Furnishing an unfurnished room for under €300

The three words

• Gemeubileerd (furnished): bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, usually curtains and lamps. Move in with a suitcase.
• Gestoffeerd (semi-furnished): floor, curtains, lamps. No furniture.
• Kaal (bare): nothing, sometimes not even a floor. Check the photos, and check if the previous tenant will sell you their stuff (overname). That's often the best deal in the country.

Cheapest first

1. Overname from the previous tenant. Ask in your first message (Casa's template does). €100 to €300 for a whole room is normal.
2. Marktplaats, Facebook Marketplace and the "weggeefhoek". Students leaving in June and July give away entire rooms. Bring a friend with a cargo bike.
3. Kringloop (thrift stores). Every city has several. A desk for €15, a chair for €5, plates for nothing.
4. New, delivered tomorrow. For the stuff you don't want used: mattress, bedding, a lamp. bol.com delivers next day to your door; IKEA delivers within a few days and is cheapest for the frame and the mattress.

The €300 list

Second-hand bed frame €40, new mattress €90 to €130, bedding €35, desk €20, chair €15, lamp €15, curtain rail and curtains €30 (if kaal), kettle €15, plates and cutlery from the kringloop €10. Done.

Before you drill anything

Ask the landlord. Holes in the wall are the second most common deposit deduction after "cleaning". Command strips and a standing lamp instead.

Order the basics, delivered tomorrow

Partner link. Costs you nothing, helps keep Casa free.