That’s not just a few extra lights on — it’s money that could be used for groceries or rent. And it hits for families in homes with poor insulation or those living on tight budgets.
With Dutch energy costs a real financial threat, any government help goes a long way. 👇
How to unlock support (without losing your sanity)
The government’s Temporary Emergency Energy Fund is back, ready to help cover part of your energy bill for up to six months.
As the NOS reports, the support is either deducted directly from your energy bill by your supplier, or transferred to your bank account if you live in a student house or share a meter.
To qualify, your gross monthly income must be no more than 200% of the social minimum. That means €3,400 for singles and €4,740 for those cohabiting with a partner or flatmate.
With energy costs on the rise, government funds can give many households a much-needed boost. Image: Freepik
You’ll also need to show that you spend at least 8–10% of your income on energy bills.
Here’s what you need to apply:
📧 A valid email address and mobile number
👥 All household members aged 18+ with an income who are present in the area at the time of application
🔐 A DigiD account with SMS verification (each household member logs in with their own)
🧾 A recent energy bill(s) in the name of a household member
🔢 The customer or administration number from your energy provider
💸 The amount you paid last month for energy
Think you’re eligible or want to check if you are? Apply now via the fund’s official website.
Don’t wait too long
If you’re thinking, “I’ll apply next week”, let’s stop you right there. Last year, the fund ran out of money before the application window closed.
Over 180,000 people have already shown interest this time around, and the Emergency Fund says it’s already “incredibly busy.”
There is €56.3 million available to support about 100,000 households, so funding is limited and demand is high. 😬
Translation? Don’t wait. The sooner you apply, the better your chances.
If your energy bill puts serious pressure on your budget, now’s the time to act. Check if you’re eligible and apply while the fund is still available. 💪
The Netherlands’ Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) has sounded the alarm over a sharp increase in hybrid threats from Russia, aimed at disrupting Dutch society.
In addition to the increased risk of physical threats, the Netherlands has become one of the key targets in a wave of Russian cyberattacks.
The Russians’ goal? Undermining and destabilising national security.
What are the Russians attacking?
In 2024, the MIVD detected the first Russian cyber sabotage, which targeted the digital operating system of a public facility in the Netherlands.
While this cyber assault was unsuccessful and caused no damage, the attacks did not stop there.
Since then, the Netherlands has faced more Russian cyber operations. These include failed attempts to breach infrastructure networks, as well as digital assaults on websites of Dutch political parties and public transport companies.
However, Russian threats aren’t limited to land, with the MIVD reporting suspicious Russian activity in Dutch waters.
These actions suggest that Moscow might be mapping infrastructure in the North Sea, such as data cables and energy lines, in preparation for a physical attack.
If successful, an undersea strike could lead to widespread disruptions across the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond.
While no major damage has been reported yet, the intent is very clear. 😬
A multi-pronged attack
There’s one clear motive behind Russia’s cyber attacks: disrupting the Dutch vote in the upcoming European elections.
But Russia’s sights also go far beyond the ballot box, as the Netherlands plays a crucial role in NATO’s defence due to its location and infrastructure.
The Netherlands is now scaling up its defences
In response to the growing threat, the Netherlands is shifting into defence mode, as it braces for future and more long-term challenges to its security.
Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans has called for action, “to prevent vulnerabilities towards Russia, a rapid scaling up of our armed forces and defence industry is necessary. This is the only way we can prevent more Russian aggression in Europe.”
What began as a property dispute in the peaceful village of Weiteveen ended in a tragic double murder. Now, the victims’ relatives are out for justice.
Murderer Richard K. had been locked in a long, bitter feud with the victims (Sam and Ineke) over the sale of his former childhood home.
On the morning of January 16, 2024, the conflict reached its tipping point, with K. murdering the couple in cold blood.
Although K. was sentenced to life in prison last month, the victims’ relatives say that justice came a little too late, with police negligence allowing the situation to spiral into deadly violence.
It was premeditated murder
As reported by the NOS, K. first shot Ineke while she sat in her car.
Then, he entered the couple’s home and fatally stabbed Sam in front of the man’s 12-year-old son.
Although K. claimed he acted out of fear and only wanted to protect his family from Sam’s threats, police confirm that this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment act.
Not only did the killer turn off all the hidden cameras he used to spy on Sam and Ineke’s house, but he also left written instructions for his family in case they didn’t see him again.
As a result, the judge ruled that K. was wholly accountable for the crime and not eligible for a reduced sentence.
Dutch police ignored over 80 complaints
Now, Sam and Ineke’s family says the police should have stepped in long before things reached this point.
According to RTL Nieuws, the couple had filed more than 80 complaints about Richard’s threatening and unstable behaviour. But despite all those warnings, nothing was done to protect them.
“Based on the information available, we should have revoked his hunting license and confiscated his licensed weapons,” said Martin Sitalsing, police chief of the Northern Netherlands unit, in a police news bulletin.
“We, as police, have not achieved our professional standards. I find that particularly painful, and I regret it,” he continued.
Through their lawyers, Sébas Diekstra and Maaike de Vries, the couple’s relatives are now sending an official letter to the police, holding them liable for the murders.
They argue that this inaction amounts to an “unlawful act’’ and are demanding accountability, because they believe this tragedy could have been avoided.
King’s Day, the Netherlands’ favourite national holiday, sees the Dutch royal family join in on the national festivities to celebrate the King’s birthday. 🎉
Each year, the House of Orange picks one lucky city to visit, where they’re welcomed with special events to mark the occasion.
They showcase their coolest outfits, blending royalty with high fashion, and wave their way into Dutch hearts.
So, where will they be this year?
In case you’re deeply invested in where Europe’s most charming monarchy will celebrate the King’s birthday: this year, they’re heading to Doetinchem. 🎉
Doetinchem is located in the province of Gelderland — a large chunk of the Netherlands you probably drive through on your way to somewhere else.
But, for one glorious day, the entire city will transform into a giant, lively party. 🕺🏻
What’s the plan?
On Saturday, April 26, the royal family will touch down in Doetinchem for a full day of celebrations with music, dance, local culture, and enthusiastic waving.
Slightly higher temperatures on Easter Sunday and Monday mean most of the country can enjoy a mild end to the holiday, with the sun regularly popping out from behind the clouds.
FYI, Maastricht steals the show, reaching a potential 20 degrees on Sunday. ☀
A chance of rain, but don’t cancel plans just yet
The weekend stays mostly dry, but a 30 percent chance of showers looms overhead.
Though the chances of rain appear more likely on Easter Monday, nothing is certain just yet.
Dutch universities plan to take matters into their own hands to curb internationalisation in higher education, offering an alternative to the government’s current bill.
They are unhappy with the administrative and organisational strain that the government’s current approach places on universities.
Instead, universities believe they themselves can stem the international influx in a “faster, better and more targeted” way, NU.nl reports.
Which courses must be in Dutch?
There are three key measures that universities are taking to strengthen the Dutch reputation in higher education:
Psychology programmes in the Randstad must all be taught in Dutch.
A maximum student limit will be set for economic programmes.
Improving Dutch language proficiency among international students and staff is a priority.
We can expect to see these changes take effect as soon as the next academic year. This is truly assimilation time, students.
Opposing the government
There is a condition to the universities’ changes: the government must adjust their bill on internationalisation.
That’s mainly due to the regulations surrounding the Test for Other-Language Education (TAO), which determines which higher education programmes can also be taught in a language other than Dutch.
The test is currently applied to both existing and new programmes.
This means a lot of work for universities: the umbrella organisation Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) calls the method “far too rigorous” and claims that it “places a heavy administrative burden on universities without contributing to the quality or accessibility of education.”
Instead, universities request that the test only be applied to new programmes, not existing ones, due to the logistical and administrative burden this causes.
What do you think of the new efforts to keep international students out? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Falling into a canal after a failed attempt to relieve yourself and DROWNING is more common than you think.
What an unfortunate, anti-climactic way to die. 😒
What is it?
While many figures are floating around, there are estimates that seven to eight people drown each year in Amsterdam’s canals alone! (Some even say it’s close to 30. 👀)
Rumour has it that if a body is found with an open zipper, no further investigations are made by the Amsterdam police.
Why? Because they just assume the lad tried to pee in the canal and fell in head-first.
Why do they do it?
Well, first off, who knows why drunk people do what they do? Especially drunk Dutch people.
Generally, there aren’t that many, and if you’ve been lucky enough to spot one, there is usually a fee you have to pay.
Oh, wait a minute! We almost forgot that there are these public urinals that are just metal curls barely hiding the sight (and not the smell) of men peeing.
Nope! We firmly advise you not to pee in any canals. Not sober and especially not drunk!
But if you happen to somehow, for whatever godforsaken reason, have to desperately relieve yourself in one of the many Dutch grachten while under the influence, you might want to have a look at this video. 👇
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!💬
The hunt for a great, English-speaking job in the Netherlands isn’t always easy — but it’s much quicker if you know the right places to look.
So, where should you be looking? At companies that hire expats, of course! Here are some of the biggest Dutch employers of internationals in the Netherlands — so you can find the perfect job for you. 🏆
Who knows the most about finding a job for expats in the Netherlands? Undutchables, of course! We teamed up with the top international talent recruitment agency to bring you the hottest tips.
1. Booking.com
Love to travel? Well, you’ll probably have a desk job, but it might as well be at one of the world’s leading travel marketplaces, Booking.com. If you haven’t used the website, it connects travellers with accommodation providers, flights, and car rental companies.
The company must be doing pretty well because it’s grown from a one-person startup to a global website available in 43 languages.
With that impressive resume, it makes sense that the company has a huge range of positions available, many at their headquarters in Amsterdam and many available in English — or other languages!
Best career paths: Software development, data science, HR, business development, accounting, law, copywriting, design Employee benefits: Discounts on Booking.com accommodations, social activities Glassdoor rating: 4/5
2. ASML
Ever heard of ASML? Us neither, but we should have. ASML designs and manufactures lithography machines that help make computer chips — so you could be using the product of an ASML machine to read this article!
Plus, they’re kind of a big deal, employing over 21,000 people at their headquarters near Eindhoven, and 42,000 total worldwide.
Computer chips are a pretty lucrative business, so ASML is almost always hiring — and with offices in 15 countries, they love internationals. In fact, at the time of writing, there were 56 positions in a variety of languages open at their Dutch office!
Best career paths: Engineering, software development, logistics, business management, HR, data science, product management Employee benefits: 13th month, holiday allowance, 40 days paid leave, commuting allowance Glassdoor rating: 4.2/5
3. bunq
Is working in a fresh, fun company with a startup culture important for you? Then bunq (yes, with a lowercase ‘b,’ nail that on your cover letter 😉) could have the job for you!
This neo-bank has a certified ‘unicorn’ status, joining companies like SpaceX, Reddit, Airbnb, and Buzzfeed.
The sweet thing about working for a startup is that it’s often full of perks. Employees at bunq Netherlands enjoy a €2,500 study budget every year, three days of study leave, 32 days off, discounts on gym memberships, free lunch, and more.
It’s also perfect for internationals because if you have a visa requirement they’re happy to help out — rare!
Best career paths: Software development, customer service, marketing, compliance, HR, product management, accounting, design, sales Employee benefits: Annual study budget, travel reimbursement, computer, health discounts, free lunch Glassdoor rating: 3.9/5
4. Guerrilla Games
If you’re the kind of person who says “game on” to new challenges, working at Guerrilla Games could be right for you.
Gamers might recognise titles like the ‘Killzone’ or ‘Horizon’ series. If they don’t ring a bell, no sweat! You can still get a job at Guerrilla Games even if you don’t have gaming industry experience. There are roles in animation, production, operations, art, and more!
Particularly awesome is that they’re committed to internationals, offering relocation allowances, free accommodation for the first two months, assistance applying for work permits and the 30% ruling, and even Dutch lessons — leuk! 🎉
Best career paths: Game design, programming, digital art, production, writing Employee benefits: 25 paid days off per year, relocation assistance, Dutch classes, commuting allowance, on-site cafeteria, discounts, mental health coaching Glassdoor rating: 3.5/5
5. Mollie
Mollie is one of the Netherlands’ largest payment service providers. We can hear you asking: what the hell does that mean? Yeah, we had to Google it too, but it turns out it’s what you use every time you buy something online to make your payment.
In fact, Mollie manages payments for over 250,000 companies!
Mollie is yet another FinTech ‘unicorn’ company after raising a huge amount of funding — and they’re pouring it into hiring in a big way.
There are stacks of roles available, so you’re bound to find one that works for you! (Mollie also calls itself ‘the most attractive company to work for in Amsterdam’ — but we’ll let you be the judge of that. 😉)
Best career paths: Software engineering, customer service, compliance, law, data science, marketing, finance, commerce, product management, copywriting, HR Employee benefits: Tech provided, flexible hours, free lunch, sports events, your birthday off, five extra baby days per year, days to work abroad Glassdoor rating: 4.2/5
6. Philips
Lightbulb moment — why not work at Philips? 💡 You may know this electronics company as a multinational conglomerate, but it was founded in the Dutch city of Eindhoven in 1891!
Today, it employs more than 11,000 people across the country, and being a multinational they’re very happy to hire internationals. 🎉
The company boasts the largest research and development site in the world in Eindhoven, headquarters in Amsterdam, and extra locations throughout the Netherlands.
Whether R&D, marketing and e-commerce, software development, or service is your game, Philips could be your next Dutch workplace!
Best career paths: R&D, marketing and e-commerce, software development, logistics, customer service, finance, sales, HR Employee benefits: Health benefits, flexible work, well-being activities, learning and development Glassdoor rating: 3.9/5
7. ING
If a traditional bank is more your style, perhaps you should consider a career with ING. As one of the big four banks in the Netherlands, over 40% of Dutchies carry the signature bright orange card in their wallets.
The nice thing about working for a big bank is there is no shortage of roles, and many of them are open to expats in the Netherlands. If you have kids you’ll also love that ING was ranked as the fourth most family-friendly employer in the Netherlands — nice!
Best career paths: IT, Risk management, financial services, compliance, legal, HR Employee benefits: Progressive childcare policies, “diversity days”, lease bikes, 13th month, holiday pay, flexible working hours, discounts on insurance and gyms Glassdoor rating: 4.1/5
8. Unilever
Ever bought a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, Dove moisturiser, Vaseline, a Magnum ice cream, or a nice, cold Lipton’s ice tea? Then you’re already a customer of Unilever — so why not work with them too?
This multinational is technically headquartered in London, but up until 2020 was also considered Dutch — thanks, Brexit!
Regardless, there are still 2,500 employees who call the Netherlands their home, and you could be one of them. There are various locations all over the Netherlands, and many of the global functional roles are in the lowlands.
Plus, there’s a hair salon at the Rotterdam office where they test products — but you can also pop in for a quick haircut! 💁♀️
Best career paths: Supply chain management, marketing, customer development, HR, finance, tax, procurement Employee benefits: Training and development, flexi-time, option to swap national holidays for personal cultural holidays, six weeks paid paternity leave (Dutch minimum is one week), free lunch Glassdoor rating: 4.1/5
9. Heineken
We’re pretty sure Heineken needs no introduction and that you’ve probably cracked open a cold one now and then — but instead of spending your money on Heineken, you could be paid by the beer giant instead! (We’re pretty certain real euros, too, not just beers).
If you’re not a beer fan, no worries — Heineken owns more than 300 brands worldwide.
It’s still a Dutch company, so you may have to hunt a little to find an English job — but we promise they do exist! And if you haven’t graduated yet, no problem: there are heaps of internships available that might just lead to a position later.
Best career paths: Commerce, finance, HR, procurement, logistics Employee benefits: 26 vacation days, sports opportunities, training and development, rostered days off Glassdoor rating: 4.3/5
10. FrieslandCampina
You may not have heard of FrieslandCampina, but you’ve probably consumed one of their products because they’re sold in more than 100 countries. It’s a Dutch multinational based in Amersfoort but with offices in different parts of the Netherlands.
A large portion of their jobs are in Dutch, but with a little hunting, you can also find some English-speaking roles too!
Best career paths: Business development, logistics, operations, project management Employee benefits: Flexible work, travel allowance, holiday pay, pension scheme Glassdoor rating: 3.8/5
11. ABN AMRO
What’s one more bank on the list? ABN AMRO is another of the Dutch big four banks and also has a pretty big English division. Here, you can find roles in a whole range of departments: as a risk analyst, in compliance, or in IT.
Two things stood out to us about working at ABN AMRO: a personal development budget of €1,000 every single year (maybe you can use it on a Dutch course?) and an extra 11% of your salary that can be spent on additional fringe benefits. Sweet!
Best career paths: Risk analysis, cyber intelligence, compliance, IT Employee benefits: Flexible hours, public transportation pass, 36-hour workweek, fringe benefit budget, personal development budget, pension Glassdoor rating: 4.0/5
12. TikTok
Already spend your day scrolling through TikTok? Here’s your chance to work for the social media company instead! TikTok’s Amsterdam office is often on the lookout for various roles speaking all sorts of languages: English, French, German, and more.
The head office is run out of Amsterdam with employees reporting a great team atmosphere and a lot of care and attention paid to employees — nice!
Best career paths: Content moderation, IT, Sales, Partnerships Employee benefits: Unknown — TikTok is tight-lipped! Glassdoor rating: 3.2
13. NIKE
Now here’s a job where you can wear sneakers to work: colossal sports brand NIKE’s European headquarters are just 20 minutes from Amsterdam!
Not only that, but their office is hella cool, boasting a cafeteria and food trucks, running track, sports courts, football field, employee shop, fitness centre, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and kids summer camp on site!
It’s also crammed full of internationals through transfers or local hires.
Best career paths: Management, Engineering, Marketing, Operations, IT, Employee benefits: Flexible leave, bike plan, summer working hours, support to study, and heaps more Glassdoor rating: 4.0
Other places to find work as an international
Is your dream job not on the list? Finding work in the Netherlands can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. It’s also worth checking out other industries that employ many internationals: for example, universities, hotels, or international schools.
Our top pick for the best place to look for work as an international is with the experts — Undutchables! They’re the premier recruitment agency that specialises in finding internationals in the Netherlands work. Go ahead and check out their current vacancies or set up a job alert!
Got any other tips for companies that hire internationals in the Netherlands? Drop them in the comments below!
Dutch organisations are receiving more and more migration requests from members of the American LGBTQ+ community, as Trump’s policies continue to threaten their rights.
The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) confirms that the number of Americans seeking asylum in the Netherlands has already surpassed last year’s total, AD shares.
Fleeing danger
The US now only recognises two genders, bans rainbow flags in government buildings, and has outlawed terms like “non-binary”, “transsexual”, and “gender identity”.
Even basic acts are becoming dangerous for the American trans community — Anne Ogborn from Trans Rescue warns that, “in many places, just using a public restroom is a crime”.
What’s more, the US government now only allows passports where the gender stated matches the birth gender. This complicates travel and migration for transgender people.
Seeking asylum in the Netherlands
The IND’s strict rules for seeking asylum in the Netherlands mean the number of American applicants remains low, but it is rising.
20 requests have been counted already this year. In 2024, there were between nine and 18 total.
Voluntary group Transgender Network reports that half of the requests come from transgender people, and that this total could reach over 100 this year.
Alternative routes
Dozens of the American LGBTQ+ community are using alternative routes to the Netherlands.
Immigration specialist Wesley de Robles, from Immigration Netherlands Services, runs an organisation that helps American entrepreneurs obtain a Dutch residence permit through the DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty).
“Since Trump, we are getting some 30 requests every month, over half of which are from the LGBTQ+ community. Before Trump’s second term that was just a few, ” he explains.
Reputation at risk
The Netherlands’ renowned progressive image is under growing strain, despite being a strong draw for those seeking asylum.
As more head for the Netherlands, advocates urge the Dutch government to revise asylum policies to reflect better the growing risks faced by queer and trans Americans.
Yesterday afternoon, police discovered the body of a decapitated woman at home, on a quiet street in Hellevoetsluis.
Shortly after, they arrested her son, a 31-year-old man from Diemen, on the A4 between Rotterdam and Delft. Sources tell De Telegraaf that his mother’s head was in the car.
Police will not confirm grim details
Large numbers of police arrived at the victim’s home in South Holland after her partner (who is living elsewhere) alerted them to a horrific incident.
So far, the police refuse to comment on the nature of the crime and the relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Instead, horrified locals — who were reportedly very close to their deceased neighbour, Alie — are sharing the gruesome details.
One saw Alie returning home with full shopping bags, followed by a loud noise shortly after. “As if an animal was being abused”, she tells AD.
Others reported a haunting trail of blood on the street and a larger pool in a nearby underpass. The son was also caught on CCTV walking towards his mother’s car with a bag.
Forensic tent on the highway
Police stopped the son on the A4 as he was driving away in a small car.
Black screens were placed around the vehicle, one lane was temporarily closed, and a forensic investigation was conducted on the asphalt — a rare occurrence.
Inmiddels meldde verschillende media dat in de auto langs de #A4 bij #Schipluiden het hoofd van het 63-jarige slachtoffer is aangetroffen. Zowel op de #A4 als in #Hellevoetsluis wordt druk onderzoek gedaan. De zoon van het slachtoffer, een 31-jarige man, is aangehouden. pic.twitter.com/p4fc0pWJ4g
