Few people like them, but almost everyone has to pay them. Income taxes and social security contributions are relatively high in the Netherlands, and the tax system is not the simplest. Income tax is in Dutch inkomstenbelasting. In the annual
Learning Dutch on a Budget: Tips and Tricks to Learn the Language for Free!
Starting to learn Dutch (colloquially: Dutch) can be exciting and, believe it or not, it doesn’t have to cost a dime! Here are some tips and tricks to help you learn Dutch for free: Take advantage of free online courses
Living in the Netherlands: Can you drink alcohol in public places in Rotterdam?
Rotterdam’s website states that “having a beer or a glass of wine on a sunny day in the street or in a park is not a problem in most places.” However, this does not mean that alcohol can be consumed
Living in the Netherlands: How much minimum rest after work?
Dutch law regulates not only the maximum number of working hours per week, but also specifies the minimum amount of time an employee should have for rest during the week and between two working days. In the Netherlands, there must
Living in the Netherlands: Life Insurance (Overlijdensrisicoverzekering)
A long name, but an important point: overlijdensrisicoverzekering is Dutch for “death risk insurance”. In addition to this long name, the Dutch sometimes use the abbreviation ORV. O comes from overlijden (to die), R from risico (risk), and V from
Living in the Netherlands: Can an employer refuse to grant you leave?
Once an employee has asked their employer for the leave they are entitled to at least two weeks in advance, the employer must, in most cases, agree to it. According to Dutch law, an employer should generally agree to a
Dutch Energy Label: A Guide for Homeowners and Tenants
In the Netherlands, the energy label (energielabel) is an essential aspect of housing construction, providing insight into the energy efficiency of homes. Whether you are buying, renting or selling a property, understanding the energy label is crucial. The label ranges
With a beer on the street in The Hague – here are the rules
In The Hague, as in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, in some parts of the city there is a total ban on drinking alcohol on the street and in public places such as parks, pavements, squares or gates. In the Netherlands, local
LIFE IN THE NETHERLANDS: Rent subsidy (huurtoeslag)
“Huurtoeslag” is a subsidy paid by the Dutch Tax Office (“Belastingdienst”) to help cover (part of) the cost of renting a flat, for people with a lower income. The “huurtoeslag” allowance applies to renting an entire apartment, not just one
LIFE IN THE NETHERLANDS: Health insurance (zorgverzekering)
People living and working in the Netherlands are required to have a basic package (basispakket) of health insurance (zorgverzekering). The insurance covers the costs of basic medical care, including visits to a general practitioner, consultations with specialists, hospital treatment and medicines.