What is it like working in the Netherlands?
Work-life balance. No hierarchy. High taxes. What is it like working in the Netherlands for internationals, expats, and foreigners?
Would also love to hear your thoughts...leave them in the comments below!
Thanks and take care =)
David
⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:28 🇬🇷 Greece
05:03 🇹🇷 Turkey
11:27 🇵🇪 Peru
16:35 Ending
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🇳🇱 Dutch culture shocks - • What are the biggest D...
🇳🇱 What do internationals like about the Netherlands - • What do internationals...
🇳🇱 Living in a Dutch Canal House - • Apartment Tour: 400-ye...
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😁 WHO AM I?
I'm David, a Californian living in Amsterdam. I make videos about life in the Netherlands, hiking/traveling, and the Camino de Santiago.
🔸 If you live in the Netherlands, I'd love to hear your story and interview you about your experiences:
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#lifeinthenetherlands #expatlife #livinginthenetherlands
What have been your experiences working in the Netherlands? 🇳🇱
Personal Liberty and sense of freedom astonished me. Old people stay alone in Netherlands. that didnot align with my idea of family. Again surprised.
The Netherlands is the country in Europe with the LEAST days off, with a very poor salary, the highest fixed costs in Europe, you work purely for the fixed costs and the tax! And it lets in the most hopeless 'refugees'. In short, a country that was once known for its social commitment to its citizens, but now participates in who is the 'best boy in the WEF class'! My advice as a Dutchy; stay very far away from this country!
Tell you then I find a job 😕
As a Dutch guy, I would like to say these videos are fun and positive, which is great to hear, but just after people from abroad have seen that they might want to know what the disadvantages are. As you are asking a lot of people who have been here years it would be useful to ask about their struggles. Or find out why people are leaving. My guess is the number one problem is: housing ? Getting one ? And cost compared to income.
Thanks…I do have a video about the challenges people face, would love to hear your thoughts What is difficult about life in the Netherlands? kzhead.info/sun/o8mGdsOSeYSvoqs/bejne.html
@@hidavidwen ahh, thanks for linking the video, I guess I searched for the wrong keywords 🙂
What I like about working in The Netherlands is how non-hierarchical the work place is, at least in the way how people interact with each other. Your a person first, a function within the organization second. Few examples: I calll the owner of the company I work for simply by his first name. In other countries, probably like Germany, that would be considered disrespectful. Also for example waiters in the country earn a normal living wage and dont need your tip, so they are probably not prepared to take any shit the way American servers will. They are a person first, and their job at that time happens to be the person who brings you your food. There are of course exeptions, for example banking and law are still very traditional so expect it to be way more formal.
Thanks for sharing Sander. Yes, I also like the egalitarian society here and that people, even waiters, earn living wages (though to be honest in a place like Amsterdam, I can imagine it’s hard to survive because housing is so expensive and so scarce)
@@hidavidwen Well, of course we must not forget that 40% of all homes in Amsterdam are in the social sector so once you have one of those, you're good! Now getting one is of course the challenge here, but still. I for one have lived in one for the last 12 years. My rent is a whopping 476 euro/m and the place is valued by the city at around 350k, so yeah, thats a steal. Im moving to Volendam to a family home though. Still very much in "suburb" territory, only 20 min by bus or an hour and 10 min cycling for when I feel like I need exercise. The place is way more affordable than anything in Amsterdam. 300k for 110m2 plus a garden in front and at the back of the property. For something that close to the city thats still very reasonable and probably not even remotely available in a London or New York City situation.
You clearly talk from the perspective of enjoying the benefits, that others are paying for.
Thanks David. Very informative.
Thanks Joe!
Another excellent video!
Thanks Tony!
Found your channel and seriously loving all the topics you discuss: meaning of life, work life balance, camino de Santiago, and life in the USA versus Europe. Subscribed ❤
Thanks :) Haha yeah it’s a bit of everything…but it’s been a big part of my life the past 5 years so thanks for kind words!
Next month I'll migrate to the Netherlands, I hope the things you said is right and I face the same positive experience. thank you for the information
Best of luck with the move! And hope you have a wonderful experience
People are people all over the world. I have contact with and a good friend in limburg area for 2 years now. He is in his early 50's and I am 14 years older. We both respect each other and have lots of laughs every day. We are so much alike. In contrast, I know of a dutch woman who lives in the Rotterdam area, also in her early 50's, that likes to do fake car accidents that I did not know. We were good friends for over a year and then she showed me her fake accident to her car and sued for injury to her left shoulder and damage to her car. She got a car mechanic to lie for her and disassembled the entire back of her car panels and fixed all the rust and claimed it for the no damage car accident. after almost 4 years now she is still suing and getting treatment for a fake injury. There are good and bad people all over the world. But the dutch are very direct and want you to be not so direct. Except for my friend. We always tell it like it is. We say what we think to each other. We laugh about it. We chat mostly every day. We are both married without children. We think alike in many ways. Life is life. 🙂 I am from america.
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Thank you john, you're right. ❤
If you are willing to assimilate and adopt our culture.
@@audreykennedy90 NL is the BORG. They will assimilate you. They are just like any other human. I have a few dutch friends that I write to almost everyday for 2+ years. Different cultures and they know English, but... they don't understand it. Big difference. I know a woman who is also a criminal and everyone loves her because she has old cars. She is a "brake checker" for VW cars only and then fakes injuries and damage and then sues for 3-4 years faking to be severely injured. The police don't care and NL fraud does not care and her club does not care. Fraud is alive and doing well in NL.
I'm really enjoying your channel, already watched quite a few videos. I appreciate the interviews you did with people from various background. It helped me gain a wider perspective, as I'm contemplating moving there. I'm looking forward to taking the leap this year I hope!
Thanks Kimberly for the kind words and glad it helped you gain a wider perspective =) Also gives me more motivation too. I hope you take the leap...what a journey it will be!
@@hidavidwen I'm sure it will be! Would it be possible to contact you directly to ask you a few other questions specifically pertaining to my situation?
Very informative video 🎉
🙌🙏🙏
Great video! The Netherlands is a great place! 🤩🇳🇱
Thanks Chris, it really is!
I agree, and I live my whole life here already. Don't forget to visit the islands!
These continue to very informative and unique videos! Great for us wondering if the grass is greener on the other side of the pond.
Thanks =) Glad you found it informative
great video
Thanks Juan
My boyfriend and i watch your videos often :) very helpful and we are moving to The Netherlands very soon and get help from your videos a lot :)
Aw glad to hear Hazey. Exciting! Where are you two moving to??
@@hidavidwen probably in the Gelderland region or Friesland. I've visited Friesland more but from our research, Gelderland seemed great too 😊
@@hazeyy26 Best of luck! I haven't spent too much time in Friesland but I do like nature in Gelderland (Veluwe park)
Great video! Thank you I'm moving to the NL and currently on a job hunt. But I find it bit hard to find a job as non Dutch speaker and as a person who doesn't have many years of experience 😅I wonder where expats go to look for jobs...?
Hey Shinegerel - thanks so much! What is your profession? Yeah, it's not easy. If you look for jobs at international companies, it will be a lot easier. LinkedIn is probably the best job hunting platform for expats. Good luck!
Good
@6:35 - 5th actually according to your own graphs. 😁
Very well said by each individual. One of my dream country to immigrate. Appreciate if any one can guide any genuine consultant for work visa
Best of luck to you!
But they are all profesionals with good skills good lifes i want to understand how a worker that workd on a hotel restaurant bar cafe works
Thanks Franky for the feedback
Have you interviewed any Brit ex-pats? Be interesting to hear their views. The only reason I ask is that I am a brit who is considering the move to NKL in the new year. I have yet to find a Brit on youtube with their views on NL. specially post brexit.
Yes, I’d like to hear their views too. As I’m moving in the next 5-7 years 🙏🏾
Thanks Tony, what are you curious about? I know a few Brits here
@@hidavidwen lol funnily enough I hadn't thought that far ahead on specifics but I guess generally how things have changed for Brits now non EU found it hard to move and find work in NL post Brexit.
Maybe a bit premature but Welcome to our small little place in the world.
I know a relative who is married to a woman from England. She is a barrister and she had absolutely no problem with coming over, as far as I understand it. Perhaps unrelated but she was particularly impressed with the healthcare system. When she had her first child she said that the quality of the care was something you can only get in the UK in the private sector. As far as i know it was never a question where she wanted to raise her kids, so that must be a good sign. I personally have friends in the UK, met them on a holiday on the Canary Islands and stayed friends ever since. They even came over with their daughter to spend the weekend with my wife and our son in a famous themepark here, the Efteling. They are great people and the way we think and behave socially seems to be very compatible. I think culturally, The Netherlands and the UK are very closely related. First and foremost of course is the language, English is like an unoffical second language here. Thats important because this will allow you to learn the Dutch language while you are already here since its not a requirement to know it to be able to function in society. There are many jobs available that dont require knowledge of the Dutch language for example.
I’m from Texas, thinking about moving there. What do you think about the nutrition/ trainer career
Not sure but give it a shot!
@@hidavidwen I tried to contact an office that works with expat and the guy said I wouldn’t be able to get a visa with my degree… should I try the embassy
Why is he laughing and doing the things with his mouth when the Turkish men is speaking? It seemed like he means ‘I do not believe you’ to what the Turkish man is saying
hahaha, the way you said 'think' in the intro sounded like a Dutch 'aardappel in de keel' accent xD I'm sorry
😂😂
I have been told the Dutch spoken in Haarlem has the least amount of accent/dialect. Like the Dutch that is spoken in the daily TV news bulletins, which is amongst the most purest Dutch you can hear. Disclaimer: I have never been to Haarlem. I've been to Groningen, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, which have very distinctive accents!
I want to move to Netherland but the income tax really scares me, that's too much!
Thanks for sharing. To be honest, I was scared too at the beginning. But it's not bad at all, it all works out in the benefits you get that you don't really see-the infrastructure, social benefits, etc. Well if you make a lot of money in the Netherlands, you will get taxed half of it. But it definitely favors the majority (average salary is 36500€) who don't make A LOT of money. You also don't need A LOT of money to live a good life in the Netherlands
I am Dutch. Yes, we pay a higher tax than in other countries, but it shows where the tax goes to. Our infrastructure is superb. We have one of the best roads in Western Europe, perhaps the world. Our telephone / internet coverage is excellent. We have social welfare, lots of social benefits. Our public transportation is top notch. When the financial crisis hit Europe, it didn't hit the Netherlands as hard, causing many young professionals from South Europe to move here. In my hometown Rotterdam there are several quarters with a high percentage of Spanish speaking residents, since that time. During Covid, the lockdown, our government stepped in financially to help entrepreneurs. And yet many Dutchmen tend to whine and complain. That's also the Netherlands 😉 I share David's videos to show my fellow Dutchmen how good life here is. Often we don't realise it, but when expats, foreigners show us a mirror, I do. Furthermore I was born in Asia. Whenever I visit my relatives, I am confronted with their daily reality. I am grateful to my late parents that they decided to migrate to the Netherlands. Believe it or not, I gladly pay my taxes since it pays back clearly.
I feel salary is less even with international companies in the Netherlands. Let me know if this true.
Hi Shankar - this is always relative. Salary is less than the US (where I am from) but still higher than many places in the world. There are other benefits here like work life balance that money cannot buy
@@hidavidwen thanks for the response David. I understand.
True, in comparison to the Scandinavian and DACH countries (German speaking countries), salaries in The Netherlands tend to be lower, whereas the quality of life is higher in these countries. Even though the idea of the author seems to be it is all paradise in The Netherlands, there is more than just saying work life balance is making up for lower salaries.
No place is perfect, but in the US, we now have several states that have refused money from the Federal government to feed children who don't have enough to eat. What kind of person supports not feeding children? Whatever the negatives in the Netherlands at least, so far, they take care of their people.
Plz interview a PhD employee experience too
PhD experience varies a lot. What is common here is that people not necessarily work in their field of expertise, because jobs in that particular sector might be unavailable. Its usually more proof of the fact that you function on a certain level of competence. Experience is very imporant too, just a degree by itself is not the only thing employers look for. Other than that, its not something that gets you a lot of respect in general. You are still just a person like everybody else and a cleaner is just as important to the organization as the employee with a PhD. It is not common that people use their academic titles. For example Germany is different in that regard. To be a doctor or a professor is something that is often reflected in the way people adress you, so its more formal in that regard. So, in short, having a PhD is obviously important in regard to the sort of position thats available to you and the salary attached to that position, but other than that, your day-to-day working experience will be the same as everyone else's pretty much.
@@ageoflove1980 Thanks Sander for your insights. PhD employee means I was referring to a PhD student . I mentioned word employee because here they treat PhD student as an employee. So I was curious to know about the working as a PhD student, how is it managed work - life balance.
Yeah.. PhD usually earn a salary (you are not a student, but might still have a few student benefits). However, unfortunately, it is one of the most toxic work environments bordering criminal (there have been many reports in Dutch, plus know personally multiple students and postdoc). But it depends on which University you are doing your work, but if I remember correctly about 60~80% have for Dutch and European standards pretty shtty work-life balance with lots of overwork. However, if you do your PhD primally or part-time as employ of a company, then you will be earning decent and have only some overwork plus near normal work-life balance. On the other hand, if you mean you already hold a PhD, then it's value is very limited only really have a return on investment of minimum 5-7 years of relevant work experience for senior role.
@@Sayhoun Thanks for useful insights. I was talking about one who is about to pursue PhD. And it will be primary role, no other part time work.
As an American, wouldn't I have to pay taxes to the US despite working in another country?
Generally, only if you earn above 100k (I believe 120k in 2023 but double check). Americans still file taxes regardless but there are foreign tax credits/exclusions you can take so you don’t pay double taxes
@@hidavidwen I still have student debt, and I'm taking classes again as I work, which adds to my debt. Unless I get paid a lot, living abroad will not be viable.
Working in a Netherlands it's big question still. But for a europe union countries it's not problema, try to start to work in a Zeeland if you are resident in NL 😂
Thanks for sharing. Any reason why Zeeland? I’ve never been but want to visit!
@hidavidwen Cause it's absolutely different between North Holland 🇳🇱 plus borders and other rich France investors, boats and Germany controls.
I worked from my 15 years until 66 years from 8.00 until 18.00 hour and had 3 children, My body is finished now. Not enough money to buy a house, allways rent. Work, work and not mutch money because the rent and other bills is allmost the whole salaris, so not mutch for food etc
Thanks for sharing Anne. Are you now retired and how are you doing? I'm hoping your body is recovered or recovering...that is the most important.
@@hidavidwen Yes I am retired. I do not so good, have bladdercancer and intestines cancer. But it goes reasneble good, I am still alive! And I hope to stay alive for 10 years! Thank you!
@@AnnevanPaulus I hope you stay alive for many more than 10 years. I really like the positive spirit you seem to have...it just gave me a boost of inspiration. Wishing you lots of happiness and good health in 2023 and beyond!
@@hidavidwen Thank you very mutch
12:30 Leuke vioolplant!
This video proves nothing in particular. The interviewees seem to belong to a very specific group. Hence, there is a lot of bias. For example, working in the Netherlands is a whole different thing if you are an agency worker.
Thanks for sharing. Hope to get more perspectives in the future
As an immigrant from New York City who is also senior in her profession, I find a lot of challenges here; a deeply-rooted bias, sexism, and management that simply doesn't understand Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and whose ears are shut tightly over the issue. There's a high degree of bias against mature women, and the preference is to hire young women for less money, with the expectation that we will take on a lot of extra work which in turn mandates undocumented overtime. Work-life balance is highly touted at the entry level, but once one gets close to the glass ceiling, forget about it. The norm in IT of the one-year temporary contract just enables employers to burn immigrants out and then rehire from the steady supply of cheap labour. As one recruiter told me, he felt proud about hiring lots of women to balance out the workforce, until he realised that men were walking away from the lowball offers, whereas women cannot afford to walk. I could go on, but ought to mention that with the wage gap being 17% in 2022, it's unfair that women should spend hundreds monthly just to maintain a appearance that makes us more youthful and attractive. Interview me, and I'll bring the facts.
Hi Nellie - thanks for sharing your experience. And unfortunate to hear how you felt like you were treated. I know about these challenges though I cannot relate- but it is a very important, relevant topic. I know in terms of diversity, equiity, inclusion-there's a lot of work to be done everywhere-how does this experience as a more mature woman in IT differ from New York City?
The one year contracts have nothing to do with foreigners. We all get 1year contracts to start with. And then extended for another year and than a long term contract. That’s standard for the whole Dutch workforce. Its wrong to put that as BURNING OUT FOREIGN employees. Especially in IT there is a huge demand of employees and long term contracts are mostly offered after the first 1year contract. And hiring younger employees cos they cost less has been like that forever here in The Netherlands not only women also men. But senior employees with a long term contract aren’t fired to be replaced by younger persons. The long term contracts can’t be stopped by the company at will. The employee is protected from that through regulations. Only severe malfunctioning/misconduct or closing down full departments or companies are reasons to fire an employee. The employee is well protected in The Netherlands. And undocumented overtime? We have 40hr workweeks and above a certain senior level in a company you get payed that much more to notcount the hours, you do your job as financial director and you don’t count hours. The pay compensates that. You get payed for it. The normal IT employee has 40hr work week and doesn’t do much overtime unless there’s a crisis of some sort. And often get those hours back in free time. In lower ranks jobs like distribution they do have clocks and get payed for the exact hours they work with an hourly rate. And your assumption that young women are hired to do extra hours and forced undocumented overtime is simply wrong. In general young men and women whowantto make a big career and get higher within the hierarchy, will put in extra overtime show they ‘have what it takes’. Its their investment for a high payed senior position later in their career. And yes there are companies using their ambition to let them work hard but it’s thechoice of the employee to take that job or not. Its definitely not USUAL to all branches/companies. In the investment industry and some IT businesses where the big pay off is high in the hierarchy, young employees feel the needed proof that they have the commitment togrow to that very high payed position too and thus do a lot of overtime for it.
Typical american reaction and not true for 90%
Hehe, taxes lol. Welcome in europe. The social benefits are not free
Nothing is truly free 😄
Nothing to do with social benefits.
@@EGO0808 it does. Social assistance and unemployment benefits, for example, are paid for via taxes. The very first tax bracket to be exact, is specificaly for social benefits.
@@EGO0808 Bad example, my bad. AOW, Wlz and Anw are better examples.
We pay less tax than the usa.
I couldn’t imagine losing that much of my pay to taxes, for social programs I don’t need and wouldn’t use.
Cool you don't use roads or public transport. Could you teach me to fly? (If this is a harsh reply: I just think its weird people assume they don't use their environment.)
Probably you won't get sick or get seriously disabled one day. Congratulations!
@@mariadebake5483 thanks!
@@Pleunpleun I only use roads, which don’t require over 50% income tax. Not harsh, a fair question!
Income tax is 36.93% for an annual salary up to €73,031 and 49.5% for anything over that amount, and you pay that higher percentage on the top part only, (2023 tariffs). Not “over 50%” Still a lot but nowhere as much as people seem to think.
Clearly these are selected interviews with happy expats, that confirm the wishful thinking of the author. It’s the clichés about ‘egalitarian’, ‘honesty’ and ‘direct communication’. That is just a privileged part of the story, of expats paying less taxes, being able to speak out, whereas in their countries of origins (meditteranean, latin), this was not the case. Of course that makes for a happy environment, but that’s expatlife in any country.
Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective. Not all expats pay less taxes. Nor are all expats happy.
@@hidavidwen, as an expat in The Netherlands, you do pay less income tax than the locals. That's just a fact.
Don’t go to the Netherlands, we are full no houses anymore (shortage of 300.000 houses) work wil collapse soon also.
I have question. Is it easy to find accounts payable and accounts receivable jobs in the Netherlands.
Hi Faryal - there are Finance and Accounting jobs, check out LinkedIn. “Easy” is subjective but there are jobs
what is else to do in NL? weather is shit, no nature, maybe go to the shopping mole?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Complaining about the weather is a fun thing to do...
@@hidavidwen Dutch national hobby