r/Netherlands • • Jan 20 '26

Update on the moderation

671 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

We've talked some stuff through and cleaned up the mod-team a bit, although some of the names you might have positive or negative associations with are still there.
I'll leave it up to the moderators involved to clarify that, or not.

What I can tell you is that 1 mod did 97% of the moderation, and that wasn't healthy and likely led up to the situation you might have seen.

The rules have changed slightly, this is because we see your call for less strict moderation on language, but we also heard from those who want to be able to have a place to converse in English.

The compromise we've reached currently is that we intend to not moderate the language used in the comments of the post.
This means that you can have discussions in Dutch in the comments. (as long as those follow the rules of course)

We also will be looking at those banned on a case by case basis, but keep in mind that if you were harassing people, or bigoted in any way you won't be unbanned.

I'll invite you all to respond to this post with your feedback, and I know for some it might feel like too much or not enough.
We are currently trying to strike a balance between becoming r/thenetherlands2 which is bilingual but 99% Dutch in practice, and the other option of being a sub for only those speaking English.


r/Netherlands • • Apr 14 '23

[FAQ] Read this post before posting

403 Upvotes

This post is meant to cover the answers to questions that are frequently asked in this sub. Please read through the relevant section of this post before posting your question.

Contents

  • Moving to the Netherlands
  • Housing
  • Cost of living
  • Public transport
  • Language
  • 30 percent ruling
  • Improving this FAQ

Moving to the Netherlands

Netherlands is a modern country that ranks high in many global metrices on quality of life and freedom. For this reason, it attracts a fair share of attention from people interested in moving here.

If you are looking to move to the Netherlands to live/work/study, firstly, you would need to secure residency. Apart from the right to residence, you will also need to consider housing and cost of living before you move. See other sections of this post.

If you hold an EU passport, you will be able to freely travel into the country and reside.

If you hold a non-EU passport, generally below are your main options to obtain residency. Each one comes with its own set of conditions and procedures. You can check all the official information on the website of Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Services (https://ind.nl/en)

Work visas

Highly Skilled Migrant : You need to have an advanced degree, a high enough salary and need a recognized sponsor employing you. Typically for people whose skills are in demand in Dutch economy.

Work Permit : A more general category covering intra-company transfers, seasonal workers, researchers and other employees who might not meet the salary threshold

Startup visa : special visa for founders and employees of startups. Typically you need to be funded by a recognized incubator.

DAFT Visa : special visa for US citizens that allows starting a business in the Netherlands

EU Bluecard: A visa from EU wide program to attract special skilled talent. The advantage is that you can continue the accumulation of residency into/from other EU countries allowing you to get permanent residence or citizenship sooner. Beneficial if you are planning to move to/from another EU country.

Family visa

If you are partner or a dependent child of a Dutch/EU citizen

Student visa

If you participate in an educational program from a recognized Dutch institute

Housing

Currently [2023] the Netherlands is going through a housing crisis.

Houses/apartments for rent or purchase are hard to come by, especially for the entry level housing like 1-2 bedrooms. When such properties do come on market, they are often taken within hours.

So, it is strongly advised to organize your housing BEFORE arriving at least for the first 6-12 months. You can look at available properties on Funda (https://www.funda.nl/) or Pararius (https://www.pararius.com/english) This should give you an idea of how much you can expect to spend on rent. The rents/prices can vary depending on the location and size. Typically the rents are higher in bigger cities and go lower as you move away from the center. In addition to the rent, mind that the cost of utilities might be higher/lower than what you are used to paying and estimate based on your situation.

Cost of living

Like anywhere, the cost of living depends on your lifestyle and preferences. In general, housing is the biggest cost, followed by food, transport and healthcare. Expect to pay 800-2000 EUR/month for rent depending on where you live and 200-1000 EUR for food for a family of 2-4 depending on how often you eat out. Health insurance is around 125 EUR/month for adults (free for children). You can compare plans on a comparison site like https://www.independer.nl/ The basic health insurance plan has the same coverage and own-risk (co-pay) across all insurers and is mandated by law. The premia differ across companies and typically ad-ons like dental or physio make the main difference in what is covered.

Utilities could range from around 300-600 per month for a small house/apartment. Owning a car can oftentimes be quite expensive than what you may be used to, with high taxes, insurance and high cost of fuel.

Public transport

Netherlands is a small country and is exceptionally well connected with public transport (at least in comparison to other countries). However, it can be quite expensive compared to driving, especially for inter-city travels. You can access the full Dutch public transport network of trains, metro, tram, buses and even public bikes using the OV-Chipkaart or OV-Pay.

You can of course purchase tickets for a single journey from the ticket booths or kiosks at major stations, although it is often less convenient and more expensive. Google Maps often has good directions including public transport but 9292 (https://9292.nl/en) is the better option which also gives you the estimated costs.

Language

Dutch is the primary language in the Netherlands. However, the Netherlands ranks one of the highest when it comes to proficiency in English. As a visitor or tourist you can get by completely fine without knowing a word of Dutch (although it will help to learn a few phrases, at least as a courtesy). However, if you are living here longer, it would undoubtedly benefit to learn the language. Dutch is the only language of communication from most government agencies including the Tax office. At the workplace, it is common for global or technology companies to be almost exclusively English speaking even when there are Ducth people. For smaller and more traditional companies, Dutch is still the primary language of communication at the workplace.

30% ruling

30% ruling is a special tax incentive meant to attract international talent for the skills that are in short-supply in the Netherland. You can find about it here https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/coming-to-work-in-the-netherlands-30-percent-facility

The general concept is that 30% of your gross salary will be tax-free. So, if you have a salary of 100k gross, for tax purposes, it will be considered as 70k gross. You pay tax only on 70k. Because of how marginal tax brackets work, the overall benefit translates to you receiving 10-15% more net salary than someone without this benefit.

You should be aware that this is somewhat controversial since it is deemed to create inequality (where your Dutch colleagues doing the same work get a lower net salary) and because in the end the burden is borne by the taxpayer. Recently the government has been reducing the term of this benefit.

Overall, you should consider this as a privilege and not a right.

Improving this FAQ

[You are reading version 1.0 published 14th April 2023]

For this FAQ to be useful, it needs to evolve and kept up to date. I would see this as a sort of Wiki that is managed by me. I aim to update this post often (say once a few weeks in the start and once a few months as time goes). If there are topics you want to add to this post, please leave a comment and I will update the post. For the long term, if I lose interest or have no time for it (could happen!), then this post can be a basis for a new Wiki or a new updated post maintained by someone else.


r/Netherlands • • 14h ago

Common Question/Topic Why were the Dutch throwing money at tulips?

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357 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 16h ago

Housing How much of your salary goes on rent?

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224 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 15h ago

News Fokkers are killing rabbits and harassing PowNews: 'Get lost!'

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74 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 5h ago

Life in NL Where to buy car tyres in the Netherlands?

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Local garages like Profile are quoting around €1,200 for all-season tyres, while online shops like BandenConcurrent and BandenLeader offer them for almost half the price, including fitting at partner garages.

Has anyone bought tyres online? Is the quality of fitting and after-sales service good? Any recommendations for reliable and affordable options?

Thanks!


r/Netherlands • • 34m ago

DIY and home improvement Was the option to retrieve actual electricity usage removed from independer, pricewise?

• Upvotes

Hoi! I am sure I used that option on independer last week, but now I can’t find it on any of the portals.
I am either blind or that is some php outfall.


r/Netherlands • • 18h ago

pics and videos “Hoe heeft Ajax gespeeld?" — Written in a school agenda on May 7th, 1940. Just 3 days before the WW2 invasion of the Netherlands.

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43 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 2h ago

Discussion Beginner in Rijswijk (South Holland) looking for a crossbow club or instructor, English OK?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I'm a complete beginner and I just bought my first crossbow, an EK Archery JAG 1 Standard (150 lbs recurve).

Obviously doing my own search but thought I'll ask here. I'm looking for:

A club or range in South Holland, or nearby, where I can shoot regularly

An instructor, or an experienced member, who could give me a lesson or two

Ideally somewhere that welcomes beginners and where English works

If you know a club (NKB or otherwise), a friendly range, or a coach, I'd really appreciate a pointer. I'm happy to pay for a lesson or a trial session. Thanks in advance!


r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

News Mother solely responsible for killing 14-year-old daughter in Venlo, prosecutors say

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117 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 3h ago

Sports and Entertainment Selling ticket Citizen band 4.11

1 Upvotes

Reselling my ticket as I can’t attend, Netherlands Haarlem ticket on the 4th of November the bands citizen + modern color

Dm me :)


r/Netherlands • • 1h ago

Common Question/Topic [Free Online Event] Curious about meditation? Join a relaxed, beginner-friendly introduction (Sunday, 25 Oct)

• Upvotes

Ever feel like your mind has 20 tabs open at once? 😅

If you’ve been curious about meditation but aren’t sure where to start, we’re hosting a free, one-hour online introduction to the Art of Meditation.

The session will be facilitated by Wim van Rijswijk and is designed for complete beginners. You don’t need any previous experience or special equipment — just a little curiosity and a quiet place to sit.

What to expect:

  • An introduction to the basics of meditation
  • A chance to explore mindful breathing
  • Simple ideas for bringing a little more calm and clarity into everyday life

Details

  • 📅 Sunday, 25 October
  • 🕖 19:00–20:00 CET (Netherlands time)
  • 💻 Online
  • 💚 Free to attend

Sign up: https://aolreg.org/NLE1292730

Whether you’re dealing with study stress, a busy work schedule, or simply curious about meditation, you’re welcome to join.

Hope you find it useful! 🌱


r/Netherlands • • 1h ago

Personal Finance Non-resident tax return for 2021.

• Upvotes

I lived in the Netherlands for several years, left to work overseas (outside the EU) and rented out my property. I never received an income tax request from the Belastingdienst since then, and have check online and do not see any request for an assessment.

Partly because of not having access to a DigiD (there was a period when you had to have a Dutch mobile number to retain access, though that has since been updated), partly through laziness, I never did a tax return. I realise this was a poor decision and I will pay interest on anything I owe.

A quick chat with ChatGPT tells me that the Belastingdienst has 5 years to get NL-sourced tax from me, and if they don't request the tax in this five year period (so before the end of 2026 for 2021 taxes), then they can no longer request it. Can this really be true?

To be clear, I'm intending to file a tax return and imagine that before the 5 year window closes, they will run some checks (and see rental income coming into my Dutch bank account), but is it really so simple that if I were to wait a few more months, I don;t need to pay? Surely this is a loophole that the Belastingdienst looks into?

Can anyone confirm or correct this?

Thanks


r/Netherlands • • 6h ago

Common Question/Topic What is the philosophy and principles behind the system of youth care Netherlands?

0 Upvotes

https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2635972-minister-wil-plaatsing-jongeren-spaans-huis-met-extreme-methode-niet-onderzoeken

I have been reading news articles around this and it made me wonder.

Just a random search on google shows almost all youth care and such facilities are rated extremely poor with very sad reviews. Despite all of this millions of € are spend on taking children away from their parents and given to foster care and correction facilities and youth care.

When did such a system start?

What is the jurist prudence of youth care system?

Why is it often that officials cover up and decline investigating the officials and atrocities covered by youth care?

When parents take away children they are recommended treatment https://nltimes.nl/2026/06/18/dalfsen-biological-parents-convicted-abducting-children-triggering-amber-alert

What does court prescribe for these officials who put children in Spain?


r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

pics and videos Fletcher Leeuwarden

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61 Upvotes

Someone needs to make a music video or a science fiction movie on the top floor of the Fletcher Leeuwarden.


r/Netherlands • • 2h ago

Travel and Tourism Info needed

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0 Upvotes

Infos are welcome


r/Netherlands • • 2d ago

Travel and Tourism I inline-skated 239km across the Netherlands, from Scheveningen to the German border. Your cycle lanes are unreal.

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1.6k Upvotes

Hi all, I'm Laurie from Brighton in the UK. I've been skating for about 16 years, and this month I finally did something I'd wanted to do for ages, which was skate across an entire country. I went solo from Scheveningen Pier to Utrecht, then Arnhem, Enschede and on to the German border. About 239km over a few days, with zero training, which my legs reminded me of every single morning 😅 The cycle paths are unreal. Smooth red tarmac, separate from the cars, going pretty much everywhere. At home I'd be skating next to buses. Day 1 was 80km and almost all of it was on proper fietspad. The cobbles were another story. Every time I got comfortable, some village would throw a full cobbled street at me. Klinkers on inline skates is a special kind of suffering. My favourite moment was crossing De Meernbrug into Utrecht at golden hour with a barge going underneath. And an old man near Bodegraven who didn't speak a word of English still gave me biscuits, absolute legend. I genuinely lost count of how many times I said "beautiful". I filmed the whole trip too, happy to share if anyone's curious. Anyway, for next time, where's the best stretch of cycle path in the country that I really need to skate?

Kind Regards Laurie :)


r/Netherlands • • 2h ago

Sports and Entertainment Built a free live map to see what’s on nearby, focusing on Amsterdam and Haarlem — would love your feedback

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0 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

Legal Heineken’s €111 Million Greek Beer Reckoning

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113 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

Healthcare Traumatic work and healthcare experience.

74 Upvotes

I would like to share my experience about the healthcare system and work in the Netherlands. I've been contemplating writing this for a while but i think i need to at this point cause I've seen so many similar experiences and it's just sad.

I came here 2.5 years ago and around a year and a half ago i started having very bad bowel issues. Or so i thought. I found a GP near the place i live (the one with the highest ratings on google, not many around anyway) and i went to see what was happening. I got the usual answer all know here, "get some paracetamol, come back if it gets worse". A month after that, i started having very severe fever and bad flare ups where i could barely walk from the pain i was experiencing (have posted about this before). Meanwhile, i was working as a production worker at a factory. It started getting so bad that i had to take many days off at a time because it was physically impossible for me to go to work. I started feeling helpless after realizing that the doctor's appointments were moving incredibly slow. At first, i had an ultrasound, they couldn't find anything. Weeks on and off with 40 degrees fever, coughing and vomiting blood, not being able to drink water for 3 days straight. That's when i decided that i need to go the ER, a day where i literally felt like i was going to die and i could barely breathe. So i go there, it's my turn to get checked and i meet the doctor. After explaining everything, they ask me, "what's your pain level from 0 to 10" and i tell them an 8 or a 9. I was in so much pain and i could barely focus to answer. I asked if there is anyway i can get a CT scan to see if we can find something or an endoscopy or anything. They said we are sorry we cannot do that. I was there having had NO WATER for 3 FUCKING DAYS. I can't even begin to fathom now how i had the strength to get there and what i looked like. I think back and i feel like i must have looked like a talking corpse. Did they not see that? All this happened after me begging at the GP to get a CT scan to which they scheduled an appointment for 4 months later. 4 MONTHS LATER.

So 4 months later, after losing my job to "many sick days" apparently, i get the CT scan. Literally a day later they find out from the scan that i had chronic appendicitis. Same day, they call me in at the hospital for surgery cause they know that the appendix can burst any moment now. It's a miracle it hasn't already. I go there, get the surgery, 2 days later i am out.

Now it's been around 7 months after i had the appendectomy. My body has gone through incredible pain and trauma and I'm sure the whole thing has left scars that will appear eventually, one of them being that even after 7 months of a laparoscopic surgery, i can barely lift 10 kilos, i still have pain when doing sudden movements, both at the belly button and the appendix area which means i cannot get a new job cause i can't do labor work and i don't have a degree to get an office job or whatever. I am getting paid 319 euros a week on sickness benefits, can barely pay my rent and i am scared to go back to a GP for physiotherapy, psychotherapy for all that I've been through cause i know that it will take such as long. If ever. I am in complete despair and i don't know what to do. I feel hopeless and helpless.

This is more like a rant rather than asking for advice on what to do but if anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated.

I also apologize if the timeline of my story doesn't make much sense. This year and a half felt like a really bad dream that i woke up from and i can hardly recall most of it. It was TRAUMATIC.


r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

Transportation In what world are you entitled to feel upset when someone tells you to keep quiet in the stiltecoupe

492 Upvotes

Was in a stiltecoupe yesterday on an arriva train. The area is quite small and two older (dutch) women, friends, came into the coupe and started whispering to each other until the man behind them told them too keep it quiet. They were so flabbergasted that someone called their talking out and that someone told them to go to the regular coupe. I am just shocked at this audacity to feel offended when you re clearly in the wrong AND dutch, so you know the rules.


r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

Common Question/Topic Donating hair for cancer patients

6 Upvotes

Hey is there any organisation where you can donate your hair so cancer patients get wigs for free?
In other countries there are such NGOs where you donate your hair and they make free wigs for kids who battle cancer.


r/Netherlands • • 2h ago

Common Question/Topic Tell me your top 10 activities to do in netherlands or places to visit?

0 Upvotes

r/Netherlands • • 3h ago

Personal Finance I need help

0 Upvotes

Hi guys, it took a lot for me to post this. I am Dutch and working my ass off, living alone in an apartment in the north, and I am so far in financial debt. The reason I’m posting this is because this morning, I also got scammed out of €500, and won’t be able to pay my rent anymore this month. The reason why is a long story, but I thought it would get me more money so I would’ve been able to pay off my debts. Stupid.

As I said, I work full time, and I don’t spend much. Usually I can get by, but since I live alone again (break-up 5 months ago), things have been hard. The bills have been piling up. Recently I even started selling nudes so I could have some more money. It doesn’t feel good but I don’t know what else to do.

I sell stuff on Vinted & Marktplaats too, as much as I can. I plan my groceries and get them at Lidl. I really don’t know what to do. I get huurtoeslag & zorgtoeslag. I’m looking to move as well.

I’m so desperate at the moment. I’m left with nothing after this morning. I have no savings account, I don’t know how people get by.

Any advice and help would be appreciated.


r/Netherlands • • 1d ago

News Military to help maintain order around asylum registration center in Ter Apel

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80 Upvotes