A castle with a pond in front of it
The DeZwaan Windmill in Holland, Michigan
Characteristic farm, Aldlansdyk in Cornjum.
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over Zeeland – the w…
{No Explicit} Map Free Copyright
Map of Natural Gas concessions of the NAM in the Netherlands. S…
UN MemberPop. 16.7M
92
NestFainder ScoreAI

Excellent destination

CCost
A−Safety
BClimate
AHDI
Netherlands flag

Netherlands

Dutch

Netherlands

Netherlands delivers top-tier quality of life—212 index—with below-average costs, sky-high purchasing power, and the 30% tax ruling welcoming skilled expats.

See how Netherlands matches your profileComing soon — available in a future release
CLIMATE
18°C avg · 1800h sun/yr
CURRENCY
EUR €
LANGUAGE
Dutch
SAFETY
Very safe
#1 globally · Safety index 72/100
COST OF LIVING
High cost
Cost index 73/100
TIME ZONE
GMT+1 / GMT+2
UTC+1 / +2 · 2h ahead

What it's like to live in Netherlands· AI overview

The Netherlands is a European country renowned for its distinctive geography characterized by extensive low-lying terrain, much of which lies at or below sea level. Approximately one-third of the country is below sea level, protected by an intricate...


Cost of living
vs EU Average54% higher than EU average
1-bed apartment, city
€1,598Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Dinner for two
€21.00Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Monthly groceries
€1.37Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Public transit (month)
€3.52One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide
★ Professional

Your Netherlands Roadmap

40+ page personal relocation analysis — visa path, tax strategy, neighbourhood guide, healthcare setup and more.

€29one-time report
What's included
  • Visa & residency path
  • Tax optimisation
  • Neighbourhood guide
  • Healthcare & schools
  • Cost breakdown

Healthcare

  • Healthcare in the Netherlands is based on a mandatory health insurance system, requiring all legal residents, including most expats, to obtain a basic health insurance policy (basisverzekering) within four months of registering their address.
  • The system blends public and private elements; while insurance is mandatory and provided by private companies, the basic package and its coverage are government-regulated, ensuring universal access to essential care.
  • Expats must register with a local General Practitioner (GP or 'huisarts'), who acts as the primary gatekeeper for all non-emergency medical care, including referrals to specialists and hospitals.
Healthcare guide →
Entry Requirements & Visa Options

For non-EU visitors, the entry requirements for the Netherlands depend on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. If you are from a country that requires a visa to enter the Schengen Area, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa. This visa allows you to stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The application process involves submitting a completed visa application form, a valid passport (not older than 10 years, with...

Work permits available
Read full guide

Travel advisories, hazards, and conflict indicators

Cost of living, housing, income, and purchasing power overview

Income tax, corporate tax, and fiscal overview

Job market, business environment, and work permits

International schools, universities, and curricula

Pension, retirement pathways, and financial planning

Seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours

Population, languages, and ethnic composition

Day-to-day expat life and practical tips

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Community, cultural integration, and expat life

Air quality, green spaces, and sustainability

Political system, government structure, and key policies

Location overview, cost of living index, and purchasing power

Economic and geographic overview at a glance

Community perspectives and expat experiences

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Coming soon — available in a future release

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.