent relocation, Spain and the Netherlands remain top choices for Germans seeking mid-term accommodation abroad. These findings come from an annual review conducted by HousingAnywhere, a platform specializing in mid-term rentals of six to twelve months for students and young professionals. In 2024, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Austria ranked as the most popular destinations among German users planning to relocate.

See datawrapper here.

In 2024, Spain claimed the top spot as the most popular destination for mid-term stays, with 15.9% of users located in Germany looking for accommodation abroad via HousingAnywhere. The Netherlands, which led in 2023 with 19.2%, dropped to second place in 2024 with 13.9%. France secured third place with 10.7%, followed by Italy (9.9%) and Austria (8.8%).

Interest in the USA surged, with 195.2% more German users searching for housing there in 2024 compared to 2023. Hungary followed with a 33.9% increase, while the Czech Republic saw a 33% rise. The United Kingdom (26.4%) and Greece (12.1%) also registered notable growth.

Conversely, the Netherlands saw the largest decline, with 27.4% fewer users searching for housing compared to 2023.

HousingAnywhere consistently observes a significant increase in user activity in January, with past years showing a 30% to 40% rise compared to December. January represents the second-highest peak in user activity annually, with the top peak occurring in the Summer. Both spikes are largely driven by students preparing for upcoming semesters abroad.

Djordy Seelmann, CEO of HousingAnywhere:

“Our annual review highlights that Spain, the Netherlands, and France remain top destinations for German users planning to move abroad. Spain’s attractive climate, the Netherlands’ innovative and international job market, and France’s cultural diversity and professional networks in art and fashion make it particularly appealing to students and young professionals. We’re also seeing exciting growth in interest in the USA, particularly following HousingAnywhere’s expansion into key US cities in 2023.”

About the data

The data is based on a sample of 1,001,295 unique users with IP addresses in Germany who searched for housing outside of Germany via HousingAnywhere in 2023 and 2024.

About HousingAnywhere

HousingAnywhere is Europe’s largest mid-term rental platform. With Kamernet and Studapart under its umbrella, it represents three fast-growing brands with over 30 million yearly unique visitors combined, 160,000+ properties available for rent and 100,000+ tenants securing their new homes, based on the 2023 performance. HousingAnywhere serves young professionals and students, primarily aged between 18 and 35, connecting them with accommodation providers. Through its advanced technology platform, tenants rent accommodation for 6 to 12 months outside of their country of origin. Headquartered in Rotterdam, HousingAnywhere operates in most European cities and recently expanded to key cities in the US, establishing a presence in over 125 cities. Driven by the mission to enable people to live wherever and however they choose thanks to a flexible renting experience, the technology scale-up employs 250 professionals globally.

Press Contact

For more information, please contact press@housinganywhere.com. For more reports, go to the press page.