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The Netherlands is a small country sandwiched between Belgium and Germany in Western Europe. The North Sea, located to the north and west of the Netherlands, is continually battering the land.
The Netherlands is larger than the state of Maryland, but smaller than West Virginia.
The Dutch have a saying: “God made the Earth, but the Dutch made Holland.” The North Sea would have washed away the Netherlands if the Dutch had not erected defenses to protect their land. Over the centuries, the Dutch have built series of canals, dams, dikes, and pumping stations to keep the sea and rivers back.
You can apply for permanent residence in the Netherlands if you have been living there for five continuous years (less in certain cases) and meet other eligibility requirements. There are four different types of Dutch permanent residence permits (verblijfsvergunning onbepaalde tijd), all with similar entitlements, requirements, and application processes. These are:
The requirements for a permanent residence permit in the Netherlands are:
UK nationals already living in the Netherlands can apply for a permanent residence permit under the terms of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. They must meet the following conditions:
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.
Family members need to meet the same requirements for a permanent residence permit in the Netherlands. In other words, they will need to have lived in the Netherlands for the required period. If they are not an EU/EFTA citizen, and neither is their family member, they must be sufficiently integrated and have a minimum income (unless they are a dependent child under 18). Family members need to make their own applications and pay separate fees.
The following relatives can apply for permanent residence as family members of EU/EFTA citizens or UK nationals under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement terms. This means that they pay lower fees and also have to meet fewer requirements:
They will need to provide proof of relationship, such as a marriage or birth certificate.
The Dutch authorities can only revoke your permanent residence if you:
The amount of time you can leave the Netherlands without returning depends on your permanent residence permit type:
If you leave the Netherlands for a continuous period longer than this, the authorities will no longer consider the Netherlands to be your main residence, and they may withdraw your permit. You can reapply once you become eligible again, for example, after living in the Netherlands for another five years.
Here are some pros and cons of living in the Netherlands:
| Pros of Living in the Netherlands | Cons of Living in the Netherlands |
| Beautiful scenery and amazing architecture. | Expensive cities and living conditions. |
| Ability to work part-time. | Hard to find a job due to the competition. |
| Many jobs offer working from the comfort of your own home. | High population number. |
| Low crime rates. | High tax payment system. |
| Highly experienced doctors and nurses. | Expensive health care system. |
| Cycling system and no air pollution. | Stores close too early. |
| Balance of work and life. | Work visas are hard to obtain. |
| Dutch people speak English perfectly. | Dutch-speaking communities may make you feel left out. |
| A month of paid vacation. | High credit card interest rates. |
Yes, you can, but you must first obtain a temporary residence permit. This permit is valid for up to five years. If you have continuously lived in the Netherlands with the temporary residence permit for five years, you are allowed to apply for a Dutch permanent residence permit.
There are lots of opportunities for expats to work in the Netherlands. The country is home to a wide range of international and multinational companies; Dutch internationals alone include ING Group, Royal Dutch Shell Group, Unilever, Philips, and Heineken. There’s also plenty of recruitment agencies aimed at placing foreign workers in jobs in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has a relatively stable economy backed by plenty of foreign investment encouraged by advantageous tax conditions. The country also has a diverse, well-educated population, almost 24% of whom are foreign or ethnic minorities.
There are a number of thriving and growing job sectors in the Netherlands. These include agriculture and food, creative industries, chemicals, energy, IT, health and life sciences, logistics and the service industry.
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.
Finding a job in the Netherlands as an expat might be hard, but it is still possible. The easiest city to find a job in as an expat is Amsterdam. Amsterdam is booming with international companies and businesses and they are always looking to hire foreigners. As of 2022, the jobs that are currently in demand in the Netherlands are:
According to Numbeo, the average monthly net salary in the Netherlands is just over €2,341 a month.
Highest monthly starting salaries are for dentistry (€4,000) and pharmacy (€3,300). Lowest starting salaries for skilled positions are dance and music (€1,200) and visual art and design (€1,300).
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:
