Life in the Netherlands

Identification

In the Netherlands, you must be able to produce a valid identity document to show to, among others, the police at all times. This is known as the duty to provide proof of identity. Make sure that you always have a passport or ID card on you in case you need to identify yourself.

Emergency number

112 is the number to call if you experience an emergency in the Netherlands. Put the number in your phone before travelling to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is ranked the 16th most expensive country in the world to live in based on the cost of living.

High energy prices, for gas, electricity and district heating, for instance, are the main reason why the Netherlands is rapidly becoming an even more expensive place to live.

Alongside energy, food, especially meat, vegetables and fruit, are also more expensive. Clothes and shoes are among other items to have risen in price.

We have prepared a short list to give you an idea of March 2023 prices.

Fuel

Euro 95 (E10) €1.78

Diesel (B7) €1.63

Food

Chicken breast (1kg) €11.86

Beef mince (1kg) €9.49

Potatoes (1kg) €1.50

Milk (1L) €1.19

Bread (supermarket) €1.09

Beer (restaurant) €3.50

Melk (1L) €1,19

Brood (supermarkt) €1,09

Bier (restaurant) €3,50

• Go for a ride on a kick-bike in the Veluwe: take a little exercise before relaxing. Whizz down forest paths, past the Highland cattle, across the heathland and alongside the most stunning views. Electric kick-bikes are also available for hire at many places in the Veluwe.

• Rent an electric boat in Giethoorn: get together with friends or relatives, or take your family out on an electric boat. Sail through the idyllic Giethoorn and Weeribben-Wieden National Park. Enjoy a relaxing outing on the water and watch the day unfold..

• A day out in Amsterdam is always a good choice. You could take in the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, the Albert Cuyp market or just go shopping. Amsterdam offers plenty of entertainment for an enjoyable day out.

• The Netherlands also has many amusement parks, including Efteling, Walibi, Toverland, Madurodam, Tivolli, the Slagharen Amusement Park, as well as the Dolphinarium and zoos in Amersfoort, Amsterdam and Arnhem.

It is a tax scheme that allows a tax-free payment to be made to employees living abroad and working temporarily in the Netherlands to cover the additional costs incurred because they are temporarily outside their countries of origin. The CLA for Temporary Workers allows a temporary employment agency and a temporary worker to make agreements to exchange part of the pay for reimbursement of Extraterritorial Costs. The temporary worker will then relinquish part of his or her taxed pay and receive a tax-free payment in exchange.

1. If you have been recruited by a foreign recruitment agency or a foreign branch of the temporary employment agency established in the Netherlands, which is established in its country of origin or its geographical region and you appear on the recruitment list; and

2. You have a foreign home address in the geographical region of recruitment and also hold the nationality of a country in the region of recruitment; and

3. Werckpost has concluded a contract of employment with you – which states the foreign home address and – is governed by Dutch law and – which contains a temporary employment clause or has been concluded for a fixed period; and

4. Terms of employment have been agreed with you in accordance with Articles 44 and 45 of the Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU) CLA or Articles 36 and/or 36A of the Dutch Association of Intermediary Organisations and Temporary Employment Agencies (NBBU) CLA. This has been laid down in the contract of employment; and

5. Werckpost has offered health insurance, as an agreement and authorisation show; and

6. A You live in one of our dwellings

B Werckpost has organised transport from and to your country of origin.

Certain matters, rules and laws in the Netherlands are different from those in your home country. We have listed a number of those things for you:

• The Dutch population speaks English well, so if you speak a little English, you will be able to go anywhere.

• Watch out for cycle paths. The Netherlands has an infrastructure geared towards bicycle use.

• Inflation has led to a significant rise in the prices of goods and food.

• The speed limit on motorways is lower than in surrounding countries and fines for infringements are higher.

• The level of taxation is high in the Netherlands compared with some other countries. This is because the country manages a number of matters at national level: examples include healthcare, infrastructure, education and income guarantees. This means that you will pay part of your salary towards the services the country has to offer, enabling you to make use of them.

• There has been a considerable rise in house prices. The cost of renting has also increased. Werckpost will offer you accommodation with all the facilities you need at a good price.

• Temperatures during Dutch winters average just above freezing and around 20 degrees in the summer months. We do experience temperatures below or above those levels, but they are unique events.