Get real advice, feel at home faster
Are you an American in The Hague — or are you considering moving here? Imagine you could meet fellow Americans who miss the same traditions from home, like celebrating the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, or just watching the Super Bowl. American expats are also a source of first-hand tips and info to help you get settled in The Hague. Whether you need someone to help you with filing those complicated American taxes, recommendations for international schools, or even tips on how to survive the Dutch weather, the InterNations community has you covered! Read on to discover the ups and downs of living in The Hague and how to meet other Americans at our fun events.
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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.
Why Americans move abroad (& 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.
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Why you'll love InterNations in The Hague
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
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The pros & cons of living in The Hague (according to American expats)
No place is absolutely perfect. There’s always the good, the bad and the ugly – read about what our American members love about The Hague but also the challenges they face.
Pros of living in The Hague
Ease of travel: Public transport in The Hague is very convenient and frequent, making it easy to get around. Various options are available, including buses, trams, metros, and even ferries. For Americans used to needing a car in major US cities, this is often a nice change. Traveling around Europe is also easy and affordable.
No language barrier: Most Dutch people speak English well and the city itself is quite international. This makes daily life — and making friends with locals — less of a hassle. But still, it won’t hurt to learn a little Dutch before moving.
Work-life balance: In The Hague, people work to live, not live to work. The Netherlands has one of the shortest average working weeks in the world — around 29 to 36 hours. There are also a minimum of 20 paid vacation days and sick days. Not only is this more generous compared to the US, there’s also a lot more flexibility.
Temporary tax relief: There’s a tax benefit (a.k.a. the Dutch “30% ruling”) for highly skilled foreign employees. If you qualify, that means you receive 30% of your salary tax-free for up to 5 years. A nice perk for Americans who live and work here!
Cons of living in The Hague
Crowded: The Hague is the most densely populated city in the Netherlands, with a lot of residents and tourists in a relatively small city. Getting around the city center on weekends can be tough due to overcrowding.
Limited housing: A small city with a high population makes housing limited. It’s hard to find a suitable place to live, and it can be very expensive. However, it’s fair to say that finding accommodation here is still easier than in many cities in the US.
Bad weather: Winters in The Hague can be very cold and long. It rains a lot, even during the summer. And when it’s not raining, the skies are often still grey and the wind can be brutal.
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What Americans say they like about living in the Hague
We have gathered some positive and negative quotes from Americans living in the Hague. Let's start with the positive ones first.
What Americans wish was different in the Hague
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Meet American expats at fun events in The Hague
Moving to a new city can feel lonely at first. The easiest way to make friends? Join our events and meet other globally-minded expats and locals! Don’t be shy to introduce yourself — you’ll quickly get to know a bunch of international people and other Americans in no time. Check out our upcoming events you’ll soon feel like part of The Hague’s expat family. Our welcoming Ambassadors will introduce you to other newcomers and more experienced expats living here. Look out for our Newcomers’ Events, which are geared towards people who are new to the city. You’ll grow your network in no time.
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All your questions about living in The Hague, answered
Quite a few American expats live in the more international parts of town, where many global companies are located and where it’s easier to find opportunities for socializing. Here are some of the most popular parts of The Hague for expats:
- Statenkwartier: One of the most international parts of town, with many international schools, embassies, and communities. Shops and boutiques are everywhere.
- Zeeheldenkwartier: Located west of the city center, you’ll find many green spaces and a lively atmosphere with a vibrant arts scene.
- Archipelbuurt: Situated between the city center and Scheveningen beach, it offers many shopping areas and culinary options. Housing here is expensive though.
- Benoordenhout: With many international schools, hospitals, and parks, it is great for expats with kids. It also offers cozy cafes and diverse restaurants.
Whether you’re a student, a single person with a full-time job, or a family with kids, it’s good to know your budget and have a sense of the costs you’ll have to cover. The average salary for jobs in The Hague is 3500 – 4500 per month. If you’re making at least this amount, you can live comfortably here. However, if you have a family and kids to support, you might want to aim higher. Earning between 5000 and 5500 EUR is considered a good salary for a family. Here is an overview of the cost of living in The Hague:
| USD per month | Local currency per month | |
Utilities | 220 USD | 205 EUR |
Studio apartment | 1,150–1,420 USD | 1,050–1,300 EUR |
Small family home | 1,900–2,460 USD | 1,750–2,250 EUR |
Public transport | 60 USD | 55 EUR |
Mobile phone & internet | 65 USD | 60 EUR |
Meal at a restaurant | 15–40 USD | 15–35 EUR |
Groceries | 240 USD | 220 EUR |
Health insurance | 130 USD | 120 EUR |
The Hague is a very international city, with 15% of its residents being expats. Many people speak English, so getting around or handling basic interactions won’t be too hard. But this will feel limiting at some point. You’ll hit the language barrier now and then, and it can be frustrating. The most challenging moments usually occur when you handle official paperwork, find a flat, see a doctor, or make an official appointment. So ideally, consider using your time in The Hague to learn as much Dutch as possible. There’s a wide variety of affordable language schools to get you started. And of course, these days there are also very capable apps that allow you to learn on your own time and budget. To make things easier, we’ve collected some services that cater to English speakers for the most important aspects of life (these services are not affiliated with InterNations):
Angloinfo GP directory A list of doctors or GPs in The Hague who speak English.
Angloinfo dentist directory A list of English-speaking dentists in The Hague.
Haaglanden Medisch Centrum (HMC) Clinical hospital that provides 24/7 emergency care with a website in English.
denhaag.nl Offers relocation and registration services.
Bright Tax Get assistance with filing US taxes.
Dayinterpreting Connect to a native Dutch speaker on your phone and use the phone’s loudspeaker to have an instant interpreter with you.
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Our Global Partners
Pursue your hobbies with amazing new friends
Do you want to continue pursuing your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living abroad? You can do that easily in our InterNations Groups, which offer activities based on a wide range of interests. Groups are hosted by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month. They organize everything from dinners to sightseeing to board game nights. For example, you can enjoy nature with the Outdoors Group, share your love of music with the Jazz Group, or go on an adventure with the Boat Trips Group. There’s something for everyone!
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Enjoy the international experience — worldwide
We’re not just in The Hague! InterNations has lively communities in most of the Netherland’s major cities. If you’re traveling or moving to another city in the Netherlands, check out our American communities in Amsterdam, Rotterdam , Maastricht, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Breda, or Groningen. But that’s not all: If you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, InterNations is your go-to platform. As an InterNations member, you’re always welcome to join events in any of our communities in over 420 cities worldwide. You can find the full list here: Browse all InterNations Communities worldwide.
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American expats in the Netherlands
Other Nationalities in The Hague
Netherlands Guide Topics
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