Work permits

One of the most important steps you can take is ensuring you have all the relevant documents in advance. If you come from a country where a permission to work in The Netherlands is required, take into consideration that it may take some weeks or months before the permission comes through. 

Residents of EU countries can work in The Netherlands without applying for any kind of permit in advance, but if they stay more than three months then they are legally required to register with the IND (immigration department) and obtain an EU residence sticker in their passports.  Read Expatica article Dutch immigration and residency regulations and also check the IND web-site for updates in the English language www.ind.nl. 

All other nationalities need the IND’s permission before they can work in The Netherlands. There are various ways this consent can be granted, but one of the most common forms is to apply under the ‘Knowledge Migrant’ scheme. If you do need permission to work here, then it is important to do the research and ensure you apply for the most appropriate type of permit.

“Many people think that they always need a work permit and have never heard of the Knowledge Migrant procedure,” says Linda van Santen of Personal Relocations. “Coming in as a Knowledge Migrant makes things much faster and easier.  Or else they do the total opposite and think they don’t need to do anything at all.   They don’t think about legalising their documents, and come totally unprepared.” 

 Take a dream and fly away

If you need consent to work in or enter the Netherlands, please remember that you should not arrive or book flights before this has been granted.   The process can sometimes take longer than anticipated, and you may be refused entry if you do not have the correct stickers in your passport, or arrive here and not yet be legally able to start work.

“There are simply too many possible legal constructions depending on personal and business situations, my advice is to seek professional help to not get lost in Dutch bureaucracy and time-consuming red tape,” says Van Santen.

Documents

Check which documents you will need and apply for these in advance.

Depending on your nationality, legalised copies of your birth and marriage certificates may be needed to process your work or entry permit application. All residents of the Netherlands including children must be registered at their local town-halls (gemeente), at which time they should provide a copy of their birth certificate, with a legalisation stamp not more than six months old. Depending on where you live, you may be able to partially register without the legalised copy, but they will ask you to come back at a later date and provide it. They do not un-register you if you don't provide the legalised copy, but it would prevent you from carrying out certain tasks such as purchasing a house or getting married at a later date. Married couples, who wish to be registered as such, are also required to provide a legalised copy of their marriage certificate.

The term legalisation simply means verifying that a document is genuine. If your certificate was issued by a country which signed the 1961 Hague Convention then the legalisation stamp is referred to as an 'apostille' and should be relatively straightforward to arrange. Legalised certificates issued by some countries such as the UK can be ordered by phone or on-line, although it can take several weeks for these to arrive. Other nationals are required to apply to their local town-halls in person, so even if the certificate is not required for your work or residence permit, it is still advisable to arrange it before leaving your home country. Please also take into account that your certificate may also need to be translated by a registered official, and that this translation may also require legal verification.

Another document which you may need translated is your driver's licence. All drivers in the Netherlands are obliged to carry their driver's licence with them, and the police do sometimes carry out spot checks. Licences issued outside The Netherlands are only valid for a limited time, and if you intend driving over here then you should check your licences validity. At time of writing, licences issued in the member states of the EU and EEA were valid for 10 years only – irrespective of a possible later  expiry date - from their date of issue but licences from most other countries only for 6 months after the driver has registered as living in The Netherlands. Some drivers can simply exchange their licence for a Dutch one, but others will be required to take a driving test. The Dutch authorities consider an International Driving Licence or Permit to be a translated version of your original licence, and therefore only valid for the same period as the licence it replaces; these licences render the holder no entitlement at all to drive after having been registered as a resident within The Netherlands in the database of a (local) municipality.

Check your rights and benefits

It may seem obvious, but check your expat package, your employment contract and your rights.

“Employees should realise that simply making a comparison of their salary back home with what they will get in The Netherlands is not enough,” says Jack De Groot of Employee Benefits consulting specialist Novus Consulting.    “It is important that expatriates understand their benefits which form an important part of the terms of their employment, in accordance with the market.”

Many expats in the Netherlands benefit from the 30 percent tax ruling. This was designed to encourage internationals to work in Holland and those who are eligible do not pay taxes on the first 30 percent of their income. Do not assume however that this ruling will automatically be applied in your case. Not everyone is entitled to it, and your employer needs to apply for the ruling and certain requirements must be met. If you are not eligible to receive this benefit, then make allowance for it and the Dutch levels of tax when negotiating your package.

There are some other benefits to living and working in The Netherlands. Most employees including expats who live a certain distance from their work can expect to get their transport costs to and from work paid for them. This amount is paid on top of their basic salary.  Check what happens with your pension contributions back home, and how much will be deducted from your salary here in The Netherlands.

In the current economic climate, it is also advisable to find out what will happen should your contract in The Netherlands end unexpectedly early. Will your employer pay for your relocation and removal costs back to your country of origin? Or if you decide to stay, will the terms of your work permit allow you to remain in Holland until such time as you find a new job. Will your employer provide you with any severance pay, or contribute towards the rent of your apartment. Or will they cover outgoings and costs of any other contracts you may be tied into?

Schools

If you have school-age children and wish them to attend one of the international schools, then you do need to contact the schools as early as possible. Classes can get filled very much in advance, and you may find your preferred school has a waiting list for certain age groups. This is also true of pre-schools, and it is advisable to get your kids onto any waiting lists as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Housing

Finding accommodation in the Netherlands can take some time and is not always as straightforward or easy as in other cities.   Many people coming to Amsterdam and the larger cities in particular are surprised by how high the rent is compared to some other places in Europe.  If you base your budget around what you pay in your home country, then you may set it too low and will find it extremely difficult to find somewhere meeting your requirements. This is also something you need to take into consideration when negotiating your employment package and salary.

“Finding an apartment for less than EUR 1500 euro per month in Amsterdam is very difficult because of the point system,” says Maaike van den Broek of Crown Relocations in the Netherlands.   “This can be quite disappointing for people who have a lower budget and are therefore forced to focus on places outside of Amsterdam.”

If you are lucky enough to have a relocation agent, listen to their advice. Their job is to assist you, and they do know the rules and regulations.   Many Dutch cities such as Amsterdam have a regulated market, limiting the number of properties available to expats and increasing the rents.   It is important you set yourself a realistic housing budget based on market conditions, and properties legally avail to expatriates.   Your Dutch colleagues might seem surprised at the rent you are planning to pay, and may advise you that you should be able to find something cheaper. But there are often restrictions preventing newcomers from renting lower cost properties and you could run into problems if you do rent something which does not meet the necessary legal requirements.

These could range from being unable to register at your new home to being asked by the local authorities to leave with no legal rights since you were not legally living in the property in the first place. Many private adverts specifically state that you cannot register at a specific address. Although this can work for the short-term, be aware that not registering can create other difficulties. If you have personal items shipped from outside the EU for instance, you may not be able to prove your residence and this could delay your belongings clearing customs. You will also not be able to prove your address for things like internet connection, mobile phone contracts, health insurance, registration with the IND (immigration department) or any social security benefits or tax rebates.

A relocation agent will be able to put you in touch with reputable agents, but can also advise you if any you may have found independently have a negative reputation. If you have specific requirements such as outside space or no stairs, then ensure any agents you work with are aware of this at the outset. You should also take into account factors such as local parking facilities since in Amsterdam specifically parking can be difficult with a waiting list of 5 years in some parts of the city for a permit. Once you have all the facts, you can then decide whether to proceed with a particular agent or property.

Check contracts

Once you find a property, check any tenancy agreements and the terms of your lease thoroughly. Most expats insist on a 'diplomatic clause', and if your landlord/lady is used to renting his property to the non-Dutch market then he/she should expect you to ask for this especially in the current economic climate. A diplomatic clause gives you the opportunity to terminate your tenancy by including a stated period of notice, should you either lose your job or be required to work more than 50 kilometres away from the property. If the clause is not included then you may not be able to terminate your lease early if one of these situations were to arise. Please be aware however that this clause does not allow you to terminate should your situation change for any other reason, like for instance a new baby arrives or you make the decision to buy a home.

Setting up home

If you find a property with a rent including utilities, check what is included and what is not. Inclusive rents usually include a payment for your gas and electricity and cleaning of any communal areas, but often you are required to pay your taxes to the gemeente (town hall), plus water rates, telephone, cable TV and internet yourself. Make sure you have allowed for these additional expenses when negotiating your contract.

When you sign up to contracts such as the internet, for a mobile phone or gym membership, then make sure you check the terms and any small print. Some contracts offer you a reduced price for the first six months after which time your monthly amount will increase. Alternatively, you may find that the contract automatically renews itself at a higher price at the end of your original term unless you give notice to terminate. If you were to leave town you can usually terminate this agreement by providing proof you have been de-registered with the local authorities, but otherwise these contracts can be quite complicated to end. If you only intend staying in Holland for a limited time, check for minimum contract term first to avoid any arguments at a later date.

Patience

Please also be aware that it can take longer than you are used to for things to happen.   One example of this is waiting for connections such as the internet to be set up. This is just the way it is, and you may find it frustrating when phoning the internet company or calling into their shop does not hurry things up. Sometimes you just need to be patient and let the companies get on with it. If they tell you that connection will take 3-6 weeks, then you may instead be in for a pleasant surprise if they do manage to hook your line up sooner!

“Americans especially get annoyed with the lack of service in the Netherlands,” says Linda van Santen of Personal Relocation.  “But it’s just a different attitude. In the US there’s always a sales-rep on your back the moment you enter a store, or a nice smiling waitress to ask if you want a refill.  In the Netherlands, they don’t do this. When you need help, you ask for help, when your glass is empty you call the waitress yourself. This Dutch attitude always causes a culture shock.”
 
Making friends

Arriving in a new country where you have no existing support networks can be daunting, but there are lots of ways you can make friends in The Netherlands.

There are many different types of networking groups (see Expatica's Groups and clubs listings) active in The Netherlands. Some have been set up specific to location, whilst others are based on nationality, common interest of gender. Some suggested examples are the following:

•    Access – an organisation offering free advice and support to internationals living in The Netherlands (www.access-nl.org)
•    The American Women’s Club (www.fawco.org) who have branches in Amsterdam and The Hague
•    The British Society of Amsterdam (www.britishsocietyofamsterdam.org)
•    French listings and discussion forum (www.leforum.nl)
•    The German Netherlands Society (www.deutsch-nl-verein.nl)

There are also many sports clubs or other associations with a mixed Dutch and international membership. If you have an existing hobby such as indoor-climbing, horse-riding or archery for instance, there are opportunities for you to continue with this in The Netherlands. The MeetUp network (www.meetup.com) is a good place to find other internationals as well as Dutch citizens who may share your interests or live in your area.
It’s worth noting that a number of organisations are aimed specifically at singles. Expatica operates a dating section, and arranges singles evenings specifically for the expat community. Check out Expatica’s dating site to meet other international singles in your neighbourhood. Other online dating agencies operating in The Netherlands include Lexa and RelatiePlanet, both of which have options to register in English and attracting non-Dutch members. Flitsdate arranges singles evenings across The Netherlands, and advise that because of the way their events are organised, expat professionals would only be attending events with other professionals whose level of English would be sufficient to ensure an enjoyable evening.

Learn Dutch

Everyone in The Netherlands may speak good English, but if you are planning on staying here long-term then you will find it easier to integrate into Dutch society if you do learn the language. Your Dutch contacts will be happy speaking to you in English in initially, but if you do not make the effort to learn their language after a while they may start asking you why not. If you have mainly Dutch colleagues, you will also find it easier to integrate and join in conversations if you have at least a basic grasp of some Dutch words since after a while they will cease speaking English and lapse back into their native tongue.

Language classes can also be a good place to make friends with others with whom you have something in common, even if it is just the wish to learn a language. Once you have some basic words, you can then socialise further with other internationals wishing to improve their language skills. The MeetUp network for example have an Amsterdam group who meet once or twice per month to practice speaking Dutch: http://dutch.meetup.com/160/

Get a bike

It may seem one of the most obvious things, but get a bike! Almost everyone in the Netherlands cycles and it is one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around. Bus and tram lines do not always run where you want them to, and if you are out late then you may find they have stopped running by the time you want to leave. Plus, a bike will help you find your way around, keep you fit and assist you with integrating in society.

Enjoy the challenge and accept the differences

The final and perhaps the best tip I can offer is to accept that life in the Netherlands may be different to what you are used to at home, but enjoy it.

Van Santen always advises her clients to see their relocation to the Netherlands as an adventure, a challenge, something that gives them the opportunity to broaden their horizons.  “Things are not necessarily better or worse compared to your home country but different, so new arrivals, give it a chance!”

Remember, rules and regulations do change, and therefore it is advisable to check articles such as regarding any of the legal information contained in this article.

Photo credits: bslmmrs; e³°°°; Design and Technology Student; Giorgio Tomassetti