Everything you need to know about day-to-day life in the Netherlands!
Getting the hang of daily life in a new city takes time, patience and a little insider know-how. So, ready to live life like a local? These must-know tips will get you up to speed with everything from transport and etiquette to dress codes on the work floor.
Dutch versus English
In the Netherlands we speak Dutch, but almost everyone also speaks English. German, French and Spanish follow at a large distance.
In cities with lots of students like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht or Delft for example, English might often be the preferred language over Dutch. In stores, cafés or restaurants, you may be approached in English because a lot of students work in hospitality.
At most international minded organisations, colleagues will speak English. However, to understand the Dutch chit-chat during coffee breaks or lunchtime it is recommended to learn Dutch. Moreover, you'll find that there are quite a number of companies expecting you to master the Dutch language to a certain level for professional purposes.
Why and how to learn Dutch?
Government communication and other official paperwork is still often in Dutch, so it might be useful to learn the language. But there are more reasons to learn Dutch! It opens a whole new world. The Dutch will appreciate your effort, and making contact with people, and even making friends will be a lot easier. Moreover, a Dutch class is a great place to meet new people. It's also a wonderful place to exchange experiences and learn more about the Dutch culture.
There is a wide range of Dutch courses available. The courses vary in duration, frequency and price. Your employer may even offer you free or reduced-rate Dutch courses in-house. It is worthwhile asking your employer about the options available.
Some suggestions when looking for Dutch language courses:
The weather is a popular topic in the Netherlands as it is usually very changeable. The Netherlands enjoys a moderate maritime (or oceanic) climate. This type of climate generally features mild winters and cool summers. Precipitation, such as rain, is common throughout the year, which means there is no dry season. The funny thing is that it can be beautiful one day and raining the next. The weather is unpredictable. Even though weather forecasters and weather apps do their best, you cannot trust them 100%.
The differences in temperature and whether it is sunny or rainy are increasing. Be aware that the change in weather is reflected in people's behaviour. The one day it can be nice and everybody is cheerful and the next day it is grey again and people can become less friendly. It really does have impact on people’s behaviour. But as a conversation starter, it is a great topic!
One positive aspect of the Netherlands we keep hearing from foreign researchers is the great work-life balance. A full-time job in the Netherlands usually consists of a 40 or 38 hours workweek. And, depending on the company you work for, the weekends are mostly free and used for personal time.
Most Dutch people are really good at separating work and personal life. They maintain good working relationships with colleagues, but prefer not to mix it with personal life.
In the Netherlands, working hours are somewhere between 08.30 and 17.30 hrs, from Monday until Friday. Although Dutch is the official language, most people can communicate in English. We would like to highlight some aspects that might be different from what you are used to.
Finance
Costs of living vs. income
The Netherlands is one of the higher income countries in Europe. Unfortunately, it is also one of the more expensive countries. However, if you match income against expenditure, the Netherlands is still one of the best paying countries in Europe.
It is common to negotiate
Being a higher income country doesn’t mean that the first offer is always the best. Don’t hesitate to negotiate about your salary. It is very common in the Netherlands to not agree with the first offer, if it doesn’t suit you. It does not mean that you have to negotiate but just keep in mind that if you think the offer is a bit low, it is perfectly okay to make a counteroffer.
What do you need to think of when negotiating? Keep in mind all the costs you need to cover every month. Like rent or mortgage, food and living expenses, medical insurance, etc. All those costs together with your insurances will be deducted from your net income, so make sure you take that into account.
Public holidays
Public holidays in the Netherlands are the following.
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
- King’s Day (27 April)
- Liberation Day (5 May)
- Ascension Day
- White Sunday and Monday
- Christmas
- Boxing Day
There is no law in the Netherlands that stipulates that employees are entitled to a day off on these days. It is set out in the collective labour agreement of your company. If a public holiday is included in the agreement and falls on a weekday on which you usually work, your employer will pay your wages while you enjoy some free time.
In some companies there are regulations in place where you can switch a Dutch public holiday for a public holiday from the country of your origin. Please check the regulations of your company.
Dress code
People in the Netherlands dress pretty informal and mainly comfortable. There are not a lot of professions where people dress in suits or fancy dresses every day. We advise to dress casual chique for an interview and then take a look at the situation with your new employer.
Meeting mentality
Dutchies love meetings. It is good for you to know this, but do not feel obligated to join this meeting culture. It is more and more acceptable to ask for a meeting agenda. If one cannot supply one or cannot say why you are absolutely necessary in this meeting, feel free to decline the invitation.
If you do attend a meeting, make sure to be on time. The Dutch are not a fan of tardiness. We have a saying: ‘afspraak is afspraak’, which translates to a deal is a deal. That also refers to time.
Direct way of communication
This also relates to the Duth way of communicating. Dutch people can be very direct and are to-the-point. It is not meant unkindly. In the Netherlands they just like clear communication, structure and avoidance of misunderstandings.
Flexwork and parttime
A lot of employees in the Netherlands work parttime. It is very common to work 24, 32, 36 or another number of hours. Feel free to negotiate when negotiating your contract.
It is also very common for companies to encourage flexwork. Meaning, you don’t have your own desk at the office anymore and you can just sit wherever you like. What you often see though, is that people still tend to sit at the same desk every day. If you are not sure if you can sit somewhere, you can always ask.
Family
Great to raise your children
The Netherlands is a great country to raise your children. They have a lot of opportunities to make friends (at childcare, school or afterschool care). There is almost always a park or playground nearby for children to play.
Spouse support
In case you have a partner travelling along with you, it is good to know that many of the bigger companies or research institutes in the Netherlands offer Dual Career services for accompanying spouses. Also UWV EURES offers guidance to spouses looking for work in the Netherlands. UWV EURES offers four-day workshop series online to support your spouse or partner in finding a job. A trainer will provide valuable and practical assistance during the online workshops. This includes reviews of CVs and motivation letters, interview preparation and personalised tips for job searching and career development. They will also receive guidance on networking and navigating the Dutch labour market and culture.
Find more information on the four-day workshops
Food
There are a few typical dishes in the Netherlands. However, except for a Pannenkoekenhuis (a place to eat pancakes), you will not find many typical Dutch restaurants. Dutch people like to try different cuisines. That’s why you will find many different restaurants, such as Italian, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, and many more. It is also good to know that there is no great lunch culture. It is not common to take a very long lunch break, and full hot meals for lunch are pretty uncommon as well. Sandwiches with cheese, peanut butter (pindakaas) or chocolat sprinkles (hagelslag) or other spreads are very popular.
What to do during time off
The Netherlands has a lot to offer for a day (or longer) off. There is a lot of nature to discover, to walk or bike through. For those interested in cultural activities, you can visit one of the many museums. If you really are a fan, we advise you to buy a ‘Museumkaart’. It is a pass with which you can visit 523 museums in the Netherlands for free.
There are also a lot of options available if you are interested in a dance, music, or cabaret performance. Or take a walking tour along Graffiti artworks for example. Each municipality has a website or social media page with things to do in the area.
Meeting new people
As mentioned before, the Dutch are good in keeping their work and private life separate. This means that although your colleagues are very friendly and helpful at work, you must not expect them to invite you over at their house.
A good way to meet people can be by joining a sports or hobby club, following a Dutch language course or by doing volunteer work. There are also nationwide or regional networks that organise social activities in the Netherlands. You can find an overview of these networks on our website.
Greeting people
There is a difference between cities and more rural areas. In smaller cities and towns, people tend to great each other in passing on the street. In the bigger cities however, this does not happen very often. It can also be confusing for Dutch people who move from the city to a smaller town or vice versa. When in doubt, just smile.
Dutch companies are usually very accessible by public transport, car or, the Dutch's favorite means of transportation, by bike. Below you can read essential information on the use of the different types of transportation in the Netherlands.
Bike
Almost everyone in the Netherlands owns a bike. The flat country has a perfect infrastructure for biking. Not only as a leisure activity, but also as a means of transportation to work. Most roadways are lined with bicycle lanes and there are also specific bike lanes that cars are not allowed to drive on.
Rules
There are some rules to biking in the Netherlands though. For example, you are not allowed to bike on the sidewalk and your bike should have functioning lights on both front and rear. And you are not allowed to use your cell phone while riding your bike, you will receive a hefty fine when you get caught by the police.
Of course, you should always stop before a red light and before you turn right or left, hold out your hand to that side, so other road-users know where you are going. Not abiding these rules may also result in fines.
Stalling your bike
Offices and universities generally provide secured and sometimes covered spaces to store your bike. Make sure to lock it at all times, as there are many bike thefts in the larger cities. To make sure your bike is secure, you can store it at a guarded bike parking. Lots of city centres offer these nowadays and they are free of charge for at least 24 hours. In the area of The Hague, these parkings are called ‘Biesieklettes’. With Biesieklette, you can enter them by showing a small card with a barcode or QR-code to the security guard. You can ask for a card at your first use of the parking.
Public transport
The Netherlands has a good public transport infrastructure. The fact that the country is small, and the transportation is quick, allows you to reside in one city and work in another. Because of the density in traffic, it is often quicker to use public transportation than a car in urban areas.
Travel by train
The ‘Nederlandse Spoorwegen’ (NS) is the national train company and also the largest. The company offers first and second-class coupés, and some silence wagons where you can read or work quietly. On the NS homepage, you can plan your journey in advance and see the duration and prices. The NS planner also shows routes that are only reached through a more regional train company like Arriva or RRReis, and it shows where you would need to check-out and check-in.
You can also purchase a ticket on the NS website if you are not using an OV chip card (see below). If you travel to work every day though, it might be beneficial to buy a travel subscription. Ask your employer about covered travel costs.
Public transportation card
In order to use the public transport, you can use a public transportation card called ‘OV chip card’. You can upload a travel subscription onto it, or charge it with credit, with which you can travel anywhere within the Netherlands. You can purchase your OV Chip Card online or at the service points. You could also check with your employer. Often, they can purchase a business card for you.
An alternative to the public transportation card, is the use of your debit card, credit card or phone. This method of payment is newer but is now accessible almost everywhere. Be aware though, you cannot claim any discounts by using this method. You automatically pay for a second-class ticket, at a full rate.
When using the public transportation card, or your debit card, please always remember to check-in and check-out!
Car
In general, roads in the Netherlands are of good quality and equipped with clear direction signs. However, the urban areas in the Netherlands (Randstad) can be very crowded with cars. Traffic jams in the mornings and afternoons are common, not only in the Randstad, and especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In city centres it might also be difficult to find (affordable) parking spots. Ask the municipality about parking licenses for inhabitants. If you are just a visitor, you might want to look at public transportation as an alternative.
Validity of your driving license
Your driving license is valid in the Netherlands for a certain amount of time. This depends on the country of issue of your license.