- Pascal Tremblay
With InterNations as my network, I have been able to make many friends learn the ins and outs about living in The Hague.
American Expats Moving to the Netherlands: Your Questions, Answered
If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in the Netherlands, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in the Netherlands. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.
What are the most common nationalities in the Netherlands? As an expat in the Netherlands, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in the Netherlands currently are:
- British
- Americans
- Italians
- Indians
Which cities are most popular among expats in the Netherlands? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in the Netherlands:
- Amsterdam
- The Hague
- Rotterdam
How much rent do expats pay in the Netherlands? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 1.375 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.645 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within the Netherlands.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in the Netherlands.
Average rent in Amsterdam
- Single expats: 1.735 USD
- Expat families: 2.405 USD
Average rent in The Hague
- Single expats: 1.205 USD
- Expat families: 1.675 USD
Average rent in Rotterdam
- Single expats: 1.434 USD
- Expat families: 1.836 USD
How safe are the Netherlands?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in the Netherlands as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.
How safe is the Netherlands for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in the Netherlands as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in the Netherlands (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.
Meet other Americans at our events in the Netherlands
Attend our monthly events and activities for Americans expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Want to meet other Americans at our events?
Why Americans move abroad … (and do they like it?)
Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.
Meet other Americans in the Netherlands
Our Global Partners
Pursue your hobbies with amazing new friends
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living abroad? There’s a variety of InterNations Groups you can join, including everything from sightseeing to hiking. These are run by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month, such as dinners in the cities finest restaurants, sports or outings with other expats to explore all that your new home has to offer.
Find other Americans to share your hobbies with
Find Tips and Advice on the Netherlands from American Expats
Of course, expat living in the Netherlands is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Dutch way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in the Netherlands, residing in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Amsterdam or Americans in The Hague.
- Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in the Netherlands.
- Obtain and share insider tips in our the Netherlands Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get st￭ turkey in The Hague.
- Search the InterNations Places database for the Netherlands to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.
From the Ijsselmeer to the linguistically unique province of Friesland, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in the Netherlands.
Join Our Expat Activities and Mingle with Fellow Americans in the Netherlands
Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in the Netherlands. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Dutch stamppot, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Amsterdam’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see modern urban life in Amsterdam as well as other beautiful landmarks in the Netherlands.
Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in the Netherlands!
- Pascal Tremblay
With InterNations as my network, I have been able to make many friends learn the ins and outs about living in The Hague.
- Lastri Sasongko
Making new friends and contacts in the Hague was much easier once I began to attent InterNations events.
