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Working in The Netherlands
Capital: Amsterdam
Largest city: Amsterdam
Population: 16.8 million (2013 estimate)
Currency: Euro
Language: Dutch
A smallish country by land area, the Netherlands is a densely populated nation in Northern Europe with close to 17 million inhabitants. It shares a border with Belgium to the south-west and Germany to the south-east, while the United Kingdom is located across the North Sea to the west.
The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces and features major cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. It is a very low lying country and has about 20% of its land mass located under sea level.
The country, which is a constituent nation, is a founding member of the EU and also part of NATO, the OECD and WTO.
The Working Holiday program between Australia and the Netherlands was setup to encourage cultural exchange and closer ties between the two countries by allowing young people to have an extended holiday funded by short-term employment.
Under the arrangement, Australians aged between 18 and 30 are allowed to travel to the Netherlands for a working holiday for up to 12 months.
Tourism Video
The Netherlands’s Working Holiday visa summary
Visa: Working holiday
Age: 18 to 30
Length of stay: 12 months
Application fee: €30
Processing time: 2-3 weeks
Requirements / Eligibility for a Working Holiday in the Netherlands
If you want to travel to the Netherlands under Working Holiday arrangements there are basic eligibility requirements. These include, but are not limited to:
Hold an Australian passport
Meet health and character requirements
Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying
Have no dependent children accompanying you
Have a return ticket, or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
Have sufficient funds for the first part of the holiday (at least $3000)
Each job cannot last longer than 3 months.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers
Police, ambulance, fire 112
Tourist medical service 020 592 3355
Australian Embassy, The Hague
Carnegielaan 4
2517 KH The Hague
NETHERLANDS
Telephone: (31 70) 310 8200
Facsimile: (31 70) 310 8250
Website: www.netherlands.embassy.gov.au
Tax System
The Dutch tax system is complex and has high tax rates compared to nations like Australia. Income earners in the highest bracket will pay up to 52% of their pay packets. However, an individual’s personal situation, employment type, residential status, assets and earnings (including from abroad) will affect which tax rate you belong to. Being so complex, the government in Netherlands itself suggests consulting a specialist when it is time to fill out a tax return.
As a guide the tax rates in the Netherlands are as follows:
Income
Tax rate
Insurance rate
Total rate
€ 0 – € 18,945
1.95 %
31.15 %
33.10 %
€ 18,945 – € 33,863
10.80 %
31.15 %
41.95 %
€ 33,863 – € 56,491
42 %
42 %
€ 56,491
52 %
52 %
Bank Account
Opening a bank account as an expat in the Netherlands requires several pieces of documentation, including: passport, proof of employment and proof of address. Each bank account will usually include a debit card and option to open a savings account.
The major banks in the Netherlands include: ABN Amro, ING Group and Rabobank. Many foreign banks can also be located in the Netherlands, such as HSBC and Barclays.
Working in Netherlands
The Netherlands has one of the top 20 economies in the world and per capita ranks in the top 10. However, like much of Europe, The Netherlands was hit hard by the global economic crisis from 2008. Despite this, unemployment has risen more slowly in the Netherlands compared to other European nations with struggling economies.
The major industries in the Netherlands are centre on services. Much of the country’s income is generated through transport, logistics and in financial areas. The Northern European nation also has strong industries in fishing, agriculture and energy. The most well-known company in the Netherlands is most likely Royal Dutch Shell, while other prominent corporations include Heineken and TomTom.
English is widely spoken in the Netherlands, but tuition in the language may be a good target for expats looking for income to supplement their working holiday. According to TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language), there is demand for English tuition in The Netherlands, but qualifications will be required for this work.
