After living and working for 2 years, I think the Netherlands is a good place to work. Here are some reasons to consider working in the Netherlands :
1. Less Tax for Qualified Internationals
The 30% ruling is a tax advantage for highly skilled migrants who were hired abroad to work in the Netherlands. There is a list of criteria that you need to meet to be eligible for this tax advantage, such as the wages you will receive, your educational level, etc. You can find all of the information needed on how and when you qualify for the 30% ruling through the following link.
Basically, if all the conditions are met, you can receive up to 30% of your salary tax-free, which makes for a nice addition to any pay cheque every month, especially as Dutch tax rates are quite high.
2. Longer Holidays
The minimum number of vacation days for employees in the Netherlands is 20 days, but 25 days is considered the average, although many companies sometimes even offer more.
Some companies also offer ADV days, which were brought in by the Dutch government a long time ago as a way to create more employment. This meant employees got extra days of vacation, which allowed companies to hire more personnel. So research the number of holidays you will get before accepting a job offer.
For example, I once worked for one company that offered 27 vacation days and moved to another company where I got 40 days of vacation (including 13 ADV days) per year—and yes, these exclude public holidays!
3. Ideally Located for European Breaks
If you love to travel, the Netherlands is a great hub to explore what Europe has to offer. For example, if you live in Eindhoven and drive, it will take you approximately 2 hours to get to Cologne, Germany, 1 hour 50 minutes to Brussels, Belgium, 2 hours 45 minutes to Lille, France; and 3 hours to Luxembourg.
If you don’t have a car, that’s no problem, as Europe is also highly connected by train. Destinations from the Netherlands include the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and many more. For example, you can get from Rotterdam to Paris in 2 hours and 40 minutes by train.
If you want to go further afield, there are many options to fly around the world with Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, one of the largest in Europe. Apart from Amsterdam, there are also airports in Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Maastricht. If you are getting 40 holiday days, you will have plenty of time to explore new places every year.
4. Vibrant Community of Expats
There is a massive number of internationals in the Netherlands; therefore, it is highly likely that you will meet people from your home country. You can connect with communities through Facebook groups like expats in Eindhoven, Irish in Amsterdam, etc., join some local clubs, or go to exercise classes to meet new people.
If you are Irish, there are GAA clubs in Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Maastricht, and The Hague. These clubs take part in hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football tournaments, which are played in different countries around Europe as well, so get yourself signed up!
5. English is Widely Spoken
The Netherlands was ranked first for speaking English as a second language. If you intend on staying for a short period of time and your job does not require Dutch, you can get away without learning the language for sure. But if you intend on staying long term, it’s good to start learning Dutch to integrate better with the locals.
This article was brought to you by our guest author, Lisa, an Irish international residing in the Netherlands since 2021. You can check out more of Lisa’s work and adventures through the Netherlands (and Europe) by visiting the Wanderer Lane blog. Lisa’s blog provides practical tips and tricks for living in the Netherlands and traveling through Europe.
Should you decide to take the pledge and join the massive community of internationals living and working in the Netherlands, contact us; your local relocation experts. We promise to make your relocation easy.
