The Netherlands was nominated as the sixth best place in the world to live, according to a United Nations research. Cycling is definitely popular all throughout Europe, but in the Netherlands, it indeed is a huge part of the Dutch lifestyle. DutchNews.nl has been free for 14 years, but without the financial backing of our readers, we would not be able to provide you with fair and accurate news and features about all things Dutch. Holidays While most civilized countries (looking at you, America) offer 20 days of holiday a year, the Dutch are serious about taking it. Finding a nice place to live is always difficult. Per thousand inhabitants, Amsterdam has one bar and two restaurants, with eight plays⦠You’ll hear it on the streets, on the bus and in the grocery store. Why move to the northern Netherlands The northern Netherlands provinces of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe offer a Dutch experience with a unique flavour and at a gentler pace. Plus, even your minimal efforts will be appreciated by the locals, and speaking the language will make you feel like less of a visitor and more at home. So, whether you have your eye on bustling Rotterdam and its vibrant nightlife scene, or the historic beauty of Utrecht and its lovely canals, you’ll find that all of the cities in the Netherlands have a common denominator, and that is the unique, appealing Dutch lifestyle. Netherlands - Netherlands - People: Popular belief holds that the Dutch are a mixture of Frisians, Saxons, and Franks. The Dutch postal service also deserves mention. The card may be loaded with credits, which you can easily do at vending machines at the metro stations and at additional locations throughout the city. Specifically, Maastricht University, located in what is often called the "most international Dutch city," is extremely popular with expats, offering an appealing international vibe. The average Dutch person takes rules very seriously, so adhering to local regulations is typically a must. Take a boat tour of the medieval Binnendieze and pass beneath centuries-old buildings, whilst ⦠In fact, the World University Rankings currently show that approximately 60 percent of courses at Dutch universities are offered in English. When you’re acclimating to a brand new city, a bit of directness can actually go a long way. Though Dutch accommodationcan be pricey, especially in major cities, houses and apartments are generally of a hig⦠With its beautiful architecture, canals, parks and overwhelming amount of cultural and social events it is a very sought-after city to live in. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. Dutch workers also like to start early and leave early. By West-European standards the prices are reasonable. When it comes to drinking, you must be 18 years old. Always remember to at least give a quick smile or a wave, even if you’re rushing out the door, late for class or for that important meeting with your new boss! A big part of studying or working abroad is the sense of adventure, so living in a location that is so close to a number of capital cities and exciting activities is just another reason to appreciate the Dutch lifestyle. Travel With all those vacation days, the Dutch travel. They have mysterious extra holidays called ATV days. The wonderful part about the location of the Netherlands is its proximity to so many other fascinating European cities. 3. The Netherlands is becoming one of the most popular countries on the planet for expats, drawing in a record number of international students and young professionals each year. The DutchNews.nl team would like to thank all the generous readers who have made a donation in recent weeks. Amsterdam has so many amazing things to do, see, eat, and live by that itâs no wonder why so many expats choose to call it home. There are very few things better than a great road trip, but many train routes can take you to experience a completely different culture, within a matter of hours and at a moderate price. All modes of transportation utilize the OV-chipkaart as a method of payment. Although visitors to the Netherlands might not be able to experience the full depth of this accolade, it certainly makes the Netherlands an attractive destination for travellers. There are several regulations in place that allows everyone and everything to be in compliance. In general, the ⦠So they stopped enforcing them. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images. Many expats find it somewhat easy to locate business opportunities during their time in the Netherlands, which can help to provide valuable experience, as well as to supplement a student’s budget. Part of the Dutch lifestyle means saying what you mean, and then doing what you say. If you have not yet made a donation, but would like to, you can do so via Ideal, credit card or Paypal. The Cheapest Place to Live in Holland (the Netherlands) First let's compare the Netherlands to some of it's European neighbours. Additionally, no open containers are allowed on the streets, unless there’s a festival, and it isn’t legal to buy or sell alcohol where marijuana is sold. Just donât expect it to be sugar coated. Their website offers a lot of information on how to find a job in the Netherlands. They get compensation for working public holidays. It’s also not a bit strange to see a business person cycling to work in a shirt and tie. Being so direct can also save a lot of time, leading to better organization and the knowledge of always knowing where you stand. Yes the Netherlands is a great place to live (IMHO). Tolerance Did you know marijuana is not actually legal in the Netherlands? Go home and enjoy that âwork life balanceâ the Dutch are so serious about. Typically, if you are attempting to have a conversation with someone who is speaking Dutch, and they sense that you are struggling, they will almost always switch over seamlessly to English. However, don’t misunderstand this with not being polite. See seven holidays in three months. It’s also a perfect way to see Europe when you didn’t bring your car with you to the Netherlands. Pretty much everyone speaks English fairly well, and Dutch is ⦠One of these such stimuli is the 30 percent ruling. We all go through bad patches and we all want to go home at some point because the health service/weather/food/beaches/television/football is better there. Check out our ultimate resource with all the information you need before moving! Statistically speaking, about 75 percent of women and 26 percent of men work around 35 hours per week part-time, with some even working a day or two from home. It’s a wonderful time to visit some of the country’s beautiful natural spaces, such as hiking through Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, relaxing on the beach at Zandvoort or enjoying Utrecht’s Oudegracht Canal. Often, the universities will offer Dutch language classes, or they may even be community classes available. And try karnemelk if youâre brave, very brave. The UNâs annual Human Development Index compares 187 countries on factors including health, education, per-capita income and life expectancy. If you are looking for a job in the Netherlands, agencies like Undutchables Recruitment Agency can help you to further your career. While most civilized countries (looking at you, America) offer 20 days of holiday a year, the Dutch are serious about taking it. In fact, research has made plausible the contention that the autochthonous inhabitants of the region were a mixture of pre-Germanic and Germanic population groups who in the course of time had converged on the main deltaic region of western Europe. PostNL is a privatized mail system in which the service is extremely fast. Some 2,500 miles of the Netherlands consist of reclaimed land, the result of a process of careful water management dating back to medieval times. Dairy products Hopefully you arenât lactose intolerant or on some kind of diet. The towering, sturdy warehouses and elegant homes built by wealthy merchants during Holland's Golden Age (the 17th ⦠Whether in large cities or smaller historic areas, the options for a top-notch education for students who primarily speak English are many, including just a few: Eindhoven - Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Groningen - Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Enschede - Saxion University of Applied Sciences]. Your Ultimate Guide to Rotterdam Neighborhoods, The Complete Guide to Utrecht’s Neighborhoods. Organization is extremely important when it comes to any type of setting, but it makes a living in a particular country with a balanced and well-thought-out infrastructure so much simpler and enjoyable. If you are from a country not within these regions, you will need a residence permit and a work permit. As you learn more and about living in the Netherlands, you’ll surely discover even more reasons why it could be the perfect place for your international exchange or to begin a new career or start an internship. 1. (Okay, okay, Iâll quit bigging up the Netherlands now). The Atlas voor Gemeenten (Atlas for Municipalities) has for the last 15 years looked at the 50 largest municipalities to determine which are the most attractive for people to live in. You can easily reach any other country via Schiphol Airport, you can take a 4 hour train ride to Paris, a 1 hour flight to London, or just drive across the border to Germany or Belgium. Many purchase a secondhand bike as quickly as possible upon moving to the Netherlands. The Netherlands is situated right in between Germany and Belgium, plus its a short drive from both Luxembourg and France. One of the best things to experience when you’re in an unfamiliar environment is friendly people. The Netherlands brings the symbol of peace with the beauty of the canal, the fairy villages, the windmills ⦠but also civilized with the inventions which go ahead of its time. Additionally, workers also receive more time off, with an average of 20 vacation days every year. As that the Netherlands isn’t considered a very large country, it’s easy to travel from one city to the next, allowing you the opportunity to experience the music festivals in Groningen, the brewery tours in Enschede or the film festivals in Rotterdam. They save for their holiday before retirement. Here is the 2013 top 10 1 Rozendaal, Gelderland 2 Naarden, Noord-Holland 3 Haren, Groningen (despite the⦠The Netherlands is home to a plethora of world-class international universities that offer a large number of classes completely taught in the English language, which is why it is such a popular locale for incoming exchange students. Every year Elsevier magazine produces a list of the top 50 places to live in the Netherlands, based on the local council's performance, the facilities it offers, jobs, recreational opportunities, the 'harmonious living climate', tranquility, accessibility and nature. With all that history, there is also a lot of historical buildings to explore. Things remain in harmony because most residents actually follow the rules, seeing that the regulations in place benefit everyone as a whole. The Dutch public transportation system is well-structured and offers fast, reliable ways to get from one end of the city to the other. You’ll find that the Dutch people tend to work fewer hours than the European average, placing much more of a value on family time or leisure activities. Or head off to Thailand for a few weeks. This can often be difficult in some countries, but the good news is that the Netherlands is not one of them. According to the Natixis Global Retirement Index, the Netherlands is ranked the 13th best country in which to retire.The index considers four aspects: health, material wellbeing, finances and quality of life and environment. Meet the first Black woman to found a political party in Europe. 5. Part of the appeal of wanting to live in the Netherlands is the history and the chance to visit a new country via a short plane trip or a few hours on a train. Letâs take a look at a dozen reasons why the Netherlands is an ideal choice for expats and international students! People new to the area may find that they can easily strike up a conversation with a complete stranger on the bus, or realize that they’re only a few words away from finding the best restaurant in Tilburg. To counteract this, the average pay is somewhat higher, which also leads to a higher degree of standard of living. For the tenth year in a row, the Atlas has given top spot to Amsterdam. When it comes time to think about living in the Netherlands for your international exchange, there are a lot of important things to factor into your decision-making process. With more than 6,800 houses and buildings protected as monuments and dating from the 16th to the 20th century, Amsterdam boasts the largest historical inner city in Europe.You might see the Triple X (XXX) Coat of Arms throughout the city. Okay. While some may see the laws as a bit hazy, it is technically illegal to sell or use marijuana, but some coffee shops have been granted permits. Temperatures are usually somewhat warm, while humid, and everything seems to be in full bloom. However, there are also bike sharing schemes that allow riders to rent a bike and then return it to one of many stations throughout the city in which it was checked out. The Netherlands has the best work-life balance of 38 countries tracked by the OECD Better Life Index. They have mysterious extra holidays called ATV days. You can be running to the university in the midst of a thunderstorm before morning classes, and then having a nice lunch on a sunny terrace about your internship by a very humid mid-afternoon. It is considered to be somewhat similar to English, making it easy to pick up. Fortunately, the Netherlands offers many incentives for international businesses to move to or initially set up their companies in this opportunistic country. Currently, the Netherlands is the number-one non-English speaking country offering the most courses taught in English, totaling over 1,000 different degrees for English speakers. If you donât take a few weeks off every year, youâre not doing it right. It seems that almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks English. In order to choose where to live, you always have to consider what your needs are, where you spend more time and what is a priority for you. They help both starters and executive candidates, fluent in languages other than Dutch. You must remember to scan the card at both the start and the end of the journey, or you could receive a fine. This number increases to 70 percent when only adding the courses in Master’s degree programs. The last couple of decades have seen a massive shift in the popularity of certain neighbourhoods. In fact, for the 2018 academic year, over 122,000 international students from 164 different countries are currently enrolled in institutions of higher learning throughout the Netherlands. This is extremely advantageous for international businesses in the Netherlands, meaning that the more companies that are based in the country, the more positions will become available to international students. Most students easily build relationships with their neighbors. Additionally, if you do find a position while studying in the Netherlands, you will not need a work permit, as long as your home country is a part of the European Union or the European Economic Area, or if you reside in Switzerland. One of the best things to experience when youâre in an unfamiliar environment is friendly people. They pop over to Tunisia for a few days. Because it's a student town there's also a lot to do here, even for non-students. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here. The World Risk Report, which is published each year, looks at the risks of natural disasters in this way. If you qualify, this means that only 70 percent of your earnings would be taxed, and the remaining 30 percent would essentially be tax-free. The airport is a hub for Jet Airways, as well as several other carriers offering low rates for short flights throughout the continent. The Dutch know their way around dairy. The Netherlands is known as the first non-English speaking country in which universities started to design higher education study programs in English, to attract students coming from abroad. You will most definitely hear it spoken in the university areas and even in the workplace. Hence you may be planning to spend your golden age in this European country. You’ll also rarely see a Dutch professional running into work late. The best place to enjoy a Bossche Bol is at confectioners Jan De Groot. March 2008 cost of living data shows Amsterdam as one of the more expensive cities to live in. Let’s take a look at a dozen reasons why the Netherlands is an ideal choice for expats and international students! 1. A trip from Amsterdam to Berlin, for instance, can be booked for as little as €8 - €39, if booked at the right time! We could not provide this service without you. Only about 0.5% of Dutch employees regularly work very long hours in comparison to the OECD average of 13%. The Netherlands offers a lot of historic architecture in most cities and villages. Depending on your situation (retired, working and in which area, studying etc, you can find a place which suits you. Risk, from a mathematical perspective, is the probability of an event multiplied by its potential impact. Of all the things the Netherlands excels in, itâs the work-life balance that garners the most praise. 7. Of course, nearly all students turn to the bicycle as the simplest and most economical method of transportation, and it’s great exercise. Simple as that. The Netherlands has been selected as one of the most desirable places to live. Known as Dutch, the people of the Netherlands have formed what has long been considered a tolerant society, though some politicians are increasingly voicing concerns over immigration. Being in the same house where Ann Frank hid from the Nazis during World War II gives you a sense of history you canât have otherwise. Your contributions make this possible. In Amsterdam and most Dutch cities youâll find a lot of beautiful old Herenhuizen in all shapes and sizes. In fact, taking out private health insurance is a requirement for anyone living and working in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is also a super convenient place to live because it is pretty much in the middle of everything you might want to visit in Europe. No-one works on Friday afternoon because they have all gone on a weekend break to Istanbul. And due to the business incentives that are offered to its residents, many young people are moving to the Netherlands to begin their careers or to take up internships in their intended fields of study. Holidays. Perhaps this is why the Netherlands is also listed as one of the top ten happiest countries in the world! Expats can either rent or buy accommodation in various styles and locations to suit their budget â but it makes sense to live in the city where amenities and new friends will be close by. However, there are several laws imposed. The Riskiest Places to Live: Netherlands Not So Far From Bangladesh. 4. The nice thing about the weather in the Netherlands is that the Dutch people usually experience all four seasons. Fortunately, the Dutch people are open, welcoming and don’t hesitate to engage when they pass you on the street. When you’re in a new city, things can definitely get a bit overwhelming. The Dutch people are friendly. Find the best places to live in Maastricht, the capital city in the southern province of Limburg which offers some of the top sites in the Netherlands. Donât live to far from the office and youâll be home promptly at 5.30pm like the rest of your colleagues. The assessment is based on criteria such as the accessibility of employment, cultural offerings, proximity to nature, safety and the presence of a university or a historical city centre. The Netherlands seems to have quite a list of things that outrank most other countries, and their work hours are also something to be admired. The Netherlands is a great country to live in, mostly if you like rain. The Netherlands has a very low crime rate - one of the lowest in the world. According to JLL, the medium-sized cities such as Delft, Amersfoort, Almere and Zwolle are rising in the ranking because of their positive economic developments and forecasts, good ⦠Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days! Spending your retirement days in the âLand of Tulips and Windmillsâ will be great and to see why to continue reading our list of best places to retire in the Netherlands. Therefore, it is a good idea to always keep an umbrella or a raincoat handy, as that conditions can literally almost change in the blink of an eye. Since the Netherlands is such a popular destination for exchange students and young professionals, be sure to begin your search at least three months before your relocation. The best weather is generally between May and September when there’s a greater chance of seeing the sun. ... places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! However, perhaps the most important thing is to ensure that you’re going to enjoy living in the Netherlands for a semester or even an entire academic year, as well as deciding if it is going to be a good setting for employment or an internship. But here are seven reasons to stay in the Netherlands. So I decided to write down some of the main reasons why I loved living in the Netherlands⦠Dutch People are Awesome Of course, just like any place in the world that Iâve found particularly amazing; the people are one of the biggest factors. 2. 1. Some people may also have the misconception that drugs and alcohol are easily and always legally obtainable in the Netherlands. The city is beautiful, and quaint enough that you can bike from end to end in 10-15 minutes. 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