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Hey there!
If you have been googling “living in the Netherlands as a foreigner” at 2 a.m. again, welcome to the club.
In 2025, more than 215,000 internationals made the move, and the first weeks of 2026 are already looking busier.
I have lived here for almost a decade, helped friends move over, and watched the country change year by year.
This is the straight-talking, freshly updated guide I wish I had had when I first stepped off the train at Amsterdam Centraal with two suitcases and zero clue what “gezellig” meant.
Let us dive into everything that actually matters in 2026.
Why The Netherlands Still Feels Like Winning
- Still sitting pretty at #6 on the World Happiness Report
- Unemployment is at 3.3 %; basically, everyone who wants a job has one
- 94 % of people under 40 speak English like it is their second native language
- More than 24 million bikes, 17.9 million people, the bikes are winning
- 30 % tax ruling lives on (capped, but still delicious for the first five years)
2026 fun fact: The Dutch now eat more plant-based meat per person than anywhere else in Europe. Yes, even the bitterballen at the pub can be vegan now.
Visas And Immigration
| Visa | For | Minimum Salary | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Skilled Migrant | The classic expat route | €5,867 (€4,300 if <30) | 2 weeks |
| EU Blue Card | Degree + job offer | €5,867 | 1–3 months |
| Orientation Year (zoekjaar) | Recent grads from top universities | No minimum | 2–4 weeks |
| DAFT | American entrepreneurs | €4,500 capital | 3–6 weeks |
| Partner / Family Reunion | Spouses & kids | Proof of income/housing | 3–6 months |
| NEW: Digital Nomad Pilot | Remote workers (non-EU) | €4,000 net proof | 4–8 weeks |
Big 2026 news: The Digital Nomad pilot finally launched in January. Only 5,000 spots available this year; move quickly if you want one.
Best Cities For Expats Right Now
| Rank | City | Rent | Vibe | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amsterdam | €2,250–€2,750 | Electric, pricey, iconic | Love chaos and culture |
| 2 | Utrecht | €1,750–€2,150 | Cozy, central, perfect | Want balance without boredom |
| 3 | Rotterdam | €1,650–€2,050 | Bold, cheaper, cool | Like skyscrapers and street art |
| 4 | The Hague | €1,750–€2,250 | Green, beachy, calm | Have kids or work in law |
| 5 | Eindhoven | €1,450–€1,850 | Techy, relaxed, affordable | Code, design, or engineer |
| 6 | Groningen | €1,100–€1,500 | Young, cheap, bike heaven | Are a student or digital nomad |
Sleeper hit in 2026: Almere, twenty minutes to Amsterdam, brand-new houses, and rents that will not make you cry.
Housing In 2026 – It is Tough, But Doable
Rents went up another 6–9 % last year, but 110,000 new homes are finally coming online thanks to the government’s big building push.
What actually works right now:
- Start hunting on Funda, Pararius, or Stekkies three to four months early
- Join the 2026 Facebook housing groups for your city (they rename every year)
- Expect €18–€28 per m² in the big cities, that is just life here now
- Anti-kraak and flexwoningen (those cool container apartments) are everywhere and cheap
- Registration-address services still exist if you are stuck for the first weeks
Real rents, January 2026:
- Amsterdam canal-zone studio: €1,850–€2,600
- Utrecht two-bed apartment: €1,950–€2,400
- Eindhoven family house with garden: €1,750–€2,300
Cost Of Living
| Category | Single | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | €1,350–€1,950 | €2,400–€3,800 |
| Groceries | €320–€430 | €850–€1,100 |
| Eating out | €19–€24 per person | — |
| Public transport (monthly) | €85–€130 | €280–€380 |
| Health insurance | €152–€172 | €400–€470 |
| Total (decent lifestyle) | €2,500–€3,200 | €5,200–€6,500 |
A comfortable single life in the Randstad now starts at around €3,200 net.
Work Culture
- 36–40-hour contracts are normal
- New contracts get at least 26 vacation days
- Four-day workweeks are offered by almost 40 % of big companies
- Direct feedback is a love language, not rudeness
- Friday afternoon borrel is still sacred
Hottest jobs in 2026: anything to do with quantum tech, offshore wind, AI ethics, biotech, and circular design.
Healthcare – Still World-Class And Simple
- Basic insurance €152–€172/month (mandatory).
- GP visits are free after the €385 deductible has been met.
- Need an English-speaking doctor? ZorgkaartNederland.nl → filter “Engels”.
Getting Around In 2026
- Second-hand bike: €120–€250 (buy used, new ones get stolen for sport)
- Unlimited off-peak train travel: €139/month
- The new OV-app now handles trains, trams, shared bikes, and e-scooters with one tap.
Dutch Culture
- The birthday calendar in the toilet is non-negotiable
- Always split the bill (“gaan we delen?”)
- Bring cake (or at least stroopwafels) on your birthday
- “Doe maar gewoon” = just act normal, that is wild enough
- Complaining about the weather is how we bond
Raising Kids Here
- Public schools are free and excellent
- International schools €19,000–€30,000/year, apply the day your kid is born
- Child benefit now €270–€540 per kid per quarter
- Daycare allowance can cover up to 96 % if your income is not sky-high
So, Is 2026 Your Year?
If you want efficiency, safety, green cities, and a culture that actually lets you have a life outside the office, yes, the Netherlands is still one of the best places on earth to be an expat.
It rains sideways in February, and finding an apartment feels like a reality show.
However, six months in, you will be cycling through that rain without an umbrella, calling it “lekker fris,” and wondering why you did not move sooner.
See you soon on the bike path!
About The Author
