Expats

Several years after Brexit, its effect on those relocating to the Netherlands from the UK can still be confusing. Moving to the Netherlands from the UK after Jan 1, 2021, without EU, EEA or Swiss nationality makes you a ‘third country national’. As an implication, relocating the UK to the Netherlands as a ‘third country national’ requires a residence permit.

Although the post-Brexit process may be more complicated, it is still an exciting adventure with many benefits. If you are considering relocating to the Netherlands for work, here’s what you can expect on your journey.

Preparing for the move

Depending on your case, you can get different types of visas through The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you are relocating as a skilled migrant to the Netherlands, your employer needs to be an IND a ‘recognised sponsor’. You can apply for a visa through IND at your local Dutch Embassy. For more information on what type of visa may apply to your case, you can visit the official IND website. As for your application process, you will need to provide various documents such as your marriage licence, or your birth certificate. 

Note During your immigration process, you may need to translate and legislate your documents. Thus, paying attention to the requested type of documents is crucial.

Once the application is approved and you arrive in the Netherlands, you must register at your local municipality (gemeente). Similar to a national insurance number, you will be assigned a citizen number (BSN), and receive your residence permit at an IND location. 

After immigration, finding housing will be the biggest task on your agenda. Due to the housing shortage, the Dutch housing market is competitive; therefore finding permanent housing takes time. When you arrive in the Netherlands, you may consider opting for temporary housing before you find your permanent home. Going into the house search process, consider prioritising your essential preferences, keep an open mind, and act fast and decisive. Once you have found the perfect house, congratulations, you are then an official resident in the Netherlands. You can now fully enjoy all the wonders the Netherlands has to offer!

Culture Shock

Aside from adapting to the smaller sizes of beer and the biking culture, moving from the UK to the Netherlands can be a tricky transition. It may take time to get used to the Dutch ways of life, but once you get accustomed, people often fall in love with the culture and the cities. The Dutch are famous for their English skills, which is an advantage for people coming from the UK. Almost everybody you encounter will speak English fluently which eliminates the language barrier and makes the transition for internationals smoother.

Dissimilar to British politeness, one thing you can anticipate about the Dutch is their directness. They often will not sugarcoat or use euphemisms. Instead, you can expect them to give full honesty, which most people appreciate. The Dutch are often praised for their work and life balance. Most employers will not demand over time, as the culture revolves around socialising after work. Employees value their time outside work and don’t often compromise on this.

In the following graph, a comparison of differently valued concepts in Dutch and UK work environments.

UK vs the Netherlands, source: geerthofstede.com

Cost of Living

Compared to the UK, the cost of living in the Netherlands varies depending on the city and area. Overall, the cost of living in the Netherlands is similar to the UK, but this is generally case-by-case.

For example, living in London will be much more expensive than living in Amsterdam. Living in other Dutch cities, or even out of the city centre can be more cost-effective. Many people will prefer finding housing outside major cities and commuting to work by public transportation.

Working in the Netherlands

Since unemployment rates are low in comparison to other EU countries, there are many job opportunities that do not require speaking Dutch; therefore the Netherlands presents much to British nationals looking to relocate.

There are different cases where a UK national might qualify to relocate to the Netherlands for work: as a highly skilled migrant, a self-employed person setting up a business, paid employment, an Intra Corporate Transferees permit (ICT), a European Blue Card, or a startup permit holder. To find out which category you fit into and what type of visa you need to apply for, you can visit the Dutch government website and fill out a questionnaire which provides the information specific to your case.  

Healthcare in the Netherlands 

The Dutch healthcare system is ranked among the best in the world. Taking out healthcare insurance is mandatory for all residents in the Netherlands. The type of insurance you need will depend on your employer and your needs. For more healthcare-related information for UK citizens coming to the Netherlands, you can also visit the UK government website.

Settling-In

Once you have found your housing and are done with the immigration process, you can now discover all the unique customs and traditions of the Netherlands. For example, the Dutch have a very egalitarian culture. They are highly tolerant of other cultures and value treating everyone as equals. This welcoming trait of the Dutch, combined with their English skills makes relocating to the Netherlands much more of a desirable and smooth experience. 

Most internationals will advise you to meet as many people as you can during your first week in the Netherlands. If you want to make friends during your stay, whether it is joining borrels (after-work drinks), or wearing orange on King’s Day, it is important to make an effort to socialise.

Although the procedure has become trickier since Brexit, relocating to the Netherlands from the UK is still an exciting opportunity that offers many benefits. The Netherlands offers a high quality of life that approaches work and socialising differently than the UK, but considering the common fancy for a good glass of beer and acclimating to the cloudy weather, British expats can find much joy in the Dutch way of life.

Get Support

If you have questions and are in need of assistance during your relocation process from the UK to the Netherlands, here at Jimble Destination Service Provider, we offer support through every step of your journey. Contact us to talk to one of our specialists, or visit our website to find out how we can help you have the best relocation experience.

Dear Diary,

As the day of the move to the Netherlands, is getting closer, we are finally starting with the immigration process. I am very excited to start this journey, but I keep coming across words and terms I do not understand. Since this complicates and adds stress to our relocation journey, I think I need some guidance to understand what I need to do while immigrating to the Netherlands.

Are you relocating to the Netherlands for work and starting your immigration process? During this stage, you may easily get confused and overwhelmed by unfamiliar immigration terms. Understanding these terms is critical for relocating talent in order to make this transition effective and smooth.  If the description above applies to you, you can benefit from our beginner’s guide to immigration in the Netherlands. 

Applying for a visa 

To obtain a visa or a residence permit, you will apply through IND, The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst). The IND is the main organization that handles all immigration-related matters for those relocating to the Netherlands whether in worldwide embassies or in-country appointments.

For in-country immigration appointments, an IND appointment can be booked through an expat centre or at an IND office depending on the case. An expat centre will offer both immigration (IND) and local municipality services in one place. If applicable, appointments at an expat centre can be convenient for dealing with immigration.

Good to Know While applying for a visa you will often need to provide biometric data. This includes fingerprints, photos, and signatures.

Translation and the Apostille 

Be sure to pay attention to your immigration specialist while applying for your visa. If there is a need for an Apostille document or translations be sure to address it prior to making your move, if possible, as it can be cost-effective and faster if done before travelling to the Netherlands. 

Tip Be careful while visiting your new workspace before your registration is approved and you are work authorised. Consult your human resources department on whether you have permission beforehand.

After your visa registration 

When you apply for a visa in the Netherlands, you will be assigned a V-Number once your application has been received by IND. This is a crucial number that you will need to provide throughout your immigration process. The IND will provide your personalized V-Number in the original correspondence or approval letter. If you are immigrating with your family, the authorities will assign a unique number to each family member as well. When you eventually get your residence permit, the V-number will be on your card as well.

Until you receive your residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) or GVVA, combined residence and work permit (gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid), you might receive an MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) which is a provisional residence permit that allows you to enter the Netherlands as a potential resident until authorities approve your residence permit.

Local Registrations

One of the first things you need to do when you arrive in the Netherlands is to register with your local municipality (gemeente). A BSN number (Burgerservicenummer) will then be assigned to you. BSN is your citizen number needed for Dutch authorities and processes like insurance and child benefits.

At your local municipality, you will also be registered in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen), the Personal Records Database. This database contains the personal data of the residents in the Netherlands, and various organizations like the Belastingdienst (Tax and Customs Administration) have access to it.

Once you have your BSN, then you can apply for a DigiD, a form of digital identification. DigiD enables you to access and manage government processes and information online. In addition, with your DigiD you can log in to MijnOverheid, where you can access personal data registered by authorities.

One important registration you are not required to but are advised to complete is registering at your local general practitioner’s office or GP practice (huisarts praktijk). Once you register, you can easily schedule appointments and visit your GP when you need medical assistance. After work hours or during the weekends you can visit huisartsenpost (out-of-hours GP service) for urgent (not emergency) health matters.

Living in the Netherlands 

If you are relocating to the Netherlands for work, you need to take out zorgverzekering (health insurance) to cover the costs of GP visits, hospital treatments, prescription medicines, etc. The type of insurance you need will depend on the organization you work for, thus it is a good idea to research prior to your arrival.

The Dutch government requires all residents to pay taxes. The Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) handle all of your tax payments and details. Additionally, the Mijn Belastingdienst website allows you to organise your affairs and obtain information related to taxes. As a resident, you must pay municipal taxes, and the amount varies depending on your municipality. The most common municipal taxes required are the waste collection charge (afvalstoffenheffing) and the water board tax (waterschapsbelasting).

Tip For people relocating to the Netherlands with a pet, special rules apply. Refer to official information by the NVWA, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit) for guidance.

Get Support

Relocating to the Netherlands for a new professional opportunity is an exciting journey with many twists and turns to navigate. Here at Jimble Destination Service Provider, we offer support through every step of your journey. Contact us to talk to one of our specialists, or visit our website to find out how we can help you have the best relocation experience.

Dear Diary,

The decision is final, I finally got my dream job and we are moving abroad soon. I know it will be a hassle for my family and me, but it will be all worth it once we settle down and start our new life there. I now have so many questions. Where are we going to live? Which neighbourhood is the best for the children? Where will they go to school? Will my partner be happy with their new life? How long will it take to get our visas? So many questions, and so much to do, yet so little time. I wonder if I can get help on any of these topics. I want to make sure this adventure will be the best it can be for me and my loved ones.

Immigration Services

Prior to and upon your arrival in a new country, you can expect various tasks you need to complete through the government or the municipality. Such tasks would be visa and residence permit applications prior to your trip and receiving your citizen service number (BSN) and municipality registration after your arrival, and of course, preparing required documents along the way. 

By partnering with a relocation service provider, you can spend much less time on formalities as you would spend much less time on researching and preparing, and most importantly worrying about what you need to take care of.

Education

For families relocating with children, the process becomes even more sensitive as the parents are concerned about where their children will continue with their education. Making such an important decision can be hard and confusing for the parents. Acquiring help would be wise for families, as the relocation service provider will do the crucial research and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family including but not limited to educational system overviews and support in choosing the perfect school. 

Home Finding Services

As many big cities of the world now face a housing crisis, every year it becomes more and more difficult to find suitable and affordable houses, especially in a city you have never lived in before. Such a personal and sensitive task will be taking up most of your energy prior to your relocation, and even after in some cases. 

Out-sourcing help on such a time-consuming matter will help you focus on preparing for your trip and alleviate the stress about it throughout a process that can take a very long time. Home-finding services will tailor the search process to your precise needs and preferences, offering to find the optimal housing for you and quickening the process.  

Settling In Services

After your arrival, many unforeseen little issues may come up that can over-complicate your stay. As you move into your new home and neighbourhood, it can be hard to figure out how to handle taxes and utilities and find doctors and even handymen in your area. While helping you figure out daily complications, relocation services can also assist you as you adapt and learn the ‘way of life’ in a new environment.

Family and Pet Services

Many talents who relocate will bring along partners, children, and of course, pets. The transition process can be easier on the employee who is relocating as they will be focusing on starting work, but it can be harder on the family who come along. Relocation services can guide and assist partners in such hard times. 

For families with children, setting up children’s new lives require detailed research on for example language learning, daycare providers, and nannies. Relocation services will help you find the best places and professionals for your children to transition smoothly and continue their development. Last but not least, while finding housing in big cities like Amsterdam, it can often be more complicated to find a place that will allow pets and meet all of your pet-related preferences. Services will also help make this hard and long process much easier and quicker for you, allowing you to take all of your loved ones along on this journey.

Integration Services

Integration is a crucial factor in ensuring a high life quality when you relocate, and it is always helpful to outsource services to ease the process for you and your family. A new life in a strange new country often comes with stress, confusion, and isolation. Learning about the country’s customs and language will help you and your family acclimate to this new environment. Services such as cross-cultural training will help you cope with culture shock and adapt faster to your new work environment and build new connections. Overall, integration services will ensure your transition will be as smooth of an experience as possible, which in the long run will drastically improve your journey.

Get Support

Are you moving abroad and looking for more assistance? Here at Jimble Destination Service Provider, we can help you with any relocation issues you might have along the way. For more information get in touch and discover all corporate and employee relocation services. You can talk with one of our specialists to find the perfect relocation package for you!

Worldwide, scam methods have improved and become more sophisticated over time. What’s worse is that scammers can contact you through many channels these days, from texts, calls, emails, and mail to social media channels. Therefore, wherever you are, it’s important to recognize some of the signs of a scam so you can take the necessary action. 

In this post, we’ll address the different ways you can spot a scam while in the Netherlands and how to go about it through the proper channels.

The Four Signs of a Scam

1. Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know

   Scammers will often contact you on behalf of governmental agencies like the police (politie), your local municipality (gemeente), My Government platform (MijnOverheid), and the tax authorities (belastingdienst) among others. 

   During the holiday season, when online shopping is popular, scammers may try to reach out to you as courier services, parcel deliverers, or bank representatives to verify purchases.

    

2. Scammers claim there is an urgent problem
   

   Scammers will often approach you with an urgent claim and stories about how you’re in trouble or approaching or passing a deadline, offering to secure your fund or account information by verifying your citizen service number (BSN) or bank information.

    

3. You’re pressured to act immediately

   Hoping you’ll act fast before you pause and think, scammers will go as far as threatening to arrest or sue you. If you’re on the phone with a scammer, they might stall and keep you from hanging up the phone before you provide personal details such as your BSN number, date of birth, or bank account number (IBAN).

    

4. Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way

   Scammers will often insist you transfer funds through a specific method or money transfer service in order to secure the transaction with them.
   
   

Additional tips on how to spot scams

If an email claims to be from an official agency, business, or even someone at your work, always make sure to check the sender’s email address, not just their name, as that’s customizable. The email address should not include a free email service like Hotmail, Yahoo, or Gmail, for the email address that appears after the @ sign. The email address should correspond to the organization’s official website. 

Complete a quick Google search on the name of the organization attempting to contact you and look for their official website, email addresses, personnel, and phone number. To be extra secure, when in doubt, you can even call their official phone number for verification.

Always check for spelling and grammar errors as a tell-tale sign of fraudulent email. Additionally, use Google to research the person attempting to contact you, or the company name followed by the word ‘scam’ to see if anyone has reported any suspicious activities connected to those names or companies recently.

What should you do if you receive a scam call? 

• If you receive a spam call, hang up and block the number. Authorities won’t call or text requesting personal info.
• Don’t provide personal or financial information such as your BSN, bank account, etc. in response to an unexpected request. 
• Never open attachments or click on links in emails or text messages if you’re unsure about the sender.
• Resist the pressure to act immediately. Discuss with someone you trust and do your research before reacting.
• Use different passwords for logging in to online services and set up two-factor authentication where possible as an extra layer of security.
• Platform and process permitting, try to utilize your DigiD app as a secure method for logging in and setting up certain governmental processes.

What to do if you already shared information with scammers? 

It happens, and the best approach to this is to report the fraud as one should with any crime and as soon as possible. For the Netherlands, depending on the fraud you’ve experienced, you can report it to the following authorities:

The Central Reporting Center for Identity Fraud (CMI)
Fraud Helpdesk
Immigration-Related Fraud (IND)
Internet Scams | Filing a police report
Anonymous Report

If you’ve recently moved or planning to relocate to the Netherlands, don’t hesitate to contact us, your local destination service provider and global mobility partner as your local and friendly experts on everything relation related!