I have received a letter from Zorginstituut Nederland requiring me to take out a Dutch health insurance. I am student and I am exempt to take one out. What should I do?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Even if you do not fall under the requirement to take out Dutch healthcare insurance, you might still receive a letter from the National Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) notifying you to arrange Dutch public healthcare insurance or risk a fine. It is important to contact the Social Security Office (Sociale Verzekeringbank – SVB) right away to request an investigation of your insurance situation.

If you are required by Dutch law to obtain the basisverzekering (basic health insurance), visit the section Dutch health insurance on the on the ACCESS FAQ’s.

What steps should I take to prepare myself for my interview?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Here are some useful tips to prepare for an interview. Some may be obvious, and some may be different from how you would prepare yourself in your own country:

  • Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer’s full name and correct pronunciation, and his/her title.
  • Research the company, products/services, growth and potential growth in the future.
  • Refresh your memory on the facts and figures of your present employer and former employers.
  • Prepare the questions you will ask; the interview is about input and feedback from both you and the interviewer.
  • Arrive on time – this is very important in the Netherlands.
  • While the Dutch may appear to be very informal in their dress and appearance, it is still recommended to dress professionally when attending an interview.
  • Don’t forget the importance of a firm handshake and eye contact when meeting your interviewer(s).
  • It may help you to prepare yourself by knowing about the person(s) who will be interviewing you, so look them up on LinkedIn.

In the job interview, the emphasis is on your motivation. You may be asked questions such as why you chose that particular company or to name your skills and strengths, but also mention some of your less strong points and skills you do not possess. Give examples that demonstrate your skills and strengths (these are called competency-based questions) and also be prepared to answer questions about personal matters like hobbies and social engagement.

You will usually be interviewed by one or two people. Applicants often have to attend two or even three interviews. At the end of the interview, it is common for you to ask some questions.

 

 

 

 

Can I get some support and advice in looking for a job in the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

If you are actively looking for a job but unsure about how to proceed, thinking about the next step in your career, considering returning to work after a career break, or looking for a change of career, you may find support useful.

There are several professionals and companies offering career counselling or coaching for expats looking for work.  ACCESS has several trainers who can provide you with job hunting support.

 

Where can I find more answers to questions I may have once I find a job?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Additional information on working in the Netherlands can be found on the government website: https://www.werk.nl/werkzoekenden/eu/. Here you will find comprehensive information about who may work in the Netherlands, searching and applying for jobs, contracts, qualifications and credential evaluation, and the Europass CV.

Where can I find job openings for students?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

 

If you are a student and looking for a job, the following websites can be useful:

  • www.isic.nl/en/student-life/finding-a-student-job-in-the-netherlands/
  • www.stepstone.nl/en/
  • graduateland.com/s/part-time-jobs/netherlands
  • collegelife.nl/jobs/
  • studentjob.nl
  • randstad.nl/vacatures
  • monsterboard.nl
  • indeed.nl

Your university may have an overview of job openings for students in the area of your studies. If you have done an internship, you can also ask if that organisation has anything for you.

Aside from the websites listed above, the general tips in this section for finding a job can be useful for students too.

If I want to apply for a job, would I need a work permit as a student?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you are free to work without restrictions.

Highly educated persons scheme

‘The orientation year for highly educated persons’applies to all recently graduated students in the Netherlands from non-EU countries.
The residence permit orientation year for highly educated persons can be submitted within three years after completing the studies or after obtaining the PhD.
The scheme gives those graduated in the Netherlands the opportunity to first return to their country of origin after having completed their studies, and to then come back to the Netherlands. A work permit is not needed, which means that if you hold a residence permit for the orientation year for higher educated persons you are allowed to work in the Netherlands without any restrictions.
More information is available on the IND’s website.

Work permit application

Should you need a work permit to work while studying, your employer needs to apply for it at www.uwv.nl/werkgevers.

Exception for internships

If you are studying at a Dutch host institution and you need to do an internship as part of your study programme, you do not need a work permit. Your host institution and your employer do need to sign an internship agreement. Please note that this exception does not apply for exchange students. For more information click here.

How can I find an internship?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

If you are looking for an internship many Universities have a database of internship options.

 

Study In Holland:https://www.studyinholland.nl/dutch-education/doing-an-internship will point out to you what to pay attention to when contemplating looking for internships in the Netherlands as part of your study programme.

The following links are a selection of websites offering internships in the Netherlands:

  • https://www.indeed.nl/Internship-vacatures
  • https://graduateland.com/s/internships/netherlands
  • https://www.togetherabroad.nl/internships.html
  • https://www.iagora.com/work/en/jobs-and-internships/for-english-speakers
  • https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/international-intern-jobs-utrecht
  • https://stageplaza.nl/ : click on “ik zoek een stageplek” and write “English” in the ‘ zoekfilter’ to the right
  • https://stage.nl/ : you can type ” English” in “trefwoord”/ Keyword box.

Please note that if you decide to accept a paid internship and currently have a student health insurance, you must take out a new, ordinary Dutch health insurance.”

Do I need a work permit to work in the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Whether you need a work permit depends on your residency status and nationality. Work and residence permits are closely linked to your reason for moving to the Netherlands. For example, being a highly skilled worker, employee, student or family member will determine what kind of permit you need to legally work in the Netherlands.

 

Who applies for a work permit?

If a visa and residency permit are required, your employer can initiate the procedures on your behalf. If you qualify for a gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid GVVA (combined permit for residence and work), your employer needs to apply to the  Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst – IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service). In other cases, employers need to apply to  UWV Werkbedrijf. Visit the following website for more information:

https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/single-permit-gvva

The IND website also provides detailed information on coming to work in the Netherlands as well as  the financial and other conditions that need to be met.

You generally need to have your residence permit before you can start to work. If you do not need a separate work permit, you can start working as soon as you get your residence permit. The maximum length of a work permit is one year, and your employment status is indicated on it. After three years of employment on a Dutch work permit, you no longer need a work permit. Your residence document will state: ‘Arbeid is vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist’ (Employment freely permitted. No work permit required).

Who doesn’t need a work permit

  • EU/EEA citizens plus those from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland Note: citizens of Croatia do need a work permit for the first working year
  • Highly skilled migrants
  • Self-employed workers (eligibility for residence is assessed by the IND)
  • Workers on short assignment (journalists, guest lecturers, performers, musicians)
  • Persons with a residence permit or passport sticker stating: ’Arbeid is vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist’ (Employment freely permitted. No work permit required).

Latest information about working in the Netherlands can be found at Werk.nl https://www.werk.nl/werkzoekenden/eu/working-netherlands/.

How do I know that my contract is in accordance with Dutch law?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

The Netherlands has strict employment rules and it is important to check if your contract is in accordance with this law.  When working in the Netherlands for a Dutch company, you have the same rights and obligations as Dutch employee, such as salary, holidays, paid sick leave and old age pension. You can find more information about this on the website of the government  (Dutch only). An introduction to Dutch employment law can be found on the website of the municipality of Amsterdam

If you work for a foreign employer different rules apply. You can find more information on the website of the government (Dutch only).

We suggest to ask a lawyer to look at your employment contract before you sign it. You can also use the free legal services from  Het Juridisch Loket for questions about your employment contract.

 

I want to know whether or not the employers in the Netherlands are obliged to pay a majority of the employee’s travel to work expenses, and if they’re not, is there a way I can claim it back in taxes?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

It is not compulsory, but most companies in the Netherlands reimburse employee’s costs for commuting to work. In the collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst – CAO (collective labour agreement), company regulations or in your work contract, you can find the applicable rules.

If you take your own car or bicycle to work, your employer can reimburse a  maximum amount per kilometre.These costs are not deductible from your income for tax purposes. You can find the actual amounts here  (Dutch only)

Travel costs are tax deductible if you receive insufficient or no reimbursement from your employer under the following conditions:

  • you use public transport to and from work with both addresses being in the Netherlands
  • you travel more than 10 km. one way
  • you have an openbaar vervoer verklaring – OV-verklaring (transportation provider declaration) or reisverklaring (from your employer) as proof that you have used public transport. Bear in mind that you should keep any paper/digital tickets that you have used to travel to and from work

If you have a personal OV chipkaart, you can find an overview of all your trips and the costs at the website of the OV chipcard. If you are unsure of what situation applies to you, visit the Belastingdienst (tax office) website for more information on where to apply for the openbaar vervoer verklaring or reisverklaring.

Please note that you cannot claim a deduction if the employer bought the tickets for you. If your travel expenses have partially been covered by your employer, you can only claim the part that has not been covered.