Dutch
Language
Frisian is also official in Friesland
Country guide · Netherlands
Living and working in the Netherlands
A guide for international candidates
Unless you're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you'll usually need a residence permit to work. The main sponsored route is the highly skilled migrant permit, which only an IND recognised sponsor can apply for. In 2026 it needs a salary of at least €5,942 a month, or €4,357 under 30.
Free for candidates. Join nearly 3,000 candidates and growing daily.
Euro
Currency
€, EUR
Amsterdam
Capital
The government sits in The Hague
CET
Time zone
UTC+1, CEST (UTC+2) in summer
112
Emergency number
Types C and F
Plug
230 V
Last checked 12 October 2026. Estimates are labelled.
Where the jobs are
All regions lets you pick a place and see rent, jobs and the sectors in this guide. Choose a sector to see that industry in every place.
Cyan is the region you picked. Navy is everywhere else.
Region
Groningen
€710
- Rent a month
- €710
- Vs regions in this guide
- -8%
- Employee jobs
- 287.4
- Strongest sector
- Healthcare
Sector strength vs average for Netherlands
- Techn/a
- Healthcare1.35×
- Engineeringn/a
- Financen/a
- Hospitalityn/a
Job links open all Netherlands roles for now. Rent compared with the other regions in this guide.
View the map as a table
| Province | Population | Employee jobs (thousands) | Sectors above average (LQ 1.05+) | Renters' housing costs a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groningen | 599,725 | 287.4 | Healthcare 1.35 | €710 |
| Friesland | 665,595 | 287.0 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.31, Healthcare 1.24 | €690 |
| Drenthe | 508,822 | 221.4 | Healthcare 1.30, Engineering and manufacturing 1.07 | €703 |
| Overijssel | 1,205,058 | 619.9 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.36, Healthcare 1.10 | €749 |
| Flevoland | 465,921 | 175.3 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.21 | €788 |
| Gelderland | 2,179,092 | 1,053.2 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.14, Healthcare 1.12 | €760 |
| Utrecht | 1,418,315 | 847.1 | Finance 2.02, Tech 2.01 | €857 |
| North Holland | 3,019,491 | 1,692.3 | Finance 1.79, Tech 1.77, Hospitality 1.23 | €911 |
| South Holland | 3,890,837 | 1,896.0 | None of the five | €812 |
| Zeeland | 396,156 | 170.0 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.54, Hospitality 1.50, Healthcare 1.13 | €725 |
| North Brabant | 2,685,101 | 1,420.0 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.57 | €782 |
| Limburg | 1,137,499 | 531.6 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.28, Hospitality 1.19, Healthcare 1.15 | €733 |
Cities
Pay, rent and the share of pay that rent takes. Estimates stay labelled.
Netherlands
Amsterdam
- Rent
- €801
- Pay
- Not listed
- Rent share
- 26.8%
10.7 C, 1,780 sunshine hours, 850 mm (Schiphol)
See jobs in AmsterdamNetherlands
The Hague
- Rent
- €754
- Pay
- Not listed
- Rent share
- 26.5%
10.8 C, 1,752 h, 882 mm (Rotterdam The Hague Airport)
See jobs in The HagueNetherlands
Utrecht
- Rent
- €808
- Pay
- Not listed
- Rent share
- 25.2%
10.6 C, 1,715 h, 855 mm (De Bilt)
Tools
Step 1 of 2
Visa route finder
A route to read about, not a decision on your application. Figures are the ones in this guide.
Rent and pay
The pay and rent figures already in this guide. This is not a tax calculation.
Rent a month in Amsterdam
€801
- Pay
- Not listed
- Rent share of pay
- 26.8%
Take-home pay
The Belastingdienst publishes the 2026 wage tax tables. There is no single salary box for a personal take-home figure.
Open the wage tax tablesVisa routes to read about
These describe the route. They do not say whether you qualify.
- Source
Highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant)
Employees of an IND recognised sponsor; €5,942 a month at 30+, €4,357 under 30, €3,122 reduced; fee €423; 90-day decision period.
- Source
EU Blue Card
Higher-education graduates; €5,942 a month, €4,754 reduced.
- Source
Orientation year (zoekjaar)
Recent graduates of Dutch or top-ranked foreign universities, to look for work.
- Source
Intra-corporate transferee
Managers, specialists and trainees moved from a company outside the EU.
Little-known facts
Daily life
- Time offCycling everywhere, direct feedback at work, birthday circles, the holiday allowance in May, strict appointment culture, the housing search taking longer than the job search.
- HealthcareCompulsory basic health insurance from a Dutch insurer, within 4 months of arrival.
- HealthcareThe GP is the first stop and refers to specialists.
Family, school and pets
- FamilyFamily members of highly skilled migrants apply through the recognised sponsor (form 7514); a spouse can work.
- SchoolSchool is compulsory from 5; international schools exist alongside free Dutch schools.
- SchoolChildcare allowance 2026: maximum hourly rates €11.23 daycare, €9.98 out-of-school care, €8.49 childminder, up to 230 hours a month (Rijksoverheid).
From job offer to settled in
1
MVV visa sticker
And travel
2
Register at your municipality and get your BSN
Source3
Collect your residence permit at an IND desk
TB test at the GGD if asked
4
Basic health insurance within 4 months
5
Bank account and DigiD
6
Register with a GP
7
Expat scheme
Employer must apply within 4 months of your first workday
8
Schools
Questions
What salary do I need?
In 2026 a highly skilled migrant needs at least €5,942 a month gross at 30 or older, €4,357 under 30, or €3,122 within 3 years of graduating. Holiday allowance doesn't count.
Can I apply myself?
No. Only an employer recognised by the IND can apply. Check the public register.
What is the 30% ruling?
It's the expat scheme, a tax benefit separate from your permit. In 2026 up to 30% of salary can be paid tax-free if your taxable salary stays above €48,013 (€36,497 under 30 with a master's). From 2027 the maximum falls to 27% for people who started from 2024.
What if I lose my job?
You get up to 3 months to find a new sponsor, or up to 6 months if you lost it on or after 22 May 2026 and have held the permit at least 2 years.
Is health insurance compulsory?
Yes. Take out Dutch basic insurance as soon as possible and within 4 months of arriving, even if you're insured abroad.
Does every employer on Global Sponsor Hub sponsor visas?
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