Insurance and Mortgage Question

Member since 01 September 2020

LonxitMember01 September 2020 15:47:27

Hi Amsterdam Community!

I have a job offer in Amsterdam (indefinite contract). I'm due to move in a few weeks time. I am a UK national so have been doing a lot of research into the things I need to get started in the Netherlands.

I have two unrelated set of questions:

1) Insurance. I understand that health insurance is compulsory and will use https://www.zorgwijzer.nl/ to find an adequate policy. Furthermore I have a global insurance policy with that covers me but this will be regarded as supplementary, which I am okay with.

My current employer in London provides all the policies that I need. From health to income protection to critical illness to life assurance to income protection.

Is this something like this available privately in the Netherlands? I've had a look on google with limited results and I'm assuming it's due to the Dutch term for the type of policies.

2) I plan to purchase a flat in the next 2-3 months. Is there a general requirement that you need to live in the country for x number of months to be eligible? If so, I can get a longer term rental place but at the moment, work is willing to put me up for 2 months.

Thanks!

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

Member since 15 September 2015

CynicUK/Netherlands Expert01 September 2020 16:07:20

8034

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Question 1 - Paying into the Dutch Health Insurance is compulsory. Other insurance schemes (life, house, motor etc) are all available, start off with your bank to get you going, then when it comes to renewal and you have some experience and maybe picked up a bit of the Dutch language, you can shop around the various Insurance brokers; it's very similar to the UK in that respect.

Question 2 - Your issue will be the lack of any recognisable credit rating and the fact that the most you can borrow will be what the evaluator's report says in regards to what he/she thinks it's worth. It's not unusual (especially in popular regions) for there to be a shortfall between the 2 which if you want the house badly enough, you have to make up from your own cash. Apart from that, it's down to the bank, so get yourself registered at the Town Hall and as soon as you have your BSN, go and open your bank account and make an appointment to speak to someone regarding a mortgage.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Lonxit Member

Member since 01 September 2020

LonxitMember07 September 2020 19:54:52

Thank you!

Will share what I have learnt over the past week from speaking with a few mortgage advisors.
1) If you are willing to pay the money - ranging from €2-3k - mortgage advisors can shop around for more deals that don't have a minimum stay requirement
2) The cost includes ancillary services including guiding you through all the checks that you need to undertake (valuation report for example), how to arrange a notary etc.
3) They will find you mortgages from both banks and insurers
4) Have the documents they require ahead of the first consultation so they can make an accurate assessment. As I haven't moved, I don't have all these yet so the total mortgage you can take out will be a rough estimate