On days when the rain is lashing down and the sun won’t shine, you may wonder if there are better countries than the Netherlands to live in. The internet has spoken and the answer is… (drumroll, please!) maybe.
We love the Netherlands and we’re not the only ones, apparently. The Netherlands is the eighth most common country of residence for internationals, according to the 2023 edition of the Expat Insider survey. But is it really the best country?
A survey for expats
More than 12,000 internationals worldwide shared their views on living abroad in the survey.
They represent 171 nationalities from 172 countries or territories and rated up to 56 aspects of expat life. Some of these aspects include cost of living, access to housing, and career prospects.
There are pros and cons to living in every country, natuurlijk. Fantastic business culture and good safety are major bonuses, while some downfalls to living in the Netherlands include housing and difficulty settling in.
A Dutch workplace? Ja, alsjeblieft! (Yes, please!)
Wondering which country is the best place to work abroad? The borrelen culture must have something to do with it because, based on the survey, the answer is the Netherlands.
The survey focused on four subcategories when comparing the Working Abroad Index in 53 countries. The Netherlands took spots in the top five for work and leisure, salary and job security, as well as work culture and satisfaction.
READ MORE | The Netherlands ranks fifth happiest country in the world (and we couldn’t be more proud)
So what exactly do internationals like about Dutch workplaces? Flexibility, good working hours, and fair pay provide satisfaction with jobs in the Netherlands.
Internationals are also huge fans of the lack of hierarchy in Dutch workplaces, as well as independent work being encouraged.
Curious about how the Netherlands compares with other countries when it comes to working abroad?
| Rank | Best Countries for Working Abroad | Best Countries for Work & Leisure | Best Countries for Salary & Job Security | Best Countries for Work Culture & Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | Finland | Luxembourg | Estonia |
| 2 | Luxembourg | Sweden | Switzerland | Sweden |
| 3 | Sweden | Denmark | Taiwan | Finland |
| 4 | UAE | Czechia | Norway | Netherlands |
| 5 | Finland | Netherlands | Netherlands | Denmark |
Difficulty making the Netherlands home
While the Netherlands has one of the highest rankings for work culture and satisfaction, there are a few things internationals are not satisfied with and one of those sore points is housing. (No surprise there. 🤷♂️)
Is it easy to find housing in the Netherlands? Absolutely not! And the rankings show this. Out of 53 countries, the Netherlands ranked 50th for housing. Echt niet leuk!
as a disabled person who's lived in The Netherlands all her life, this is just not true.. at all. we also have a huge huge HUGE housing crisis and the government just collapsed AGAIN. sure i'd still pick it over the US, but the picture you're painting is greatly exaggerated https://t.co/joFyCjvk7s
— ًanne⁷ (@gcfslily) July 9, 2023
In addition to it being difficult to find Dutch housing, it’s not easy to make yourself at home in the country, either. The Netherlands ranked 41 for ease of settling in — nearly landing in the bottom 10 of the countries surveyed.
The index also included factors such as culture and welcome, local friendliness, and how easy it is to find friends.
Dying to know which countries rank as the best and worst places for internationals to live according to these metrics? Here you go! 👇
| Top Ten (Rank) | Country | Bottom Ten (Rank) | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 44 | Japan |
| 2 | Spain | 45 | New Zealand |
| 3 | Panama | 46 | Malta |
| 4 | Malaysia | 47 | Italy |
| 5 | Taiwan | 48 | South Africa |
| 6 | Thailand | 49 | Germany |
| 7 | Costa Rica | 50 | South Korea |
| 8 | Philippines | 51 | Turkey |
| 9 | Bahrain | 52 | Norway |
| 10 | Portugal | 53 | Kuwait |
Overall, the Netherlands ranks 22nd in the survey, proving that through all our complaints, internationals still love it here! Proost to the good Dutch life! 🍻
Do you agree with these rankings? Tell us in the comments!