Moving to Netherlands : A simple check list for Indians

Due since long: Below information is from experience of living in Netherlands from May 2011 in Groningen. Consider this only as a guideline as details will change with time.

Relocating: A bucket list for you

·        National language is “Dutch” but the good thing about Netherlands is that majority of the natives does speak English and are comfortable in helping out. 

·        The temperatures are pretty cold. Yes, 20 degrees is summer here. For 6 months+: Starting end of Sept to Easter time (April) the temperatures are single digit and hover around 3-5 degrees. It doesn’t snow that much in general but the cold winds will make it a rough experience. Do carry sweater, gloves and jackets for the warmth! 

o   Northern part of Netherlands is generally 2 degrees colder than the southern part. Randomness of Weather is what will catch your eye in this country. It can be sunny for couple of hours, rainy the next 30 minutes and then sunny again. One thing that is always certain is Wind (cold kinds).

·        A NOTE OF CAUTION : If you are flying through with stop over, either via Frankfurt/Paris or any other location: Keep the gold carrying to minimum levels as advised by European laws. Do keep the original bills if you have them. Not because the gold will be stolen but the amount that you can carry is limited and recently the checks have been too tight. 

·        CARRY CASH: Cash is KING during uncertainties:  always do keep 200-300 Euros cash even though majority of the places International cards will work but having cash will comfort you during Emergency activities (flight re-routing because of weather conditions etc/stop overs/long night stay in airports etc..)

·        As you land in Schiphol, generally it is a good idea to pick up a SIM connection at the Airport itself. Lyca or Lebara (both have the cheapest rates to India) SIM is recommended. The offers do vary but on average both are cost effective solutions. Generally majority of mobiles phones from India (GSM based) will work here.

·         Airport and Train stations are connected, if you need to move out of Amsterdam then generally every 30 minutes to Zwolle (Leeuwarden/Groningen) and every 15 minutes to Den Hague, Eindhoven and Roterdam the trains are scheduled. Advice is to take a direct train to avoid changing of the trains with the luggage you are carrying. Taxi, is off course an option but expensive in general. If company is paying it then please do use the service to make the travel convenient. Detailed schedules of Trains can be found @ ns.nl and for the local buses and more details please use 9292.nl

·         Do please carry 3 pin to 2 pin converter. It is damn expensive in Netherlands to buy one (Could cost over 10 Euros, where as in India it would be 100-200 Rs max). Especially as our mixers and Laptop have 3 pins and here we have 2 pins that work. The voltage/freq is 220V/50 HZ

·        Do carry your own Medicines from India : Very difficult to get medicines prescribed by doctors here and the process of getting the appointment from doctor and registering before you can visit them makes it a cumbersome process initially, but as other process and procedures we all get used to it. WARNING: CARRY YOUR OWN MEDICINIES. It is common that vegetarians and Indian women do suffer here deficiency of Iron content, so please do carry the needed supplements. (Vitamin D supplements as well : sun is scarce as well L)

·         You are 4 eyed? If yes: please do carry spare spectacles (at least a couple of them would come in handy). They are damn expensive here and will take minimum of 2 weeks to be replaced. Forget this and you are in trouble! NO Joking.

·        Normally shops are open from 9 AM – 5 PM. Grocery shops stay late: Aldi, Lidl, C-1000, Albert Heijn open till 8 PM and the ones in the city center - Albert Heijn is open till 10 PM. One a week you have all shops open till 8 PM and this day is called KOOPAVOND (Shopping evening). Majority of the city’s it could be Thursdays. Since 2014 these shops are open even on SUNDAY from 12 PM – 5 PM: Hip hip hurray. It is a relief indeed!

A tip: Get you haircut before your start (it will save some costs initially) as it is expensive: Starts @ 13-15 Euros most of the times and yes you need appointment for it as well. They don’t cut it properly and your first experience could leave you a little frustrated, KAPSALOON is the place where you need to go..

·        FOOD: You surely want to cook some Indian food I guess. Carry your pressure cooker : A spare spare gasket and safety valve a must. A mixer with spare bush (mixers you get here will not have the grinding quality we need) will serve you well. All the aroma’s and special PODI’s that make your day please carry along. You do have Indian Grocery shops in and around your city or a Turkish/Iraqi/Oriental or Iranian shop(s) that provides Indian foods from Rice to Atta to MTR masalas to Pickles and yes even the ground coconut.

·        Restaurants are always open till 11 PM at majority of the places and you can order the food online. One such website that gives you good information of the available restaurants is justeat.nl

·        Carry your original driving license. There is no need for IDP since Indian license is in English. You are allowed to drive with India license for 6 months after your arrival. If you are Knowledge migrant with 30% ruling then you can swap your Indian license for the Dutch one. NO TEST NEEDED. It is a real advantage than to pass the test here.  Time consuming and crisper than we might have experienced in India

·        If your spouse is not working, he/she can apply for tax return in the local tax office. Non-working spouse will get a monthly tax return depending on your partner’s salary. And If you have child(ren) you can apply for child benefit with SVB. Per Quarter you will get about € 150 for 1 child and more if you children. Please do reach out to our best friend GOOGLE for more info on this.

·        If you have a child and need English medium school, you need to find an ’International school’ first and based on that decide your housing. There are not many international schools and so this check is important. Contact the school immediately (even before coming to Netherlands) to get advice on vacancy, In Groningen it is easier than the other parts like Eindhoven and Amsterdam. So please do ensure that you are well prepared.


Once you are here. The below might make your life a little easier.

·         Public Transport : 9292.nl

·        Train : http://www.ns.nl 

·        Use Smartvoip or Actionvoip to call to India using Smart Phone or from Laptop.

·         Register yourselves in the local Gementee : You will receive BSN (Burger service number) within 3-4 weeks. This is needed for opening a bank account/confirming your insurances with the company.

·         Residence Permit card you will receive in 2-3 weeks’ time, in person you need to go and collect.

·         Open a Bank account: Your company would assist you as per their preference: If not, then go for ABN AMRO: They have English facility, which could make our lives easier.

·        Upon getting insurance letter from your insurance company, you can register yourself with a Doctor. The healthcare system is a weird one but please be patient and you will get used to it. Other than health insurance, I humbly recommend to take 2 more types of insurance. Personal Insurance- in case you/family damages someone else’s property by mistake. Theft Insurance – to cover your house hold items in case of theft. Costs are nominal.

·         Second hand market is unlike India a recommended place to search :http://www.marktplaats.nl

·        Use cycle to explore the city: Please buy a second hand one: Buy from a known network or recommended second hand shops only. Stolen bicycles would also be up for sale, you don’t want to get into this. Bicycles are STOLEN here very often, please buy a Robust LOCK. LOCK could be at least 10- 20 Euros, but worth the investment.

·        Popular movie complex is Pathe: http://www.pathe.nl

·         Want to read news in English and know what’s happening in Netherlands: http://www.dutchnews.nl/

·         Internet is pretty fast here: You can watch all the Indian channels/movies/sports etc online: Would not recommend downloading in Netherlands ;) : Stream online as needed 

o   Nos.nl or Vipbox.tv : for sports

o   Movies I am sure you will tell me more than I know or Ask Google options are plenty

·        Networking is very important here: Facebook: You will find Indian groups: If you are not into it, for sure in Centrum (center) on Saturdays you will find Indians (especially in smaller cities, VISHMARKT or WINKEL CENTRUM). Take the ownership and reach out, most of them will be happy to help out. Please invite and take it upon yourselves to make the network. Join the group activities, children school get together and social events inside Indian community and outside as well. This will help you relax especially as your partner and children will find their own space in the new country.