By: Henry, founder of KassKop
I first moved to the Netherlands in 2022 and believe it or not, I came with an almost blank perspective of the Netherlands. I knew about the bikes, cheese and canals but not much else. I remember I used to play videogames with a Dutch girl in my teenage years but I didn’t know much outside of that. After being here for sometime, I fell in love with the country. Here is my list what I love about the country.
1. Infrastructure
Believe it or not, potholes are a very rare sight, especially in the major cities of the Netherlands! Bike lanes wrap all around the country, allowing seamless smooth transportation. Not only is the infrastructure sound, but it is built in a very aesthetic way from the canals, roads, buildings and farms. Beauty and efficiency!
2. Happiness and Mental Health
The Dutch are the top 10 happiest people in the world and for plentiful reason! Some of these include the efficient infrastructure, abundance of water, safety nets, affordable healthcare, nearly free education, work life balance and strong economy. The pushers of happiness in the Netherlands come from all sides; environment, infrastructure, economy and culture.
3. Travel & Vacation Hub
The Netherlands is a very popular vacation spot itself, most notably Amsterdam and The Hague. It is also centrally located in Northwestern Europe; easily and quickly allowing travel to Paris, London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Milan and much more! Its location allows easy access to the Sunny south or Snowy north, for cheap! For the dedicated or occasional traveler, this is the prime headquarters!
4. Healthy Lifestyle
The Netherlands provides very easy ways to be healthy, the food is regulated by EU standards, significantly higher than American standards. I used to get terrible cystic acne, this all but stopped since I lived in Europe, despite my higher intake of cheese! The biking infrastructure allows for easy exercise in daily life. I even go biking for the sake of it, because I love it so much. Furthermore, the Dutch health system prioritizes taking care of people with major health issues. Work-Life balance is just right, in my opinion!
5. Adventure and Cultural Immersion
You should do adventure, just for the sake of it! Exploring a new culture, cuisines, lifestyle and language! Spice up your life! Because, really, who is stopping you, but yourself!
6. Business Tax Benefits and Salary Writeoff
Did you know the Netherlands provides substantial tax benefits for businesses? Freelancers can write €9-30k of initial profit off from being taxed. Corporate taxes are at 19% for the first 200k and 25.8% after. Furthermore, expats, including yourself can apply for the 30% ruling, having 30% of your salary untaxed (Should you formally employ yourself via a corporation), for a few years. *This is not financial advice, subject to change and last updated 9/2024, please contact an accountant for further information(we can recommend you them)
