How can I build a social life in the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Meeting new people in a new city is not an easy task. Fortunately there are easy ways to build social life and make friends.

Invite your colleagues or partner’s colleagues
You may have moved to a new city or country for your job or have followed your partner’s career opportunities. Why not inviting some colleagues for coffee, lunch or dinner? They may share interesting tips about your new home country and the Dutch life, and maybe a common interest on a sport or artistic activity. As well, if your employer or partner’s employer organise events, do not hesitate to participate to network.

Join a sport team, a course or a club
Are there any hobbies such as drama play, dance or photography you would like to do? Find out about sport, artistic clubs, even ones in English in your city by contacting your municipality, i.e. thehague.com, or expat helpdesks, talking to other expatriates at work, school or in the neighbourhood, or searching on expat websites and forums such as Expatica.nl.

Join events organised by expat associations
If you have kids going to school chat to other parents. You might discover associations led by people of the same nationality or first language. For instance, if you have kids at the American School of The Hague, you may probably hear about the American Women’s Club of The Hague. And if you have babies you can join baby groups, which organise coffee & toddler mornings, etc.

There are numerous international communities/associations in the Netherlands. You may find one that interests you. These associations organise social networking events, i.e. going out for a drink or a meal, group discussions and events such as fairs.

Join a Dutch or English course
Improving your English could be a way into expat communities. While learning the Dutch language gives you a better understanding of Dutch habits and the ability to socialise with your neighbours, it is also crucial if you are looking for employment. It also gives you a chance to meet new people, probably in the same situation as yourself.

To go further check out here some examples of sourcing clubs and activities for expats available in the Netherlands.

What are the emergency numbers in the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

In the Netherlands there is no 24 hours medical service. During office hours you can contact your GP. After office hours and in the weekend, every municipality has a so called huisartsenpost that can be contacted for medical problems that can’t wait until your own GP is available again. The service operates at night and around the clock during weekends and public holidays. If you are looking for out of hours doctors in your area, search online by typing in ‘huisartsenpost’ with the place name. The same goes for dentists.  In most cities there are several vets who offer after hours service and some even offer 24 hour service. They are all commercial.  The common rule for huisartsen and  dentists is also for vets. In general you call your own vet if your pet has problems. If he/she is not available, you can call an emergency service.  This is also often listed on the website of your vet.

You can find all emergency numbers here.

List of useful numbers in the Netherlands

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Useful numbers

Counselling

ACCESS Counselling Service Network

(also see Counsellor on Call)

0900 222 2377

Parnassia The Hague

070 – 391 6391

PsyQ International (8.30 until 17.30 and on Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30 until 20.00)

088 357 3478

(Netherlands Association for Outpatients’ Mental Health Care)

Sexual Abuse

Amsterdam

020 – 611 6022

Centre for Domestic Violence Amsterdam

020 626 3800 (8.00 – 23.00)

Emergency 06 10599458

The Hague

070 – 362 0496

Other locations

0900 899 8411

(Weekdays 09:00 – 23:00

Weekends 15:00 – 23:00)

SOS Distress

Amsterdam (24hr)

020 – 675 7575

The Hague (24hr)

070 – 345 4500

Rotterdam (24hr)

010 – 436 2323

Zoetermeer (20:00 – 02:00)

079 – 352 3737

Utrecht

030 – 294 3344

Some of these organisations are run by Dutch volunteers. If the volunteer cannot speak English, one will be found who can help. If the answer is a tape in Dutch, listen carefully – how to reach someone in person will be explained.

Helplines

AIDS infoline

0900 204 2040

(in English, Monday to Wednesday : 09.30 – 15.30, thursday and Friday: 13.30 to 15.30)

Alcoholics Anonymous (24hr)

020 – 625 6057

www.aa-netherlands.org

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Amsterdam (drugs, alcohol)

Jellinek Drug and alcohol help center

088 505 1220

The Hague

Triora 088 358 3741

Rotterdam (drugs, alcohol & clinic)

IGHD verslavingzorg 010 423 2711

Domestic Violence

Centre for Domestic Violence Amsterdam

020 626 3800 (8.00 – 23.00)

Emergency – 06 10599458

The Hague (24hr, everyday)

070 – 392 5774

Rotterdam (24hr, everyday)

010 – 476 1680

Child Line (02:00 – 20:00 everyday)
0800 0432

Drugs Advice Clinic

Amsterdam

020 – 570 2355

The Hague Parnassia

070 – 391 7800

Lost and Found

Lost Something?
Go to www.verlorenofgevonden.nl, register what you lost and see if it is found. Always do a theft online declaration via www.politie.nl in case of theft or visit the policiebureau.

Found Something?
Report an object you found at: www.verlorenofgevonden.nl, and keep it at home. If no one comes to collect the object after one year, you can keep it. Handing in at the police station is no longer possible from January 2013.

For more information visit www.verlorenofgevonden.nl or thehague.com.

Credit Cards
Europass/Eurocheques

0800 – 0313

Eurocard       (Mastercard)

030 – 283 5555

Giro Pass/Giros (24hr)    (ING MAstercard)

058 – 212 6000

Visa Card issued inside NL  (ABN AMRO)

020 – 660 0611

Visa Card issued outside NL

0800 022 4176

Amex

020 – 504 8000

Amex (after 20:00 and weekends)

020 – 504 8666

In a taxi
Amsterdam – 020 – 677 7777

The Hague – 070 – 555 5555

Rotterdam – 010 – 462 6060

In public transport or places
0900 9292

Embassies and Consulates

Find your Embassy or Consulate in the Netherlands: www.government.nl/issues/embassies-consulates-and-other-representations

 

 

What benefits are available in the Netherlands for low income households?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

If you work or study in the Netherlands you may be entitled to a benefit. You can apply to the Belastingdienst (Tax Authorities) in order to receive a contribution towards the costs of your  Dutch healthcare insurance (zorgtoeslag), rented house (huurtoeslag) or children (kindgebonden budget). Visit the Belastingdienst’s website in order to find general information on how benefits work.

If I get a small fee for my volunteer work, is this tax free?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

If you get a small fee for your volunteer work, it is tax free only if you receive a maximum. Should you receive more, then you have to pay income tax. In order to be able to take advantage of this tax break , the organisation with which you volunteer must have a so-called ANBI status and must provide you with the required documentation for your tax return. Please keep in mind that figures  change annually.

Do I need a work permit in order to volunteer?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Citizens of non-EU/EAA countries require a valid working permit. Be sure to inform the organisation you want to volunteer for whether or not you have a work permit.

Please note:  holders of a tourist visa are not allowed to do voluntary work. Also, if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may not be allowed to volunteer without prior consent from UWV WERKbedrijf (Public Employment Service).

Are there also volunteering opportunities if I can’t commit for a longer term?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

There are also many volunteering opportunities that require a short-term commitment, such as the ‘NLdoet days’ www.nldoet.nl (in Dutch only) and one-off festivals, such as the International Film Festival in Rotterdam (IFFR). The above-mentioned sites will also have information about such opportunities.
You can also check if there is a Vrijwilligers Centrale – VC (volunteers’ centre) located in your area. They are usually stichtings (foundations) subsidised by the government that offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities.

What kind of volunteer work is available in the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Volunteering was generally considered an activity to improve the well-being of others without any remuneration. It used to be thought of as being rooted in a positive attitude: working because you want to and not because you have to. It has now been expanded to a process of learning and developing. It takes many forms, and can be performed by a wide range of people in many areas, while giving the feeling of satisfaction that comes from giving back to a community, being helpful, being busy, meeting new people and developing skills. There are many interesting volunteering positions you can apply for in the Netherlands through different organisations.

The main popular volunteering areas are:

Community development

This encompasses volunteer work that aims to improve infrastructure and services like sanitation, water, permanent shelter, electricity, schools, gardening, reliable roads, and more.

Environment & wildlife

These are the services directed towards environmental and wildlife management. They can involve environmental monitoring, re-vegetation, weed removal and several other ecological restoration related processes. Raising awareness about the environment also falls under the same category.

Schools or education

Volunteering in schools may involve helping underprivileged children and adults to develop life-changing skills (like learning English, which can significantly improve the prospects of people living in developing countries), being a classroom helper, helping with fundraising efforts, etc. You can also participate in fun activities like drama productions, one-off events and chaperoning on field trips.

There are other areas where volunteers are utilised:

  • Community theatres, museums and monuments
  • Libraries or senior help centres
  • Clubs and organisations like school clubs, youth organisations, rotary clubs, sports clubs
  • Restoration activities for parks, and other public spaces
  • Places of worship

Volunteering can be done within an organisation, out in the field and from home, with tasks such as writing, graphic designing, emailing and social media.

Where can I find out about opportunities to do useful voluntary work or join social clubs?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

There are many organisations across the Netherlands suitable for volunteers from the international community. ACCESS was specifically set up to provide support to the English-speaking international/expat community, but there are many more organisations throughout the Netherlands which are looking for and value the contribution of your time/expertise.

Several local organisations are increasingly providing volunteering opportunities, for which little to no Dutch is required, and which are available to the international community.  Here you have some examples:

For general information on volunteering in Netherlands, you can contact the national Dutch volunteer office on (085) 4000 338 and check the daily papers for ads regarding volunteering opportunities.

There are many social clubs who focus on internationals. In these clubs volunteering is also possible: they are all about volunteering together. An overview of groups and clubs is available on the website of I am Expat 

The major cities also have a wide range of clubs and societies covering a diverse range of activities and cultural interests. Information can be obtained from ACCESS or via internet sites and Facebook aimed at the international community. For groups located in your area, you can also contact the ACCESS Helpdesk.

 

Are credit cards issued by banks to all customers?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

A credit card is a separate bank card used to effectively pay for goods and services or to access cash using credit from the bank. A bank credit card usually provides customers with the benefits of protection against fraud and can be used worldwide, including for internet purchases. The credit card will have a monthly spending limit and all costs incurred must be repaid within a given time period, if interest charges are to be avoided. There is normally an annual fee charged by the bank for owning a credit card. In the Netherlands, most commercial banks have an arrangement with either MasterCard or VISA. The bank may choose to give you a credit card straight away, or after a certain period of time whilst they establish your spending patterns and that you have a regular source of income.

How can I take my pension to another country when I leave the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

Your pension can be split into two parts:

  1. The general old age pension (AOW). If you leave the Netherland, you stop building up your AOW. You will then get a reduced AOW pension when you reach the age at which you are entitled to this benefit. At the time you are retired, you might be able to receive the AOW you built up during your stay here. However, this is only possible if you are living in a country with which the Netherlands has a treaty at the time of your retirement.  For an overview of the current regulations for several countries please look at https://www.svb.nl/en/aow-pension/claiming-an-aow-pension-if-you-live-outside-the-netherlands/you-are-going-to-live-outside-the-netherlands.
  2. The pension built up via your employer. If you leave the Netherlands, you might be able to transfer the pension you built up here to a pension fund in your new country. This is called international value transfer of your pension. It is advised to ask an expert to check if this is possible and if it is beneficial for you. He can also inform you about the steps to take.

For more information on this subject please visit the following website:

https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/i-have-built-up-a-pension-in-the-netherlands-can-i-take-my-pension-to-another-country

I have Dutch health insurance. Will I still be covered once I have left the Netherlands?

Posted on by Katerina Triantafillou

When you live in the Netherlands, you are in most cases required to take out a compulsory private health insurance policy with a commercial insurance provider. In addition, if you were earning an income whilst resident in the Netherlands, you also provided a contribution to the Dutch social security system for health insurance (ZVW) through your taxes. However, when you leave the Netherlands to go to live in another country, your existing Dutch insurance policy will normally no longer be valid. Some Dutch health insurance companies do provide specific health insurance products for those wishing to live abroad/emigrate. This will mean that you will need to change your health insurance policy with your provider.

You should contact your Dutch health insurance company about your move to notify them of the change (so that no further payments are made for your current policy) and to discuss the possibilities of having health insurance coverage in your new country of residence.