A small country with a big attitude, where climate change is a challenge that creates opportunities and jobs rather than a threat and the motto ‘live and let live’ goes for everyone.
Dutch are known for being tolerant, open minded and thinking outside the box. The capital city Amsterdam is home to over 200 nationalities and its no surprise that people from all over the world find a home here as the country is the fourth happiest place on earth to live and has the thirteenth highest per capita income world wide.
Another characteristic of this small country is its progressiveness and the Dutch can be counted on to take the first steps in a new direction. It was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage and ‘Max Havelaar’ was the first fair trade label in the world. Rotterdam has the largest seaport in Europe and facilitates a lot of trade with other countries. The Netherlands was also one of the six founding countries of the EU.
Staying fit and enjoying the clean environment is no challenge as many Dutch people commute to work by bike. There are more bicycles than people and with 15,000 kilometers of bike lanes it is a safe, quick and healthy way to travel.
The Netherlands is part of the EU so people with citizenship of countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) can move, live and work freely in the Netherlands.
Here are some of the ways to live in the Netherlands if you are a citizen of a non-EEA country:
Work or business related visas
Netherlands Independent Entrepreneur Visa
To qualify you’ll need a comprehensive business plan that proves your business will add value to the Dutch economy or, if you are a freelancer, that you have Dutch clients. You’ll also need to show a net profit of € 1,192.96 per month that needs to be independent and long-term. You also need to score adequately on a points system. The points system is based on your experience, education, entrepreneurship, income amongst other things.
US, Japanese and Turkish citizens can take advantage of treaties between their countries and the Netherlands and in some cases, do not need to meet the points threshold. You’ll still need to meet the general requirements.
Through investment
If you invest €1,250,000 in a Dutch company, you can apply for a investor residence permit in Netherlands. Your investment must add value to the Dutch economy. This is assessed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Startup Visa
The founder/s of a startup can be eligible for a Startup visa if they meet the following conditions:
Through your Family
Working Holiday visa
Here are some ways to get citizenship in the Netherlands:
The passport for the Netherlands allows you to travel to 160 countries without a visa.
Its global rank is 11.