Netherlands
UK graduates stand a good chance of finding a job in the Netherlands, especially with one of the large international companies.
Generally, Dutch companies do not recruit graduates for permanent positions. The vast majority of first job offers to graduates are temporary one-year contracts. Graduates are expected to have a degree in a related discipline. Temping agencies (Uitzendbureaus) are significant players in the job market, and companies frequently use them in the pre-selection of new employees.
Sending a CV and a letter of application is the most common method of application. It can also be a good idea to phone beforehand with a list of questions. With application letters, it is appreciated if they are written in Dutch, typed out, and are no longer than one page (A4 format).
It is important to start networking early, as 80% of new graduates get their first job by speculative application or networking. If an employer has no vacancies, they will usually keep speculative applications on file. See vacancy sources for job websites and newspapers with vacancies in the Netherlands.
To apply for a job in the Netherlands, a CV based on the UK/Irish model is suitable. It is important to include contact details, education, work experience, hobbies and voluntary work. It should be professional, to the point, and normally be a maximum of two pages (A4 format).
Visit Undutchables (a recruitment agency for internationals) and EURES - European Job Mobility Portal for CV and covering letter tips.
A great deal of significance is assigned to work placements and other extracurricular activities that display commitment, initiative and experience, so these things can be important in a CV.
The interview process is generally lengthier in the Netherlands, with two or three interviews involved. Referees are usually contacted at the first interview stage, and assessment centres and psychological tests are often part of the selection process. Interviews focus on personality and motivation.
If you wish to compare your professional, vocational or technical qualifications with Dutch qualifications, you can consult the UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications (NRP) .
Visit the ENIC-NARIC website for information on comparability of your academic qualifications.
You may also want to visit the UK National Europass Centre (UK NEC) website for information on how to make your skills and qualifications easily understood in the Netherlands.
If you are planning to live and work in the Netherlands, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
80% of new graduates get their first job by speculative application or networking. It is customary to telephone the company in advance of a speculative application. If an employer has no vacancies, they will usually keep speculative applications on file.
Work experience is highly regarded in the Netherlands. Well-developed structures are in place, particularly in the areas of IT, business and engineering. To find a placement, speculative applications are normal, but it is necessary to have a working knowledge of Dutch.
Formal exchange organisations are useful ways of getting work experience.
IAESTE (The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) organises course-related placements for engineering, science and technology students.
The student-run organisation AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) offers placements for business and economic students.
Your institution may also be involved in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme , through which vocational training exchanges and work placements are arranged with partner organisations in other countries. Contact your institution’s international office or your careers service for more information.
If you want to teach in a Dutch school, you are required to speak Dutch, but the government offers courses. Learn Dutch also provides distance learning courses at various levels. Teaching information and jobs can be found on Teach Abroad Netherlands and i-to-i TEFL .
Voluntary opportunities in the Netherlands can be found on Volunteer Abroad and Markt.nl .
There are a lot of opportunities for casual work in the Netherlands, especially temporary seasonal work in agriculture, horticulture and the hotel sector. Jobs are widely advertised in the media and with recruitment agencies.
There are various gap year opportunities available in the Netherlands including working at campsites or in the tourism industry. Options can be explored on iGapyear .
Childcare and au pair opportunities with local families are also available. Explore Childcare International and Au Pairs by Avalon for more information.
The Netherlands has two types of higher educational institutions:
There are also institutions of international education, which offer postgraduate courses in English in a wide range of fields.
Postgraduate degrees are awarded by universities, universities of professional education, institutions of international education and private institutions.
Almost 900 postgraduate courses are on offer - most normally lasting one or two years.
There are currently 1,474 international study programs and courses taught entirely in English. This ranges from seminars to full Masters degrees. More information on programmes and courses can be found on NUFFIC (Netherlands Organisation for International Co-operation in Higher Education) and Association of Universities in the Netherlands .
There are 13 research universities and one Open University in the Netherlands. Useful listings can be found on Association of Universities in the Netherlands and at Universities Worldwide .
World university rankings, as well as information on universities in the Netherlands, may be found on Top Universities .
For entry into a Masters programme or other postgraduate study, a foreign student must have a Bachelors degree or equivalent. They should also contact the institution where they want to apply to get further information.
Postgraduate programmes are advertised approximately three months in advance in publications such as NRC Handelsblad and De Volkskrant . It may be necessary to contact the admissions office at the institution you want to apply to for more details.
Educational institutions in the Netherlands all have their own rules for admission, so it is important to contact the institution of your choice to learn how to apply.
All state-funded institutions now also have an online application system at Studielink .
The application process usually includes an institutional application form and personal statement which is similar to the UK process.
While higher education is not free in the Netherlands, costs are fairly reasonable compared to many countries. For EU citizens, fees range from 900-1,500 Euros per year. For non-EU citizens, the costs may be considerably higher and reach 9,000 Euros a year or more.
The annual estimated cost of living for students in Amsterdam is €9,000 (excluding tuition fees).
In some cases, foreign students are eligible for student grants, based on their nationality or residence permit. NUFFIC (Netherlands Organisation for International Co-operation in Higher Education) provides accurate, up-to-date information about Dutch higher education. It is responsible for the Netherlands Student Grantfinder , an online search engine for those who want to study in the Netherlands and are looking for financial aid. The Grantfinder contains information on a range of Dutch scholarships for foreign students.
UK students on undergraduate degree programmes, postgraduate Masters and some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in the Netherlands through Erasmus . This programme is open to all subject areas, but check with your institution's Erasmus coordinator to see which countries they have links with and in what subject areas.
The Netherlands is a member of ENIC-NARIC , a network of national centres that aims to improve academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study in European Union (EU) member states, EEA countries and associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The website includes information on current issues in international academic and professional mobility, and on procedures for the recognition of UK and other European qualifications.
EU/EEA nationals do not need to have a visa or work permit in order to live and work in the Netherlands. However, Bulgaria and Romania nationals are still required to have a residence and work permit in order to live and work in this country. Bulgaria and Romania nationals do not need visas for trips to the Netherlands lasting less than three months.
If you are working in the Netherlands, you will need a Citizen Service Number (Burger Servicenummer or, in short, BSN) which indicates you have been registered in the tax and social security system. You can obtain a Citizen Service Number at your local office of the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) .
Once you have resided in the Netherlands for more than three months, you should also register with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Imigratie-en Naturalisatiedienst, or IND) .
EU citizens do not have to find a job before moving to the Netherlands. However, with the cost of living being relatively expensive (particularly rented accommodation) it may be beneficial to organise work prior to moving to the Netherlands.
If you are from a non-EU country, please check with your Embassy about whether you need a visa or work permit to work in the Netherlands.
If you are from a non-EU country, applications may be made via the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Imigratie-en Naturalisatiedienst, or IND). Check with your home country's embassy for more information on applying for a Netherlands visa.
All non-EU nationals applying for a Netherlands visa while in the UK should do so in person through the Royal Netherlands Embassy in London or the Netherlands consulate in your area.
If your employment is longer than three months, you should register with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Imigratie-en Naturalisatiedienst, or IND). There is a ‘residence wizard’ on the website where you can learn rules of residency in the Netherlands and how to apply.
If you are applying from a non-EU country, the ‘residence wizard’ will also help you learn how to apply for permanent residency.
The Dutch public employment service, CWI - Centre for Work and Income (Centrum voor Werk en Inkomen) , is responsible for providing advice and information to jobseekers in the Netherlands. If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU), you are entitled to make use of any CWI services free of charge.
Counsellors can provide advice on the application procedures to get your work permit, based on your nationality and planned length of stay. The CWI also offers possibilities for further education or special skills training. Most of the programmes are subsidised and are either free or cost very little. If you require Dutch lessons, consult your CWI counsellor about the chance of having your class fees covered. Once you get a job, the CWI can also advise you on your rights as an employee in the Netherlands.
ACCESS is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the international community in the Netherlands. The organisation provides advice and information for people wanting to settle and work in the Netherlands.
You can also get contact details for the European Employment Services advisers (Euro-advisers) in the Netherlands through EURES - European Job Mobility Portal . Euro-advisers are trained specialists who provide information and guidance to jobseekers interested in working in the Netherlands.
Higher education careers services in the Netherlands are very similar to those in the UK, providing guidance and information, workshops and career planning programmes. They are also the main interface with employers.
The British Embassy Netherlands will be able to help with a wide variety of emergencies. The ‘Help for British Nationals’ section of the website gives further details of what help you can expect.
Healthcare treatment is usually free for UK nationals. You should make sure and obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Dutch insurance card if you are living in the Netherlands. It is important to be treated by a state healthcare provider, as private healthcare is not covered.
The emergency police and ambulance number is 112.
Find the latest travel advice and a travellers’ checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
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