The Netherlands at a Glance

Education and Driving in the Netherlands

Driving in the Netherlands is quite hassle-free.

Thanks to the country’s diverse and liberal society, expats living in the Netherlands rarely have difficulties adjusting to life in the Netherlands. No reason, however, to treat your future expat life in the Netherlands lightly! Get useful tips on living in the Netherlands on InterNations.

Secondary School

Children attend secondary school for 4 to 6 years. There are three types of secondary schools in the Netherlands:

Vocational Secondary School (voorbereidend middelbaar beroepsindewijs – VMBO)
General Secondary Education (Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs – HAVO)
University Preparatory School (Vorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs – VWO)

Admission to HAVO and VWO is subject to academic achievement. Foreign languages have a high priority in all types of secondary education. Besides English, a second foreign language, usually French or German, is obligatory. VWO and HAVO even require a third foreign language.

International Schools

International schools are, of course, a popular alternative to Dutch schools for expat children. They are mostly located in bigger cities such as Amsterdam or The Hague. Some primary schools also offer an international academic program for expat children.

The Foundation for International Education in the Netherlands (Stichting International Onderwijs) has a list of international schools for newly arrived expat families. You can use the search form on their website to find the right school for your child. It also provides contact information of different schools plus additional details on the curriculum and fees.

University

Places on university degree courses are usually assigned centrally by the Centraal Bureau Aanmelding en Plaatsing of the Informatie Beheer Groep in Groningen. Some universities, however, also offer a decentralized selection system. In that case, you should get in touch with the school of your choice. When you have been admitted, you still have to register with the IB Groep.

Many Dutch universities also offer academic programs in English and/or German. However, for most majors fluency in Dutch is obligatory. The fees are the same all over the country and can be paid at once or in installments. Students over the age of 29 have to pay Instellingencollegegeld instead. This sum is determined by the individual university and usually higher than the average annual fee.

Cars and Driving

Traffic in the Netherlands is comparatively relaxed. However, in case of any traffic violation, the owner of the vehicle is held responsible. This means that you have to pay any fines which arise even if you were not the driver who caused the offense. If you don’t pay the fine on time, it will be raised by 25-50%.

Interstates and highways are usually free of charge in the Netherlands, with two exceptions: the Kiltunnel and the Wilhelm-Alexander Bridge. The Kiltunnel is located between Dordrecht and Hoekse Waard and costs 2.00€ for motorbikes and cars. Bus drivers have to pay 5.00€ to use the tunnel. The Wilhelm-Alexander Bridge in the Rhine-Maas-Delta is a little more costly.

Car Insurance and Taxation

When you buy and register a car in the Netherlands, you have to get insurance for it. This may not be necessary if you travel to the Netherlands for a short visit only. Still, it is advisable to bring an international insurance card along. For a longer stay, however, you will need insurance from a Dutch provider. Insurance companies grant a discount for accident-free driving.

You will also be charged a motor vehicle tax (Motorrijtuigenbelasting – MB) for your car as soon as you register it. The exact amount is determined by the weight of the car, the kind of fuel used and the municipality in which you live. Since 2008, environmentally friendly vehicles have been subject to tax concessions. If you buy a hybrid car, you may benefit from tax advantages of up to 5000€.