while visiting can I still work for my us company / banking

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

No, your "fit in" reason would not be sufficient to be issued a work permit.  If you're not sure whether you want to live there or not, then US citizens can visit the Netherlands for up to 90 days without any kind of visa; read all about it here.  This scheme permits you to do tourist and business things while there.  Can't see why you can't apply/interview for work while there, just nobody can take you on and I suspect most of the agencies will show you the door once you tell them you can't start work tomorrow and don't speak Dutch.  Also, don't forget, you have to leave within 90 days and can't return for a further 180 days on this scheme.

Dutch bank account, no, you can't do that until you have a residents permit and BSN number; there are plenty of ATM's in the Netherlands.

So, what to do:

Read our Discover the Netherlands guide (top left of this page); make sure you read it thoroughly, including all the links it contains.

Check out the Dutch Government website that deals with Work permits; this link will take you straight there.

Read any links I've provided (again, thoroughly, including any links therein).

Learn Dutch - very important.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't planning on getting a work permit while on the < 90 visit from the US. I read that you had to have a reason for staying for a prolonged period of time and I thought the 'fit in' bit would make sense for a reason.

I'm trying to learn Dutch, but if you are saying that it's impossible for someone to get a job in the Netherlands without fully understanding the language then I understand it. But even if I were to start learning now with Rosetta Stone and a tutor, it seems like you'd need a couple of years of learning it and doing that in a nation that doesn't speak Dutch feels like a large lift. If I misunderstood you, I apologize.

Thanks

Hi again.

To get a decent job anywhere, you need 4 things:

Relevant experience
Relevant qualifications - the Dutch are very big on qualifications.
Speak the local language
Luck

The more you can tick off, the better your chance of getting work.  Many Dutch people speak English, but many don't, but much more importantly, life around you is in Dutch, the bus timetable, the notice in your doctor's surgery, the letter from the taxman - all in Dutch.  For any customer-facing role, good Dutch is essential.  Ask yourself the question, how do non-English speaking ex-pats get on in the US?

If you have any more specific questions, then please come back and ask.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team