According to the World Happiness Report 2020, the Netherlands has been ranked as the sixth happiest country in the world, and it is not difficult to understand why this is the case.

It was the first nation in the world to legalize both same-sex marriage, and with more bicycles than people in the country (22.8 million versus 17 million), used across 35,000 kilometers of track, your morning commute will be a far cry from the traffic jams and train journeys you may be accustomed to. The country offers relaxed, liberal surroundings for furthering your career.

People who choose to make the Netherlands their permanent home can take advantage of the country's high standard of living in addition to the numerous employment opportunities that are available as a result of its status as one of the wealthiest nations on the planet.

Jobs in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is not only well-known for its windmills and tulips; it is also a world leader in agriculture. In fact, the United States of America is the only country that exports more food than the Netherlands does. Among its most important products are:

• machinery
• electrical equipment
• mineral fuels
• pharmaceuticals
• medical apparatus.

POPULAR GRADUATE JOBS

• Agriculture
• Energy
• Finance
• Healthcare
• Transport and logistics

Although Germany, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom are the Netherlands' primary trading partners, the country's export links extend as far as Japan, the United States, and various parts of Africa. The Netherlands is widely recognized as the transportation hub of Europe.

Some of the largest multinational corporations in the world are headquartered in this country, including Unilever, Philips, Shell, and Heineken; as a result, there are a large number of job opportunities available for foreign workers in a variety of capacities within these companies.

You can look for work in the Netherlands at the following websites:

• StepStone
• Undutchables
• Xpat Jobs

Skills shortages

It might come as a surprise to learn that the Netherlands is dealing with a skills gap in a number of different industries, given that it has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe (it has dropped to less than 4% in recent years), but this is the case.

Despite the nation's reputation as a forward-thinking, industry-leading innovator in high-tech engineering and technology, the country currently has the world's second highest demand for engineers. Finding work as an engineer shouldn't be too difficult, regardless of what subfield you specialize in.

Other areas that are experiencing shortages include the following:

• the IT sector to keep up with the demand for rapid advances in technology
• teaching, where the current level of trainee and qualified teachers doesn't sufficiently replace the number of teachers approaching retirement age
• the healthcare sector, which is under strain thanks to a growing population and longer average life expectancy, meaning more people than ever before are needing care.

You'll be highly valued by employers if you can contribute skills in any of these fields. For more information, see Holland Alumni - Occupations in Demand.

The steps you need to take to land a job in the Netherlands

You are required to have general Dutch work permission in order to be hired for a position, which you already have if you are a citizen of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA). If you are a candidate from any other country, including the United Kingdom, it is highly unlikely that you will be hired unless extraordinary circumstances apply. For example, there must be no EU/EEA or Dutch national candidates available to fill the position.

Sending your curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter is typically required when applying for jobs. You can begin your search for employment from the comfort of your own home by using job boards, making direct contact with businesses, or networking through social media platforms like LinkedIn.

Consider sending a speculative application to the companies that you would like to work for even if there are no positions that match your interests that are currently being advertised. Employers in the Netherlands value employees who take initiative.

You also have the option of beginning your search for employment once you have settled in the Netherlands by perusing the employment sections of local and national newspapers.

If you are chosen as a finalist for a job, you will likely be required to go through a series of interviews with various employees of the company. Candidates who are still located in their home country may be able to participate in video interviews with certain companies. When hiring for higher-level positions at larger companies, some companies use psychometric tests and assessment centers. Dress appropriately for the type of evaluation you are taking, and make sure to arrive on time; punctuality is highly valued in the Netherlands.

Summer jobs

While working during the summer, you can travel to a new country, add valuable international experience to your resume, and bring in some extra cash all at the same time.

There are always part-time and seasonal jobs available in the tourism and hospitality industries; therefore, you should look for work in bars, cafes, restaurants, and campgrounds. You could spend the summer working as an au pair if you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have experience working with children in some capacity.

Temping is popular in the Netherlands. Consider signing up to an agency, such as Manpower or Adecco.nl, to receive alerts and guidance on short-term opportunities.

Alternatively, if you aren't limited financially you may be interested in volunteering.

Teaching jobs

It's possible that finding work as a teacher in this country is more difficult than in other European countries. The English Proficiency Index 2019 discovered that Dutch nationals are taught English in schools beginning at a young age, and as a result, the Netherlands has the highest English proficiency among non-native English speakers of any country in Europe. This is due to the fact that the Netherlands is the country with the most schools teaching English.

Nevertheless, there are a plethora of possibilities. A large number of prestigious private international schools can be found throughout the Netherlands, particularly in the cities of Amsterdam and The Hague. In this section, you will assist students in improving their business English.

There are opportunities available at any time of the year, despite the fact that the school year is traditionally considered to run from September to July (with some regional variations).

In most cases, you will be required to have a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent, a TEFL certificate, and evidence of your language proficiency in areas where it is necessary.  As teaching is a regulated profession, you'll need to have these qualifications recognised by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Internships

There are opportunities for internships, but because there is no legal requirement for employers to pay their interns, you might end up working for free if you take one of these positions. Internships are available. Internships are available in many different industries, ranging from health care and construction to marketing and information technology. The employer is the one who decides how long an internship will last.

They are designed for students as a means of gaining work experience or conducting research as part of a final project that they are required to complete. After you have completed your education and received your diploma, you will not be eligible to participate in an internship in the Netherlands.

You can search for available internships at the following websites:

• Go Overseas
• StageMotor
• Stage Plaza
• Together.abroad

              AIESEC

The Global Talent Programme provides 3 to 12-moth graduate internships in marketing and business throughout various cities in the Netherlands.

Dutch visas

You are free to enter the Netherlands and work with the same permissions as Dutch nationals if you are a citizen of a country in the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. If you intend to stay for longer than four months during your visit, you are required to register with the personal records database in your area within five days of your arrival. This is a local requirement.

After registering, you will be given a Citizen Service Number (BSN), which is required for a variety of activities, including opening a bank account in the Netherlands and paying taxes, among other things.

You will need to apply for a residence and work permit in order to legally live and work in the country if you come from a country that is not part of the EU/EEA area or Switzerland. The process is different for people who are employees, people who are self-employed, and people who are highly skilled. Visit the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service for further information (IND).

In order to use the Dutch healthcare system, you will need to obtain health insurance within the first four months of your arrival. This is a mandatory requirement. By law, all businesses in the Netherlands are obliged to provide their staff members with some form of minimum health coverage. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that is still valid will be all that is required of you if you plan to work in the Netherlands for a period of time that is less than a year.

Language requirements

Finding work in the Netherlands will not necessarily require you to have a strong command of the Dutch language. Since English is the country's official language for conducting business, many cities in the Netherlands, especially Utrecht and Rotterdam, offer a wide variety of job opportunities to native English speakers.

If you can speak at least a little Dutch, however, you'll give yourself a leg up when it comes to finding work, advancing in your career, and fitting in with the rest of society. If you work in an industry that requires you to network with other people, such as marketing, or if you work closely with the Dutch government, it is essential that you have a good command of the Dutch language.

Your local tax office may be able to offer you Dutch language courses at a reduced rate, as work-related education is often tax deductible. Alternatively, visit Undutchables - Dutch language courses for courses at all levels in your chosen city.

How to describe your experience and skills to potential employers

As a result of the participation of both countries in the Bologna Process, which is a system that ensures direct comparability of standards in qualifications across participating EU countries, the qualifications earned in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are directly comparable to one another. Employers shouldn't have any trouble recognizing them as qualified candidates. Visit Nuffic to get a better understanding of how the Dutch education system stacks up against those of other countries around the world.

How one would describe the working environment in the Netherlands

Employees who are paid for their time on a full-time basis typically put in between 36 and 40 hours of work each week. While some people choose to work four days per week, opting for a longer amount of time over a shorter period of time, the majority of people opt to work part time. The minimum amount of annual leave that is guaranteed to full-time employees is twenty days, or four weeks.

The monthly minimum wage for workers aged 21 and older is currently set at €1,653.60 and is subject to review on a biannual basis. For workers who are younger than this, the figure rises by €496.10 at the age of 15 and rises to €1,322.90 when they reach the age of 20.

You may be eligible for the Dutch "30% ruling" if you were hired to work in the Netherlands from another country. Under this ruling, you will receive thirty percent of your salary paid to you tax free for a maximum of eight years to cover the costs of relocating to the Netherlands (although you do not need to have actually incurred any expenses in order to be eligible).

This applies to employees who are recruited at least 150 kilometers away from the Dutch border into positions with a minimum taxable income of €37,000 before the ruling is applied. This includes all parts of the United Kingdom. For additional details, please refer to the Dutch tax office's website, which can be found here.

Find out more

• Discover what it's like to study in the Netherlands.