Working in the Netherlands is attractive: All jobs in the Netherlands at international companies

Do you want to work as an expat in the Netherlands?

Society is becoming increasingly international. More and more Dutch people are working abroad, but the opposite is also happening. More and more expats are coming to the Netherlands to work here. Would you like to work in the Netherlands as well? There may be various reasons for this. You may be studying in the Netherlands and want to earn some money in addition to your studies. It is also possible that there is little work to be found in your country of origin, as a result of which you will look beyond the border. Do you work for an international company with one or more branches in the Netherlands? Of course, it is also possible that you will be transferred to a Dutch headquater. Are you going to work in the Netherlands? Then of course it's so easy when you know all about it. We tell you in this text!

Where do you end up?

If you want to work as an expat in the Netherlands, you naturally want to know where you end up and what the job opportunities are. There's a good chance that you'll be working in the west of the country. Why? Because this is the economic hub of the Netherlands. A number of large companies are located in cities such as Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam. So when you start working for such a company, chances are you will end up here. However, not all activity takes place in the Randstad, as the area in the west of the Netherlands is called. It is also possible that you will be working in other cities or large towns in the Netherlands. 

Excellent working conditions in the Netherlands

Generally speaking, there are good working conditions in the Netherlands. This is certainly the case when we compare working conditions, for example, with countries such as Japan and America. People in these two countries are accustomed to long working weeks. In the Netherlands, a standard working week is usually 40 hours. However, it is becoming increasingly common for companies to use a four-day working week. This means that you are free for three days. This is something that is almost unthinkable in the aforementioned countries. In addition, employees in the Netherlands also have relatively large paid holidays. Therefore, a world opens up for expats when they come to work in the Netherlands.  

Special scheme for expats

For most expats, working in the Netherlands is therefore particularly attractive. However, it gets even better. In the Netherlands, an expat can apply for the so-called 30% scheme. This is a scheme set up by the Tax and Customs Administration. Why? Because expats in the Netherlands sometimes incur extra costs. This, of course, makes it unattractive to work in the Netherlands. The 30% rule is intended to prevent expats from neglecting the Netherlands. Thanks to this scheme, an employer may give expats a free (tax-free) reimbursement for the extra costs incurred by an expat. An employer can also choose to provide 30 percent of the salary of an expat. Are you afraid that you do not qualify for the scheme? That is not necessary. You do not have to demonstrate the extra costs you incur. In fact, almost every expat who comes to work in the Netherlands can make use of this scheme. However, permission must be requested from the Tax and Customs Administration. An expat can submit a request together with the employer. 

No or hardly any language barrier

If you are going to work abroad as an expat, you will often face a language barrier. However, this is not the case in the Netherlands. At least, most of the time not. Despite the fact that Dutch is generally spoken at the workplace, on average the Dutch speak English quite well. This is certainly the case with the larger, international companies. In some of these companies, English is even the default language. When you go to work in the west of the country, you often don't have to worry about a language barrier. In the north and east of the country not everyone speaks English equally well. The average inhabitants of the north and east, on the other hand, often speak a nice word of German. So when you're proficient in English and German, you don't have to worry about a language barrier at all!

Costly housing, good infrastructure

As an expat, did you find any vacancies in the Netherlands? Then, of course, you must also have shelter. Sometimes this is arranged by the company where you are going to work. However, this is by no means always the case. Often an expat just has to look for housing himself. Are you going to work in the west of the country? Do not expect that you will find a large house for a small fee. The houses in the Randstad are quite expensive and often small in size. In the east of the country it is all a lot cheaper and bigger. When you move away from your workplace, you will have to travel every day. However, this is not a problem in the Netherlands. The infrastructure in this country is very good. There are many high-quality roads and you can also take the train to the west of the country easily and quickly. So you can quietly live a little further away from your work. 

Cycling to work

When you, as an expat, are looking for vacancies in the Netherlands, you quickly notice that many Dutch people go to work by bicycle. The Netherlands is, after all, the bicycle country par excellence. Everyone has a bicycle at home. As an expat, a bicycle is certainly not to be missed if you are going to work in the Netherlands. Certainly not when you live a stone's throw from your work. In that case, you can easily cycle every day. Not only is this healthy, it is also a lot better for the environment than going by car or public transport every time. 

Haven't found a job yet? So you can quickly find vacancies in the Netherlands!

Most expatriates do not come to the Netherlands until they have a job. However, this does not apply to everyone. Haven't you found a job in the Netherlands yet? Then it is high time to look for it. However, as an expat it is not always easy to find work in the Netherlands. Why not? Because this may be different from what you are used to. A good first step is to look for work on the Internet. For work in the Netherlands, for example, you can take a look at Search Jobs Abroad. On this website you will find the necessary vacancies for work in the Netherlands. Is there nothing suitable for this? Then, of course, you can search a little further. However, you can also register at a temporary employment agency. In that case you will automatically be notified when there is a suitable vacancy for you. Finally, you can of course also just send an open application to several companies. When you're a bit lucky, a company reacts positively. In short: you have plenty of opportunities to find work in the Netherlands. 

Popular sectors with vacancies in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the government has invested in a knowledge economy for many years. As a result, many people have completed a higher professional education (HBO) course. As a result, there is currently a serious shortage of people with technical training. Do you have a technical education and would you like to work in the Netherlands? Chances are that you will find a job in the shortest possible time. For example, there is a shortage of ground workers, plumbers and electricians. Programmers are also more than welcome in the Netherlands. Are these jobs not in your street? Not a problem, because nurses, cooks, horticulturists and truck drivers can generally find work in the Netherlands quickly. And so there are countless other sectors in the Netherlands where a lot of work can be found. 

Do you have to have certain documents to work in the Netherlands?

Do you want to work in the Netherlands? Then you'll surely be curious whether you'll have to apply for certain documents. This depends on the country you live in. For example, employees from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland do not need a visa or a permit to work in the Netherlands. Within the EEA, there is free movement of persons. Residents from these countries can therefore start their jobs in the Netherlands without any problems. Do you not live in the EEA, but do you want to work in the Netherlands? In that case, you must apply for a single residence and work permit (GVVA). You therefore only need to submit one application to the IND. Do you want to work in the Netherlands for less than 3 months? Are you a seasonal worker, student or asylum seeker? Or are you an employee of an international group and are you transferred to the Netherlands? In that case, you only need to apply for a residence permit to be allowed to work in the Netherlands. 

When can a company hire someone from outside the EEA?

Do you live outside the EEA and want to work in the Netherlands? It can then be difficult to find a job. A company may only hire someone from outside the EEA if there is no suitable candidate to be found within the EEA. In addition, the vacancy in question must have been open for at least five weeks. In fact, vacancies that are difficult to fill have to be open for five months. Finally, the employer must make every effort to find personnel within the Netherlands or the EEA. It can therefore be difficult to find a job in the Netherlands as an expat from outside the EEA. Do you want to be sure you find a suitable job? Then it would be a good idea to find a job before you leave for the Netherlands. In that case, there is nothing to prevent you from working in the Netherlands!