Can you live in the Netherlands without speaking Dutch? (2023)

Can I work in the Netherlands if I don't speak Dutch?

You don't have to speak Dutch to work in the Netherlands – in fact, English is the main business language in many companies. However, it increases your chances if you do. You will probably end up working in the Netherlands for a large international company if you don't speak Dutch.

To sum up, you don't need to speak Dutch to live and study in the Netherlands, but it sure could be a cool skill to have whether you stay in the Netherlands, head back to your home country or head off to a new country on a new adventure!

Well, 90% of the Dutch population is fluent in English – the primary business language in the Netherlands. The latest EF English Proficiency Index even ranked the Netherlands' English as a Second Language Skills No. 1 in the world.

How hard is it to learn? Dutch is probably the easiest language to learn for English speakers as it positions itself somewhere between German and English. For example, you may know that German has three articles: der, die and das, and English only one: the.

Moving to the Netherlands as a non-EU/EEA citizen is hard. You must first apply for a temporary residence permit which you must then extend for five years. After living in the Netherlands with a temporary residence permit for five years, you are then eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit.

Moving to the Netherlands is hard for foreigners as they must undergo a specific process of obtaining residency or citizenship. However, American expats who wish to move to the Netherlands can obtain a residence permit with an extra opportunity known as the DAFT visa.

The Government's decision means that as of 17 September 2022, no Covid-19 related restrictions or requirements apply to travellers entering the Netherlands, including those from countries outside the EU/Schengen Area.

You can spend years learning a language and still find words that you haven't come across before. But as a general guide, the Foreign Service Insitute in the US estimates it takes about 600 hours of class lessons (or 24 weeks) for a native English speaker to become fluent in Dutch.

You can stay here for as long as your tourist visa lasts without having to learn Dutch. And if you speak English, you will find that many Netherlanders speak English as a second language. But if you want to live in the Netherlands, you must learn Dutch.

In addition to your citizenship of the Netherlands you might hold citizenship of 1 or more other countries. Depending on the situation you might have to choose between your Dutch and other citizenship.

How much is cost of living in Netherlands?

Family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,352.5$ (3,159.5€) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 955.4$ (900.4€) without rent. Cost of living in Netherlands is, on average, 5.8% lower than in United States. Rent in Netherlands is, on average, 29.4% lower than in United States.

At first, Dutch might seem like a very difficult language, but it's surprisingly easy for English- and German-speakers. Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language.

Meteorologisch (meteorological) is the most difficult Dutch word to pronounce, according to Dutch language experts. The Onze Taal language organisation used its Facebook page to draw up a list of the 10 most difficult Dutch words and encouraged people to vote.

According to FSI (Foreign Service Institute), an American government institution in charge of foreign language teaching to American diplomats and officials, it takes English speakers around 24 weeks of intensive classroom study to reach a general professional proficiency in Dutch.

If you are not an EU citizen (or a citizen of the EEA or Switzerland) you will need to think much further ahead. After five years of legal residence in the Netherlands you can apply for a permanent residence permit which will also allow you to retire here.

In order to reside in The Netherlands, one must be in possession of a valid residence permit. This must be obtained from the Dutch Immigration authorities, the Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst otherwise known as the IND.

The Netherlands is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter the Netherlands for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

The Netherlands compares favourably to the UK and the US when it comes to crime statistics. Expats will feel secure, and even large football crowds are usually family-friendly and require little policing. Nevertheless, as with anywhere, there are areas it's probably best not to hang around at night.

The Crime Rate Here is Relatively Low

The United States of America has a high crime rate of 47.40 whereas that of the Netherland is only 27.15. Although it is not as low, but the Netherlands can be seen on the lower part of the world crime index that is a great thing.

Which are the easiest countries to immigrate to from the US? Portugal, Malta and Spain are some of the easiest countries to relocate to from the United States. American citizens can either gain permanent residency or apply for citizenships via each country's Citizenship by Invest programs.

Is the Netherlands a good place to live?

The Netherlands is ranked as the world's sixth happiest nation according to the United Nations Happiness Report, and is ranked amongst happiest countries in Europe according to Eurostat. The OECD also reports that the Netherlands has the best work-life balance in the world.

A brief history of the Netherlands and Holland

The Netherlands remained a kingdom after Napoleon's defeat. At that time, the area called “Holland” made the biggest contribution to the entire nation's economy and wealth. As such it became the commonly used name to indicate the entire country.

The Dutch (Dutch: Nederlanders) are a Germanic ethnic group and nation native to the Netherlands.

Dutch grammar is easier than German

One of the biggest differences between Dutch and German is in the definite articles. In German there are three, whereas Dutch has two. And this difference has a lot of consequences.

Knowing 4,000 to 10,000 words makes people advanced language users while knowing more than 10,000 words puts them at the fluent or native-speaker levels.

Even if English is the official language in your workplace, you still benefit from learning Dutch. Learning Dutch becomes more important if you stay here for a longer period. Also, if you're searching for a job in the Netherlands, you will definitely increase your chances on the job market by learning Dutch.

You don't have to speak Dutch to work in the Netherlands.

That's the simplest answer to this question. Plenty of expats move to Amsterdam (or other Dutch cities), find jobs at international companies, complete their work entirely in English, and speak English outside of work as well.

Companies in the Netherlands Hiring foreign workers go through a lot to make sure that positions to be filled are vetted by the Dutch employment agency. These positions are open to all applicants around the world and can be applied for through each company's online portal.

Getting a job as a foreigner in the Netherlands is possibly but certainly not easy. It's all due to the small country's size, large population, housing shortage, and the government's tight rules on immigration. However, if you have the right skills sought by Dutch employers, you will likely find a job much easier.

Must speak fluent English and Dutch. Must be willing to live within 90 minutes of Amsterdam Schiphol. Must have no visible tattoos or piercings.

How much is the average salary in Netherlands?

Average income in the Netherlands

According to the Centraal Planbureau (CPB), in 2023, the median gross income for a person working in the Netherlands is 38.500 euros gross per year. A salary can vary greatly from the median income as it is influenced by age, sector, professional experience and hours worked.

Moving to the Netherlands is hard for foreigners as they must undergo a specific process of obtaining residency or citizenship. However, American expats who wish to move to the Netherlands can obtain a residence permit with an extra opportunity known as the DAFT visa.

Most travelers from United States can enter Netherlands.

Always check government websites and airline materials before booking and traveling.

Finding a job in the Netherlands as an international can be hard. It's one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Combine that along with a chronic housing shortage and you've got a ton of people all frantically looking for homes and jobs.

There are lower minimum wage levels for those aged 15-21. The median gross expat salary in Amsterdam (2022) as reported by PayScale Inc is €51,000. Likewise, Numbeo lists an average net salary (2022) in Amsterdam of €3,620 per month (equivalent of €64,000 per year).

Standard hours

Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 or 6:00 pm, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break and two 15 minute breaks. The average working week is between 36 to 40 hours, 7 to 8 hours daily.

With plenty of major global companies situated around Amsterdam and a rather international business atmosphere, expat professionals have many opportunities to get hired here. However, the competition can be fierce as EU/EEA citizen applicants are always given priority over foreigners.