Expat' resources for the Netherlands

It may not be necessary to bring everything with you when you move to Holland. There are a lot of stores in the country where you can buy everything that you might need for modern life. The question you have to ask yourself is will it cost more to transport all your belongings or buy new ones?

If you are a non-EU citizen one of the first things you will need to do is apply for a Residence Permit so you can stay in the country. For EU citizens a passport is enough to allow them residency in the country. Although a Residence Permit is optional for EU citizens it can still prove useful as an extra form of identification when organizing other things.

eu citizens do not require work permits. however, they do need a sofi number to register in the tax/financial and social system (non-eu citizens also need one). this is usually straight forward and can be done by taking your passport to a local tax office and asking for a sofi number.

Finding a reasonably priced place to live in Holland is not always easy if you are looking for accommodation in Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague or Rotterdam. However it is not impossible.

If you are looking for a place to rent you will normally be asked to pay a waarborg (deposit). This can be between one and three months rent. Some employers will help new staff find a place to live (maybe as a temporary situation) if the job is the reason for them moving to the country.

If you are planning to stay in Holland it is advisable to get a Dutch bank account. There are several major banks in Holland such as Rabobank, PostBank, Abn-Amro and ING Bank.

you will require health insurance when living in holland. there are a few companies that offer different packages (from basic to premium). some employers also have health insurance (and pension) deals that employees can join.

you will also need to register with a general practitioner in your area. most medical insurance companies will provide you with a list of general practitioners near your home.

if you do not know anyone who speaks dutch but need something translated babel fish can come in handy. however, it is not the most accurate translator so you may wish to try other means as well.

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