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9. Moving to the Netherlands

The Netherlands at a Glance

Moving to the Netherlands

Windmills, tulips, clogs, and bicycles are exactly what expats moving to the Netherlands may expect.

As the name indicates, the Netherlands are a low-lying country in geographical terms. 25% percent of its surface is located below sea level and 50% less than one meter above. When moving to the Netherlands, you might well hear jokes about it being the first country to drown in the ocean should sea levels begin to rise.

Moving to the Netherlands, you are probably aware that the country is also referred to as “Holland”. This name, albeit used synonymously, actually refers to only two of the Netherlands’ provinces. Art aficionados moving to the Netherlands will know the country mainly by its most famous painters: artists like Johannes Vermeer or Vincent Van Gogh have inspired many aspiring painters to move to the Netherlands for work or studies.

Moving to the Netherlands: The Queen

Since the constitutional reforms of 1848, the Netherlands has been a hereditary parliamentary monarchy. The constitution determines the duties and responsibilities of the Queen and other government authorities. Queen Beatrix ascended the throne in 1980.

Moving to the Netherlands will give you the chance to hear the Queen’s annual speech on the Prinsjesdag (third Tuesday in September). In her speech, the Queen addresses the plans for the upcoming year, advises the head of Parliament and signs laws and royal resolutions.

Move to the Netherlands: Political System

Your move to the Netherlands will sooner or later also confront you with the country’s political system. The Cabinet, for instance, is formed by the State Secretaries and the Council of Ministers. The latter has administrative responsibilities, e.g. preparing and implementing laws.

Parliament (Staaten General) consists of two chambers: the Senate (Eerste Kamer) and the House of Representatives (Tweete Kamer). The second chamber has 150 elected members who supervise the work of the government. If a conflict arises between the government and the second chamber, the latter always has the last word.

The 75 members of the first chamber are elected by the members of Parliament in the 12 provinces (Provinciale Staten). The Senate has to approve laws before they are passed, but it does not have the right to make any changes.

Moving to the Netherlands: Economy

The fact that the country is slowly recovering from economic turmoil will become apparent to you after moving to the Netherlands. The economy, which mainly relies on foreign trade and financial services, was hit rather hard by the 2008/2009 crisis. During this time, exports declined by about 25%.

However, expats moving to the Netherlands may find jobs in various different economic sectors. The predominant industries are food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining and electrical machinery. The highly mechanized food sector in particular produces a large surplus for processing and export. It provides employment for internationally operating logistic experts moving to the Netherlands from abroad.

Moving to the Netherlands: Residency

Nationals of any of the EU/EEA member states (with the exception of Bulgaria and Romania) are free to move to the Netherlands and remain in the country. However, if you plan to stay for more than three months, you have to register with your municipal administration after moving to the Netherlands. For that you will need:

• a valid ID or passport
• birth certificate, marriage certificate and other documents
• the lease or sales contract of your apartment or house

Contact your local administration beforehand to find out which documents you need exactly, as the requirements are subject to change. They may also vary, depending on where you settle after your move to the Netherlands.