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The Netherlands, often called “Holland. Netherlands is famous for its iconic windmills, vibrant tulip fields, picturesque canals, rich cultural heritage, and cities like Amsterdam, known for its canals, art, and history.
The Netherlands is often considered a good place to work and settle due to its strong economy, high quality of life, and emphasis on work-life balance, with many expats citing these factors as appealing. the Netherlands saw a total of roughly 20.3 million inbound tourist arrivals, recovering from the pandemic’s impact and exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The Netherlands is considered a safe country, and serious crime is rare. However, pickpocketing and petty theft are more common, particularly in tourist regions and around major transport hubs such as train stations and airports.
In the Netherlands, permanent residence grants the right to live and work indefinitely, similar to citizenship, after meeting specific conditions, including legal and continuous residence for five years, having a valid residence permit, and meeting certain financial and integration requirements.
The requirements for a permanent residence permit in the Netherlands are:
UK nationals living in the Netherlands before January 1, 2021, can apply for a permanent residence document based on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, allowing them to live and work in the Netherlands indefinitely.
Permanent residence in the Netherlands is unlimited. This means that your permanent residence won’t expire, and you won’t lose it as long as you don’t break the conditions of your permit. However, the permits themselves have an expiration date, and you’ll need to renew it when it expires, as you’ll still need it to re-enter the Netherlands if you leave for a short period.
Dutch permanent residence permits are valid for five years or 10 years in the case of EU/EFTA permits for adults over 18.
Who Can Apply?
1. Spouse/Registered Partner: You can apply for a residence permit to join a Dutch national or someone with a valid residence permit.
2. Children under 18: Dependent children can also apply to join their parents or guardians.
In the Netherlands, permanent residence rights can be lost if you leave the country for more than two continuous years, commit a serious crime, or if the Dutch government revokes your Dutch nationality for specific reasons.
Reasons for Losing Permanent Residence Rights:
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) assumes you have moved your permanent residence if you’ve been outside the Netherlands for more than two continuous years.
If you commit a serious crime that is considered a threat to public order and national security, your permanent residence permit can be revoked.
The Dutch government can revoke your Dutch nationality in specific circumstances, such as if you committed fraud to become a Dutch national, or if you serve voluntarily in a foreign army against the Netherlands or its allies.
As a rule, you lose Dutch citizenship if you voluntarily acquire citizenship of another country, unless certain exceptions apply.
| High Quality of Life | The Netherlands consistently ranks high in terms of quality of life, with good education, healthcare, and social security systems. |
| Strong Economy & Job Opportunities | The Netherlands has a robust economy and offers job opportunities in various industries, particularly for skilled workers. |
| Welcoming Culture & Expansive Expat Community | The Dutch are known for being open-minded and welcoming to foreigners, and there’s a large expat community to help you integrate. |
| Excellent Public Transportation | The Netherlands has a well-developed and efficient public transportation system, making it easy to get around. |
| Safe and Tolerant | The Netherlands is a safe and tolerant country, with a low crime rate and a high degree of social acceptance. |
| Good Work-Life Balance | Dutch people are known for achieving a good work-life balance, with shorter working hours than in many other countries. |
| English is Widely Spoken | English is widely spoken, making it easier for expats to integrate and find jobs. |
| Cycling Culture | The Netherlands is a cycling nation, and you’ll find it easy to get around by bike |
| Thriving Entrepreneurial Scene | The Netherlands has a thriving entrepreneurial scene, making it a good place to start a business or work in a dynamic environment. |
| Rich Culture & History | The Netherlands is rich in culture and history, with many museums, historical sites, and festivals to explore. |
Working in the Netherlands can be appealing due to a strong economy, high English proficiency, good work-life balance, and a welcoming, inclusive society, but also requires adapting to a new tax system and a direct communication style.
The Dutch job market is generally considered:
1. Strong Employment Rate: The Netherlands boasts a high employment rate, exceeding the EU average.
2. Low Unemployment: The unemployment rate is relatively low, considered moderately low on a worldwide scale.
3. Labor Shortage: A significant labor shortage exists, especially in high-demand sectors like IT, engineering, and healthcare, leading to a competitive landscape for skilled professionals.
4. High Demand for Skilled Workers: The scarcity of talent is driving employers to increase their recruitment efforts and offer attractive employment packages.
5. Part-Time and Flexible Work: The Dutch labor market is known for a large share of part-time and flexible work arrangements.
6. International Talent: The Netherlands attracts and retains international students and professionals, contributing to a multilingual and highly educated workforce.
7. In-Demand Tech Jobs: Tech vacancies are high, with roles like software developers, data analysts, and UX designers in high demand.
8. Focus on Green Skills: Given the country’s ambitious climate agenda, green skills are also in high demand.
9. Focus on Retaining Talent: Recruitment strategies should now focus on not only attracting but also retaining top talent by offering innovative and appealing employment packages.
10. Visa Requirements: For international professionals, the Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) visa is often the best option.
Highly-skilled workers in the Netherlands are in great demand, so much so that there’s a fast-track immigration process to get them in. There are also tax benefits (the 30% tax ruling) for some international employees.
This group includes engineers, those with technical skills, IT specialists, those working in finance, as well as people with experience of working in sales, marketing, and customer service.
Other in-demand jobs in the Netherlands include professionals and graduates working in health care, tax, interim managers and education.
1. Software Developers
2. Data Analysts
3. ICT & Security Specialists
4. DevOps Engineers
5. Data Science Consultants
6. Agri & Food
7. Energy & CleanTech
8. Life Science & Health
9. Logistics & Infrastructure
10. Maritime
11. Horticulture
12. HR Specialists and Recruiters
13. Project Management Specialists
14. Financial Controllers
15. Human Resource Business Partners
16. Customer Service Representatives
Job salaries in the Netherlands can be considered good, especially for skilled professionals,
Average Salary
1. Gross Annual: Approximately €44,000.
2. Gross Monthly: Around €3,666.
3. Hourly: €22.54.
Minimum Wage
1. Hourly (21+): €14.06.
2. Monthly (full-time, 21+): €2,437.07.
The Dutch usually work a 36-40-hour week, sometimes spread over just four days. In general, work in the Netherlands is very well-structured within organizations. Most work happens during normal working hours (i.e., between 9am and 5pm), although out of hours and shift-work is also common. Unless at managerial level, employees are not typically expected to work overtime.
Dutch society is relatively egalitarian and this translates into the workplace. In fact, Dutch companies often have a horizontal organizational structure and they usually follow step-by-step plans.
Dutch labor laws are quite extensive and tend to favor the employee, especially when it comes to dismissal. Your contract should specify the full details of your contract including the length of the contract, employee rights, and work conditions.
Labor agreements in several Dutch industries have been drawn up as a result of collective labor agreements (collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst – CAO). Employees can benefit from these even if they do not belong to a union.
If you’re from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA – EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), or Switzerland, you are free to live and work in the Netherlands without the need for a work or residence permit.
However, you will need to register with the Dutch authorities. Read about the process for EU/EEA/Swiss citizen moving to the Netherlands.
If you’re from anywhere else, your employer will typically need a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you, and you must also hold a residence permit.
Most employees will qualify for the single work and residence permit in the Netherlands, although some categories of people, such as students in the Netherlands and seasonal workers in the Netherlands, still need separate work and residence permits. Others, such as highly-skilled workers in the Netherlands and holders of the EU Blue Card, only need residence permits, not work permits.
To apply for a Dutch work visa you must:
