Netherland offers many options for public, private, and international schools with high Teaching standards. Public primary schools are government-funded and are free for students age between 4-16. The main benefit of these schools is that pupils learn Dutch quickly to adapt themselves fast in their new surroundings. The drawback can be to pick children at lunchtime or to bear bill for child care.

After primary schools, come three types of secondary schools-HAVO(Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs), VMBO(Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs), and VWO(Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs). These schools are known for practical, academical, and vocational programmes for making students ready for university. Private and international schools are the best option for older children. Expats need to consider the availability of admission space in schools, tuition fees, curriculum taught, etc…

Accommodation in areas like Amsterdam, Hague, Rotterdam is expensive and surrounding villages are cheaper. The east side of Netherland offers a greener environment, lakes, wood and less housing costs than the west side. In bigger cities, expats can find houses with three or four bedrooms, small rooms, and apartments.

The state of housing in the Netherlands is appreciable due to the stringent laws with respect to environment and construction regulations. Security alarms are quite rare to spot. Expats can choose to live in buzzing metropolis or in some laid-back areas. They can take help of rental agencies, and websites to buys or rent property after comparing prices.

Expats must start looking for work before leaving for Netherland. You can begin searching and publish their CV’s on the website for a job through various internet portals like-UWV, EURES,jobbingmall.nl, jobnews.nl,vacaturebank.nl,medweb.nl, etc…Expats can even send open applications to the companies for future vacancies or build a network through social media platforms like LinkedIn.

The term flexible working or flex work is quite common in Netherland and employees can be seasonal workers, temporary employees, and Employees with a zero-hour contract under this category. Vacancies in regional and national Dutch newspapers or online job fairs can also prove quite beneficial to job seekers.

Expats can open a new bank account with the world’s banking giants present in Netherland. You can obtain cash from an overseas account through ATM or geldautomaat since it accepts a wide range of debit/credit cards and can exchange cash at a GWK exchange office or at the Post Office (postkantoor).

Some supermarkets do not accept major credit cards and the most common mode of payment here is a debit card with a PIN code-pinnen. Online bank, Bunk can open Dutch bank accounts in just five minutes via Smartphones to provide expats facilities like instant payments and access to accounts in real-time. The credit rating of expats is checked by the Central Credit Registration Office (BKR).

A Dutch visa is a mandatory requirement for some nationals either to stay for a short period-90 day or transit in Netherland. These can be-Transit visa for transfers at Dutch airports, Schengen for short-stay, Return visa for foreigners in the Netherlands who need to urgently travel abroad.,and MVV authorization for temporary stay for some nationalities who are looking for residence permits. Residence permits usually take care of long-term stays.

If your country has reciprocal agreements with the Dutch government, no visa is required to travel to Netherland. If you wish to say longer than 90 days, you are required to apply for a residence permit with an MMV, also known as the TEV Procedure.EU/EEA countries do not require a visa or a residence permit.

Wages and salaries are average compared to the rest of Europe but the cost of living in the Netherlands has escalated. It’s cheaper to live in non-urban areas than in larger cities like Amsterdam or Hague. Buying own house comes with house insurance costs sewerage, and refuse and annual housing taxes. Public transport work with a chip card to be used on buses trains, metros, etc… and are cheaper as per European standards. Deeltaxi services are priced according to zones.

Eating at a hotel or restaurant is expensive and comes with service charge and Value Added Tax along with the waiter’s tips. Alcohol and tobacco costs are low. Education cost at the local school is low or can be free, but at international schools, it is pretty high.

Health insurance is mandatory for Netherland people. Expats who are EU, EEA or Swiss nationals must get Dutch health insurance within 4 months of registering at their city hall and nationals from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland must obtain within 4 months of their residence permit. Some of the top Dutch health insurance firms are-UitedConsumers, ZorgDrect, LoonZorg, Besured, Salland, OHRA, Bupa, Cigna, etc.

International students may or may not require health insurance on the basis of factors like-staying duration, their working or internship conditions, insurance of their home country, etc… basic health insurance cover the costs of General Practitioner (GP), medication, unexpected hospital treatment, etc…

In the Netherlands, there are different lengths of validity for driving licenses issued to the nationals of EU/EEA and Non-EU/EEA nationals. For EU/EEA licenses issued before January 19, 2013, holders can drive on that license for 10 years and if issued after January 19, 2013situation, the term becomes 15 years. Once validity expires, expats need to obtain a Dutch driving license.

Diving licenses of citizens of all countries outside the EU/EEA are valid for six months from the date you register at your local municipality and afterward Dutch driving license is required by giving Dutch driving exams.

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