Are you moving to the Netherlands soon as an expat, military personnel, student, or just because? In this blog, you can read about what you need to arrange, where you can go, and discover some useful links.
Moving to the Netherlands
Facts & Figures
Moving to a foreign country can be challenging. It is recommended to look into some facts and figures beforehand to prepare yourself and to make your arrival in the Netherlands as convenient as possible.
- Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands
- The Euro is the official currency in the Netherlands
- The national language is Dutch, but English is very common in the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands count over 17,5 million inhabitants
- There are currently around 200.000 expats living in the Netherlands
Main cities
Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands is the one with over 800.000 inhabitants. It is the biggest city in the Netherlands with the most employment opportunities. Amsterdam is followed by Rotterdam and The Hague as biggest and most convenient cities to work and live in. The Hague is extremely international and hosts tons of expats.
Check your visa requirements
Before moving to the Netherlands, there are a few things you should arrange.
As a European citizen, you can come to the Netherlands with a valid passport or travel ID. A certificate of lawful residence is needed in case you wish to stay for over three months.
For citizens from outside the EU a residence permit and a work permit is necessary, regardless of how long you wish to stay and work in the Netherlands.
Health
As soon as you arrive in the Netherlands, it is key to register at a Dutch health insurance. Especially when you are planning to stay longer than 4 months it is obligatory. It prevents you from high unexpected costs in the event of needing medical assistance. Even though your health insurance in your home country is still valid, you are obliged to have a Dutch one as well.
Opening a bank account
Before your arrival in the Netherlands you can already open a bank account. But things are certainly easier if you are already a client at a bank that is also available in the Netherlands. That’s one thing to keep things easier! Think of SNS, ING, ABN Amro and Rabobank, these are all banks where you can register as a foreign client before arriving. Anyway, when opening a bank account, it is necessary to have a residence in the Netherlands and a residence permit to show.
Daily life
Daily life in the Netherlands has so much to offer. The Dutch are very sociable, open and as soon as the weather is nice you can find them together on squares or nice terraces. Going out for drinks or dinner is not too cheap in the Netherlands, but not at all as expensive as Switzerland or Sweden for instance.
When it comes to making your way into town: Choose a bike!
Traveling with children
Are you planning to move abroad? Chances are that your family will be moving with you. Therefore it is very important to prepare your partner and children for the big move. You will have to find the right schooling solution, whether you go for regular schooling, home schooling or international schooling.
Useful links
Planning to move to the Netherlands for a short or longer term? Besides housing and furniture rental there are some major things to take into account before departing.
Below you can find interesting links to prepare your arrival in the Netherlands beforehand.
