There are many reasons why people become expatriates. For some it is work; others fall in love with a person or even a place; others still seek a different life from that which they have been accustomed to. According to HSBC’s Expat Explorer report, the Netherlands is one of the world’s best countries for expats. Yet, another ranking by Forbes magazine says that the Netherlands is among the most unpleasant countries in the world, while Canada is rated the friendliest country for expats. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Most expats live in the country’s larger cities, where most of the technology businesses are located. Thus, if an expat is seeking employment, they often look for jobs in Amsterdam, Leiden, or other expat city hubs, where large, English-speaking multinational companies are located. Hence, there are many expatriate jobs in the Netherlands for educated, English speaking people. A friend of mine used to work for Philips and she reported that they primarily communicated in English. In fact, most of her colleagues were from Spain, England, and India and could hardly speak Dutch. She was also really happy with the amount of paid vacation days. Companies in the Netherlands provide an average of 30 days paid time-off in addition to the national holidays, which could result in over a month of paid vacation time. Additionally, she also reported that the Dutch system tends to support employees rather than employers. Hence, even if someone gets fired or laid off for any reason, they will receive unemployment benefits that can sustain them for months. As an example, she pointed out the fact that several of her colleagues got laid off and they received 9 months of full-time paid unemployment. Also, Dutch healthcare insurance is often seen as affordable, especially for those coming from the U.S.A. Health insurance in the Netherlands is mandatory, and there are many subsidies available for those with lower incomes (e.g. zorgtoeslag).
Still, the coin always has two sides. Although the Dutch government aims to create an attractive environment and welcomes knowledge workers and talent from abroad, there are still some pending issues. While internationally, the Netherlands is regarded as one of the most attractive countries to do business with and to work in as an employee, many people, including locals, are facing administrative hurdles and bureaucracy. An example of this is visa requirements. My former Chinese roommate had often complained about the visa requirements in the Netherlands. He was often bothered with the Dutch language exam that is required for his visa as a non-European. He had mentioned that his ID is banded to his company contract. But if he passes the Dutch language exam and stays long enough, he can change it to a permanent ID, which can then be extended every five years. In this case, his visa was extended each year by the company and he was obliged to pay a fee of 200-500 euro every year. Another challenege for many expats is the income taxe. If, let us say, you make around 90,000 euros a year, you will most likely end up paying more than 40% tax. The higher your income bracket, the more taxes you will have to pay. However, some expats have special tax dispensations depending on thier specialist skill as needed in the country, or because of temporary stay only. Filing for taxes can also be a bit confusing as you have to go through the Dutch tax bureau (Belastingdienst). But with the aid of an accounting firm, all can be well taken care of.
With regards to the work conditions for expats, there is rarely any perceived injustice, although most foreigners find it difficult to become well-acquainted with their Dutch colleagues in the beginning. Some of them, unfortunately, never fully integrate because of the language barrier. The majority have observed that once they learn Dutch and visit on more social occasions with their colleagues, they often end up being friends, or at least, in a more pleasant relationships. A Vietnamese friend of mine who works in a restaurant has shared her difficulty with the Dutch language, too. She often encounters issues when she needs to translate important letters. She often asks her colleagues or gets help from neighbors to understand if her translation is correct. Fortunately, people are often happy to assist.
Some people have also complained against being discriminated at at work, based on their ethnicity or race. But this is common practice in many places in the world. Generally, the Dutch are widely recognized for their tolerance, however it is no surprise if they prefer to pick a native Dutch employee to fill in a position over an expat. Often, fluency of Dutch language is a particular reason, but when fluency in another langugage is necessary, then expats can easily have the upper hand.
Unfortunately, nothing can be perfect. Working and living in the Netherlands as an expat has both its positive sides and downsides. It is up to you to make the best of it!
Nesrin Nazlieva
Sources:
https://investinholland.com/holland-is-a-top-5-country-for-expats/
http://www.dutchdailynews.com/unfriendly-country-expats/
https://amsterdamshallowman.com/2015/04/refugees-in-the-netherlands.html