Moving to the Netherlands: how to prepare yourself?

Moving to the Netherlands: how to prepare yourself?

Are you moving to the Netherlands but not sure how to prepare yourself? Look no further, but start with this easy checklist to give your moving plans a kickstart.

The checklist has been categorized in topics to prioritize first, and afterwards other items to think about. In this way you can focus on the most important things first, before you move on to additional items you may like to cover before your move.

Most important things to prepare yourself when moving to the Netherlands:

• Visa; whether you need a visa depends on a few factors: your nationality, your age, the duration of stay in the Netherlands, your job or study, your family etc. If you are an EU citizen, things are the easiest. You are allowed to live and work in the Netherlands without a visa. If you come from outside of the EU, it depends on your nationality but also on how long you plan to stay and what you want to do in the Netherlands. For example, if you are an expat and your company sponsors you, you will be able to obtain a visa linked to your job. Or if you are an international student coming to the Netherlands, you can obtain a student visa linked to your studies. I’m not going into all the details here, but this is just to give you a general idea. Because your visa options depend on your personal situation so you really have to look at all the factors that apply to you (and possible family members). I have worked as an Immigration advisor in the Netherlands for many years helping expats with their visa applications and no visa application is the same. Also, I realized that arranging the visa is often one of the most stressful items when someone moves abroad. Therefore it is important to start the process as early as possible. Do your research or get professional support if you get confused or overwhelmed by all the options. A good starting point is the website of the Dutch immigration authorities.

What else?

• Passport; is your passport still valid? Make sure to check the rules on the validity of your passport. Usually your passport should be valid for at least another 6 months upon arrival.

• Finances; in the Netherlands, the currency is Euro. If you move to the Netherlands long-term you should open a Dutch bank account. Note that it is only possible to open a Dutch bank account after you have registered yourself at the city hall. (see next topic: registration) This process can take a couple of weeks (sometimes a few months) so make sure you have a back up plan for your finances, like an international bank pass that you can use in the meantime while your registration and bank account is still being processed.

• Registration; if you plan to stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you are required to register yourself in the city hall. This means that you need to have a residence address to be able to registered yourself on. Registration at the city hall is usually required within 5 days of arrival. Check beforehand which documents are required for this registration, so that you can make sure to take these documents with you when you move. For example, a birth certificate or marriage certificate if you are moving with your spouse. The registration process can be a bit tricky sometimes if you don’t have an address yet. I will explain this in the next topic: accommodation.

Additional things to think about when moving to the Netherlands:

• Accommodation; If you move as an expat, your employer has probably arranged temporary accommodation for you upon arrival, which allows you some time to find a place to rent once you arrive. Sometimes hotels allow you to use their address to register yourself on when you arrive, so that you can continue with your paperwork. You can then change your temporary address once you have found a place of your own. Check this with the hotel you are staying or check with your employer whether you can temporarily register on the office address. Usually when you want to rent a place, you will need to show an employment contract or in case you are a student, your university registration. Mostly, in order to be able to rent a place in the Netherlands, and therefore have an address to register yourself on, you will need to have a job. But you cannot have a job without a bank account…. And guess what? You will need to be registered in the Netherlands before you can open a Dutch bank account. So with this situation you would be going into circles! Many people are struggling with this because it makes it very hard to move to the Netherlands and find a place to live if you don’t have a job yet. A temporary solution would be to live with a friend or other connection who could help you out, until you find a job and can rent a place for yourself. Or, in case you have enough funds to pay rent in advance for a couple of months, you could try to talk to your potential landlord about this.

But also…

• Job; following the above topics, you have already noticed that it is easier to move to the Netherlands if you already found a job. This will make the process to find a place to rent, register yourself and open a bank account much easier. Besides that, for the majority of jobs the Dutch language is required. There are many expats and international students in the Netherlands who have English speaking jobs. However, it will be harder for you to find a job in another language than Dutch. Especially if you don’t have any connections to a company already before you move. Of course, it will also depend on what type of job you are looking for. But it is good to prepare yourself and do your research before you move to the Netherlands.

• Health Insurance; when you register yourself in the Netherlands, in most cases you have to get health insurance. You need to arrange this within 4 months after arrival, but usually as soon as possible. Especially if you have a job already. Before you cancel your current health insurance it is good to figure everything out. Prepare yourself so that there won’t be a gap if the process to obtain your new Dutch insurance takes a bit longer than expected.

Other things to think about that could make moving to the Netherlands easier:

• Phone number & Internet; once you arrive in the Netherlands, it is best to get yourself a local sim card. In this way you don’t spend a lot of money on roaming costs. Most public places do have free WIFI as well. The internet connection is also stable in most places in the country (except when you visit smaller villages on the country side).

• Language; the official language in the Netherlands is Dutch. In general, almost everything is in Dutch. However the majority of the population (especially younger people) have a decent level of English as well. Besides that, the bigger cities in the Netherlands, like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague, have a more international vibe. More people speak English there. These cities are usually also the most popular for expats and international students. However, to be able to feel at home and integrate yourself into Dutch culture as soon as possible, it is advisable to do a language course before your move or upon arrival.

• Culture; you probably have heard about the Dutch cycling culture, wind mills and cheese. But what do you really know about Dutch culture? It is good to do your research before you leave so you know a bit better what to expect. For example, often expats find that Dutch people are very direct. If you are not familiar with this, this can come across as rude to you. Although it might just be their way of talking. To prepare yourself and avoid culture shock, it is good to do some research and read about Dutch culture before moving to the Netherlands.

• Connections; if you have some connections in the Netherlands already, this will make your move much easier. However, if you don’t know anyone yet, don’t worry. There are plenty of Facebook groups or forums to connect with people who have just moved and can help you out. Or contact a coach, like me, to support you through the preparation and transition process into the Netherlands. If you want to know more how I can support you, schedule a free call today.

More information to prepare yourself when moving to the Netherlands?

The above list is an easy and general list of some of the most important topics to think about before moving to the Netherlands. It is important to take your time. Do your research before your move to make sure you don’t get disappointed or overwhelmed.

If you are looking for an easy checklist how to prepare your move abroad, you can also read more in my moving abroad guide. This is a general check list with very useful questions that you can ask yourself. So that you can make the preparation process as easy as possible. In this blog post I also talk about how important it is to prepare your mindset before your move.

One of the most important things of preparing your travel mindset before your move, is not to be afraid to ask for help if you need to. Talk to people who have experience with moving to the Netherlands. You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.

Need some help to prepare yourself for your move to the Netherlands?

Feel free to contact me, if you need help with a clear roadmap, action plan and mindset prep for your move to the Netherlands. I can give you further support in the full preparation process personalized to your specific situation. I’m a certified Life Abroad Coach and Mentor, specialized in helping others through the transition process of moving countries. Since I’m Dutch I have lots of local information for you when you are planning your move to the Netherlands. Not only to guide you through the practical side of things. But also to make sure you feel confident, excited and ready to make your move. My goal is to make your move as simple, easy and fun as possible! So that you can really focus on the good things of moving abroad. Instead of filling your mind with worries of all the changes in your life.

Coaching Programs to support you in your move

Are you interested to know more about my coaching programs? And how it can help you through the transition process of moving to the Netherlands? Schedule a free Discovery call. You can read more about my coaching here as well.

If you are looking for more free content, inspiration and tips, connect with me on Instagram.

[Disclaimer: all the information in this post is based on information available on the data of publication. Rules may change, so make sure to crosscheck the actual updated rules on the government websites. We try our best to keep the information on this post updated.]