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Key takeaways
Relocating to the Netherlands requires following a strict sequence of legal, housing, and administrative steps. Housing is the main constraint: availability is limited, competition is high, and budget alone does not guarantee success. Your legal right to live and work must be clear before arrival, as it determines what you can arrange and when. Timelines are often longer than expected, and missing a step can delay everything else. Proper preparation reduces risk, stress, and unnecessary costs later on.
Relocation Services in the Netherlands: What’s Realistic, What’s Not, and Where You Actually Stand
The Netherlands consistently ranks among the countries with the highest quality of life. Strong infrastructure, good healthcare, international work culture, and a high standard of living attract thousands of expats every year.
However, the reality is that relocating to the Netherlands is not simple, especially when it comes to housing, timelines, and administration. The system works, but only if you understand the order, constraints, and bottlenecks.
What Relocation Services in the Netherlands Really Do
A relocation service does not magically “get you a house” or bypass Dutch rules. What it does is reduce risk, prevent timing mistakes, and guide you through a system that punishes errors with delays and extra costs.
Typical relocation support includes:
• Immigration and residence permit guidance
• Housing search assistance and contract checks
• Municipality registration and BSN coordination
• Banking and health insurance setup
• Family support (schools, childcare, partners)
The value is not speed alone. The value is sequence and correctness.
Miss one step, and everything downstream stalls.
Step 1: Determine Your Legal Right to Live and Work
This is non-negotiable. Everything else depends on it.
EU / EEA / Swiss citizens
You can live and work in the Netherlands without a visa, but you must still:
• Register with the municipality shortly after arrival
• Obtain a BSN (citizen service number)
• Arrange health insurance
Non-EU citizens
Most non-EU nationals need a residence permit and, in many cases, an MVV (entry visa) before arrival.
Common permit types include:
• Highly Skilled Migrant (employer-sponsored)
• Orientation Year (recent graduates)
• Startup or Entrepreneur visas
• Family reunification permits
Mistake here = months of delay later.
This is one of the main reasons people involve relocation services early.
Step 2: Understand the True Cost of Relocating
Underestimating costs is one of the fastest ways to create stress.
Typical relocation expenses
International moving
€5,000–€15,000 depending on volume and origin.
Housing
• €1,200–€2,200 for a one-bedroom in major cities
• 1–2 months’ deposit + first month upfront
• Sometimes agency or furnishing costs
Living expenses (urban average)
• Groceries: ~€300/month
• Utilities & internet: €200+
• Mandatory health insurance: €130–€150/month
Relocation services help you budget realistically, not optimistically.
Step 3: Prepare Before You Leave (This Is Where Most People Fail)
Before arriving, you should already have:
• A clear permit strategy
• Translated/legalized documents if required
• A housing search plan (temporary vs permanent)
• Funds available for deposits and upfront costs
• Pet or vehicle transport sorted if applicable
Waiting until arrival to “see how it goes” is how people lose weeks.
Step 4: Your First Week in the Netherlands (Order Matters)
Within the first days, you need to:
- Register with the municipality
- Obtain your BSN
- Open a Dutch bank account
- Take out health insurance
- Sign a rental contract that allows registration
If any of these steps fail or are done out of order, others get blocked. This is where relocation support often saves the most time.
The Dutch Housing Reality
• Demand exceeds supply in major cities
• Competition is intense
• Scams target internationals specifically
• Not all rentals allow registration
• Short-term listings often don’t convert to permanent housing
Relocation services do not control supply. What they do is:
• Filter legitimate listings
• Prevent contract and registration issues
• Advise on realistic areas and price ranges
• Reduce exposure to scams and false promises
Common Timing Traps Expats Don’t See Coming
• BSN delays block banking and insurance
• Missed tax benefit application windows
• School and childcare waiting lists
• Employers assuming things “just work”
Frequently Asked Questions (Straight Answers)
Is English enough?
For work and daily life: often yes. For administration and long-term integration: Dutch helps significantly.
How long does it take to settle?
• Immigration: weeks to months
• Housing: 2–8 weeks (sometimes longer)
• Administration: 2–4 weeks after arrival
What about taxes and benefits?
The 30% ruling exists for some skilled workers, but eligibility is strict and timing-sensitive. Miss the window and it’s gone.
When Hiring a Relocation Service Makes Sense
Relocation services are most valuable if:
• You lack local language or network
• You’re relocating with family
• You’re under time pressure
• You want to minimize financial and legal risk
• Your employer expects a smooth landing
So, Where Do You Stand?
Some people can relocate independently. Others lose months trying.
The difference is not intelligence or effort: it’s understanding the system and the order in which it works.
A short consultation can quickly clarify:
• Whether your situation is straightforward or complex
• What risks you’re likely to face
• Which steps you should handle yourself
• Where professional support actually adds value
Article by
Claire Krechting
Claire Krechting is an expat relocation and housing expert in the Netherlands, assisting over 20 international households per month with securing rental and purchase properties.
Her clients include professionals relocating through multinational companies such as ING, Nike, Tata Steel, and IMC. Claire works exclusively within the Dutch expat housing market and is fully specialized in relocation and residential real estate for expats and international professionals.
