Life as an expat in the Netherlands

Update 12/16/2025

When you think of working and living in the Netherlands as an expat, you probably think of tulips, the canal and bike rides. Although all these things are typically Dutch, the Netherlands have much more to offer than that, especially for expats. A lot of multinationals – even their headquarters - are located in the The Netherlands. Next to that, many diplomats find a (temporary) job and home in the Netherlands, think of the embassies in The Hague for example.

But how does this work? (Temporarily) living as an expat in the Netherlands?

Every country comes with a few challenges for expats. For instance the obligatory admin, paperwork, regulations and of course finding a suitable place to stay, whether or not furnished.

Read all about working and living in the Netherlands below!
 

Both professionally and privately there are tons of opportunities for expats in the Netherlands. Of course it could be good to know in advance what to expect concerning work life and work culture. For instance the Dutch being hardworking people who are very direct, also when it comes to communication. As a foreign worker, you will notice the ‘down-to-earth’ atmosphere in the workplace. And last but not least you will perceive that there is no fixed hierarchy in most companies, which could be very strange compared to some cultures.

All those things mentioned above could be useful to know if you are planning your expat adventure to the Netherlands. If you like to work hard and tend to appreciate a good work-life balance, you will feel at home very soon.

Buying a place in the Netherlands

Even if you are planning to stay a bit longer in the Netherlands, buying a property would still not be worth the money. Especially in the capital city buying a place is a real challenge, especially as a foreign worker. There are conditions to fulfil and applying for a loan is a real challenge.

Furnishing your place

For expats, furnishing a complete house or apartment means high costs, so renting furniture or renting a furnished place could be a good solution. 

Luckily for you, the Netherlands are familiar with the concept of furnished accommodation. Another interesting solution for furnishing your temporary home is renting furnishment and appliances. Thanks to the international character of the country, this concept is well-known as well. It allows you to choose your own furnishment style and keep everything as long as needed. Furnishing your home with rentals is an interesting and cost-efficient way to make your temporary house a real home!