Living in the Netherlands: the ultimate expat guide

Geography of the Netherlands

The Netherlands is an extremely flat country. Technically, the southern and eastern parts are the foothills of the Ardennes Mountains, but otherwise, you won’t see any mountains here; just hills and dunes.

The Netherlands and the northern part of Belgium make up what’s known as “the low countries”. 26% of the total land area is below sea level.

Three main rivers run through the country: the Rhine, the Maas, and the Waal. They run mostly from east to west and empty into the North Sea. Another notable body of water is the IJsselmeer, which is the largest (manmade) lake in the whole country.

The four main cities you will need to know are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht. Together, they form the Randstad, which is considered a conurbation.

The climate of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate. The summers are usually cool, and winters are moderate, although it does snow often.

If you decide to move here, there are two main things you need to worry about: wind and rain. However, you will soon learn to appreciate those rare sunny, still-winded days!

The economy of the Netherlands

This country has a diverse economy, providing healthcare, banking, transportation, and other services. Their primary industries are agriculture, oil and natural gas, electronic machinery and equipment, metal and engineering products, and more.

Some notable international brands you will find here are: 

• Royal Dutch Shell (oil company)
• Phillips (home electronics)
• TomTom (navigation)

Immigration in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a wonderfully diverse country, which means it shouldn’t be too difficult to fit in. As of 2019, there were 17.1 million people residing here.

As expected, the majority of expats come from Europe, as they are in close proximity to the country and can exercise freedom of movement to travel to other EU countries easily. The majority of them come from Poland. Other countries that have high immigration to the Netherlands are Asia, Americas, and Africa.

Language in the Netherlands

Although the main language of the Netherlands is Dutch, the majority of the population speaks fluent English. The Dutch claim to be the best English speakers in the world, and they may be right on that front.

In the majority of cases, you can get by for years without learning any Dutch, especially if you live in the Randstad. Obviously, if you live out in the countryside, you may find it more challenging to have zero knowledge of the native language. But if you are moving here for university, you will be pleased to know that half of all courses are taught in English.

If you do learn Dutch, you will have to insist on speaking it. When Dutchies hear non-native speakers struggling with their language, they will naturally switch to English. While this may be easier for you, it won’t help in advancing your Dutch language skills in the long run

And don’t be afraid to be direct in voicing your desire to practice your Dutch skills. In fact, the Dutch are known for being straightforward and blunt. While it may seem jarring at first, you will soon become accustomed and may even pick up this habit yourself!

Social life in the Netherlands

When you move to the Netherlands, be prepared to attend many borrels. Borrels are where you go for a drink and light snacks with your friends or coworkers. While the Dutch work hard, they play hard too! At many workplaces, you can expect regular after-work borrels, usually held on Fridays.

In the summer, on the rare sunny days, you will see plenty of Dutchies out in the canals, sunning themselves on boats. Be sure to partake in this pastime, as you won’t get many chances to!