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Tax Return in the Netherlands. 5 Things you want to know this Tax Season.

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Yes, finally it’s tax-season and time to do that tax return in the Netherlands! If you’ve received the well known blue envelop from the Dutch tax offices than you’re also ‘cordially invited’ to file a tax return in the Netherlands for 2016. Are you guys all just as excited as I am? And did you all study the whole year to ace this fiscal test of adulthood?

Yeah, probably not, that’s what I thought as well. Well, there is at least some good news – despite the organizational mess the Dutch tax bureaucracy is at a higher level these last months, they did invest time and money in making the whole process a bit smoother once again. But not too much of course (it’s still tax-season, not fun-season), first things first – when’s it all due?

1. The deadline for your tax return in the Netherlands

No worries, you’ve still got ample time to get your financial act together – the ultimate date to file your (income-) tax return is the 30th of April.  Some Dutch people might be stressing that you’ve got until the 1st of April, but that’s just a lingering trauma – that date was extended a few years ago.

You do however get word and a possible refund from the tax office before the 1st of July if you did your tax return before the 1st of April.

Are you reading this somewhere in the last week of April? Don’t panic – you can get an extension of the deadline till the 1st of October. (Or better yet. Just get someone else to do it for you!)

 

2. Hypotheekrenteaftrek – Tax Return in the Netherlands when you bought a house

Buying a house certainly is a coming of age thing, and so it goes for the tax return that comes with the status of real estate ownership. Getting a mortgage may be fiscally more attractive than renting a house, but it certainly isn’t fiscally less complex.

First of all, let’s start with the jackpot-scrabble-winning word ‘hypotheekrenteaftrek’ (mortgage interest deduction). When you take out a mortgage loan the bank charges you the mortgage interest every month, it’s nice and low at some 1,5- 2% but still it will cost you. But the good news is that you can declare the interest you pay and this is deductible from your amount taxes you have to pay.

Obviously the ‘hypotheekrenteaftrek’ is a precious thing for many Dutchies, and it doesn’t look like a new cabinet will take it away from the home owners in any form.

There’s more!

Certain costs that you made when buying a house are also deductible from taxes, with an almost instant advance also possible. I’m talking valuation costs, the fee for the ‘NHG’ (National Mortgage Guarantee), mortgage advisor and some of the notary fee’s. It’s a big money safer when buying a house and personally I was so surprised that there was so much to be declared!

Especially if you’re living in Amsterdam you might have to deal with the ‘erfpacht‘, the groundlease, whatever it is you will be happy to hear that costs for that are also deductible! All in all it can be a complex affair, but definitely worth it financially.

 

 

3. Personal deductions for your tax return in the Netherlands

Well, it’s good to hear there’s a whole range of personal deductible items for your tax return in the Netherlands. The list changes frequently, every year the details are different, so it might be wise to consult a tax advisor if you’re not a 100% sure. 

 

4. 30% ruling – it’s an expat thing!

There’s a fiscal reason we Dutchies think that we’re going to outshine Britain soon once it comes to drawing in heaps of expats, it’s a tax bonus! If you’re still considering moving to the Netherlands than the 30% tax free of your gross salary might just be the thing you need. The Dutch legislative bodies in all their wisdom recognized that expats might have to make more expenses than Dutch people, thus giving them a bit more financial room. So hurray for you guys and girls that qualify for this one!

Before you go out and buy an Amsterdam apartment, better check if you actually qualify for this ruling. For instance; you have to make at least 37K per year and have a job here before you register in the Netherlands. 

Once again it’s a bit complex, which leads me to the following:

5. Have someone else do it for you and better

This picture says it all:

tax return in the Netherlands

Filing a good and quality tax return can certainly help you out a lot. But it’s already troublesome for a Dutchie, so if you’re a home-buying expat it can be quite a daunting prospect. So it makes sense to have a professional party help you out with this one. Blue Umbrella can help you out with your tax return in the Netherlands, already making life easier for certain DutchReviewers. Added bonus is that they’re specialized in expat-affairs so checking up on all this 30% business or making sure you get the info you need in English is exactly their cup of tea. 

Not only are some of the tax rulings in the Netherlands quite complex and bureaucratic, they can also be time-consuming. Registering with Blue Umbrella’s service of ‘Blue Tax’ can thus not only safe you money in the long run, but also safe you precious time which would otherwise go into ‘fiscal matters’. 

Oh, and they can also totally extend that tax deadline for you.

Goodluck this tax season!

 

More international students in the Netherlands then ever

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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More international students in the Netherlands then ever
Great news for Dutch universities, coffeeshops and DutchReview of course. There are now more international students in the Netherlands studying then ever. A whopping 112.000 students are enjoying a Dutch education at a University or ‘Hoge School’.
University in Utrecht
 

Where are these international students in the Netherlands from?

Research from Nuffic (the Dutch organisation for internationalizing our education, how cosmopolitan of us!) shows that there are 81.000 students doing full time stuff here, the rest of them are here for shorter stints -doing Erasmus for example. There are 164 nationalities hitting the books/bong here. Most of them are Germans, with 22.000 of our neighbours from the East here. After that are the Chinese (4300) and the Italians (3300). And no, I will not make those horrible biased jokes about the different demographics of the Chinese and Italians in the University libraries and innercity coffeeshops.
 
international students in the Netherlands

Why international students in the Netherlands are a good thing

Many of the international students stick to the Netherlands after graduating here, and one of our statistical offices (the CPB) has calculated that they contribute around 450 million euro’s to the Dutch economy each year (coffeeshop spending is not even included in this!). Low costs, good quality of education and of course the fact that both our uni’s as the regular Dutch folk (pretend to) speak superawesome English are the main reason why internationals students and the Netherlands is such a successful combination. 

The Dutch being Dutch have also found that their schools can make money from international students, so it’s win win for everybody here (except for those people that long back to the coffeeshop-and-international-student- free Holland of the 50’s). 

 
The good old days. Because screw diversity and multiculturalism
 

DutchReview loves you!

Enough with the weed jokes already, seriously, DutchReview loves international students, heck for the better part we are actually made up by international students. We also wrote plenty of stuff for you!  Such as this one on studying in the Netherlands, or this one on how to find a room, or this one on Dutch life after graduation or this one on how to behave in a coffeeshop.
 
 
 

These pics of the Flower Fields in the Netherlands will (continue to) blow your mind

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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These pics of the Flower Fields in the Netherlands will (continue to) blow your mind

It’s one of those clichés we don’t really want to escape from (goodbye stupid clogs!) the blooming of the flower fields in the Netherlands is one of those seasonal traditions, like Kingsday, that has grown on the country. Not for a small part is this new found appreciation because of the genuine and massive attention and pure love for our brightly colored flower fields from abroad.

So every year there are more people flocking to them and every year we get better photos with 50% more flowery magic added to them. Now it’s almost prime time for the blossoming fields, should be about a week or so and we promise to get you tons of shots and movies, no worries.

But who wants to wait that one out ey? 

So we hooked up with Roy Poots again (you might have heard from him, we also worked with him on these two insanely successful photo-reports about the Netherlands and Rotterdam) and bring you his magical shots of the flower fields in the Netherlands of the last season. So here are the Dutch tulips fields around Leiden and Lisse in their full glory. Enjoy!

 

Oh, don’t forget to like DutchReview’s Facebook page in order not to miss out on all the feature coverage of these fantastic flowers!

 

The Flower Fields in the Netherlands

This is why we wrote ‘Flower fields in the Netherlands’ and not just tulipfields. Plenty of other flowers to see!
You’ll see plenty of tourists walking around, nothing to do about that
The Netherlands looks like a giant colored testprint sometimes 😀
Some lovely lakes in this area as well, such as the ‘Kaag’
As usual, sunsets and sunrises make it look extra good!

Flower Fields in the Netherlands

Can’t get enough of the flower fields in the Netherlands?

Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of pics, movies and reports coming. And then there’s always this article on the history of the tulip or this one of course on how to see the flower fields in the Netherlands for free.

 

Liked this article? Be sure to follow DutchReview on Facebook in order to not miss out on any other good stuff!

Or follow us on Instagram!

 

Want to keep seeing these updates? Facebook is changing their newsfeed, so if you still want to see DutchReview in the future (and we want to keep seeing you!) be sure to select DutchReview as ‘see first’ in your newsfeed and to join our brand new and shiny Facebook group!
 
(oh, and hop on board of that newsletter, youtube-channel and Instagram while you’re at it!)

Finding an English-Speaking Job in Amsterdam Needn’t be so Hard

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱
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Finding an English-Speaking Job in Amsterdam Needn’t be so Hard

7 tips for finding an English-Speaking Job in Amsterdam

The fact that your reading this article, shows you’re seriously considering a change that will ultimately carve a career path, potentially paved in gold. Your destination – Amsterdam. Why? The Dutch are on a mission, creating Europe’s most prolific start-up community and the opportunities English speakers are endless.

 

How to Job Hunt Abroad, When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing

Being an outsider might make job hunting seem tough, but being fluent in English just gave you that competitive edge. Job hunting is never easy, golden rule of thumb is network and get noticed. Be prepared to put in real time and ready to face challenges, obstacles, possible rejection but ultimately this journey will be worth every piece of effort your prepared to commit.

Something like this, but more laptops and coffee

1. Don’t go at This Alone

Most likely you’re lucky enough to already be settled in the Netherlands, and seeing the benefits of being a global citizen. However, to get results on the job front fast, you really need to put yourself out there.  Sounds daunting, right? Well it needn’t be and you don’t even need to leave your seat.

The first part of your strategy should be letting people know you’re considering a change and outreach. Social Media is your golden ingredient, LinkedIn and twitter are your key tools, if you not already set up on the platforms, this is the first place you need to start. Get yourself a cracking profile, follow your target companies and start making connections. Forbes have written a helpful guide on ‘how to market yourself on LinkedIn’.

Twitter offers more job opportunities than any other platform and direct access to key influencers who do the hiring and the firing! It’s really that simple – LinkedIn lets you know who they are, you’ve got one opportunity and 140 characters to sell yourself to that key person, don’t be afraid just do it. Tweet ?

 

2. Upgrade Your Skills

Ongoing professional development and keeping your skills current are vital to making you stand out from the crowd. We know, easier said than done. Top tip – take your CV, and pull it apart. Look at your strengths and weaknesses and decide what and where needs improvement. It might be your looking to jump back into a previous career path, retraining completely or upgrading your current qualifications. The Netherlands and Amsterdam offers so many opportunities for the English speaker, it could in fact be just as easy as going back to basics in the UK. Let’s say your previous career in the UK was a top CEO’s Executive Assistant, well in Amsterdam Executive Assistants who are English Speaking are in high demand and we’ve got a course for that, check out the well-known International training providers Souters. See if you can land yourself the opportunity to shadow a new connection or maybe a friend in there day to day role, get a taster for what it might be like to work in a start-up.

Any experience you can gain makes a bold statement on your CV.

 

3. Take Advice from Others

The best advice you can ever take, is from someone who’s made the change a success. The old saying ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know’ really can prove to be the most vital tool in securing your dream role. Many people even strangers are happy to share the success and hand out advice. What you really want to aim for is finding a mentor who can open doors and avenues that may not have been achievable without their assistance.

 

  1. Start off by working online

Since we live in the age of technology there are lots of opportunities to find an online job. A lot of it involves freelance work and will require you to get creative at times. One of the more popular alternatives, in this case, is to start your writer career at a well-established paper writing service like this one. Overall this experience can be used as the basis of becoming a content writer for various websites in the future so it is an option worth taking into consideration.

5. Get out and Visit Industry Events

Creating your own luck can be the golden ticket. Being in the right place at the right time can go a long way in meeting the right people and businesses. Industry events like VRDAYS and business groups can be exactly the right place to get that ‘Big Break’ and land a English-Speaking Job in Amsterdam. Amsterdam’s top two accelerators: Rockstart and Startupbootcamp are always on the lookout for English speaking talent.

 

6. Hit Local Co-Working Spaces in Amsterdam

People thrive and share in co-working spaces, and that means endless opportunities to show your talent. Mixing and making new business friends can offer many advantages, opportunities and job leads you might not normally come across. This helpful site launchdesk offers you the chance to grab addresses where co working space exists and possibly rent co-working space if it takes your fancy.

 

7. Finding an English-Speaking Job in Amsterdam? Job Hunting Persistence is the Key to Success

Persistence in life will always pay off in anything you do. Fortunately, there are simple ways to stay motivated and tenacious when it comes to looking for the right job.

English-Speaking Job in Amsterdam

In the End: Stay steadfast and True to Yourself

Don’t be dishonest with yourself, it takes time to find and certainly land the job of your dreams. If you can budget for the inevitable or pick up some temporary work along the way it will lighten the load. Take a project management approach, plan your weekly efforts and stick to them, always, always remember to take time out for yourself as job hunting can be both daunting and draining experience. If you’re sending money from overseas accounts to your Dutch account then you definitely feel the fear of being jobless, never be guided by this fear, let it motivate you to find the job you’re passionate about.

And most importantly of all, Good Luck – Amsterdam’s waiting!

 

Any other tips for finding an English-Speaking job in Amsterdam? Feel free to share!

Burnout in the workplace: Your rights as an employee in the Netherlands

DutchReview Crew
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Burnout in the workplace: Your rights as an employee in the Netherlands

Written by Seliz Demirci, employment lawyer at GMW lawyers.

Burnout can happen to anyone and almost always leads to an inability to work. It’s important to get the necessary medical help and focus on recovery. So, how can you do this in the Netherlands?  

When dealing with burnout, many may first want to sit down and discuss how to tackle it with their employer. 

However, as an international employee, it’s very important to be aware of your obligations and rights during sick leave in the Netherlands before you do so. 

We teamed up with the employment experts at GMW lawyers to bring you this article. If you’re struggling with burnout symptoms, they can help you navigate this tricky situation with your employer. Reach out to them if you need help.  

Recognising burnout symptoms

Before we get into the legal matters, it’s important to first determine whether or not you’re suffering from burnout. Reading an article about it? That might be indicator number one. 

But seriously, tension at work can have a very real negative effect on your health and lead to burnout symptoms. 

photo-of-international-woman-lying-on-couch-dealing-with-workplace-burnout-in-the-Netherlands
The first step is to determine whether you have symptoms of burnout. Image: Freepik

Consider, for example, long-term overwork — which is a regular occurrence in today’s tight labour market. This often leads to additional pressure on staff members. 

It could also be that there’s a conflict between you and your manager or a colleague and, as a result of this, you may experience stress symptoms and become unable to perform your duties to the best of your abilities. 

Typical symptoms of burnout include: 

  • Feeling drained,
  • Feeling unable to cope,
  • Being unable to sleep, 
  • Being sad, angry, irritable or not caring, 
  • Using more alcohol or other substances,
  • Developing heart disease, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes,
  • Being more likely to get sick.

Recognise a few of these? You may be suffering from occupational burnout.

Burnout and Dutch labour law

In the Netherlands, your employer has a duty of care. This means Dutch law stipulates that an employer must observe good employment practices. 

This is largely thanks to what is known as the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet), which is very important when it comes to protecting employees against health risks, including burnout. 

photo-of-international-employee-sitting-at-desk-in-the-Netherlands-looking-stressed-dealing-with-burnout
Being burnt out doesn’t mean the end of your career in the Netherlands. You have many employee rights that will help you. Image: Freepik

The Working Conditions Act obliges employers to create and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. For example, the Act includes provisions on taking breaks and the maximum working hours an employee can work per week. 

READ MORE | 7 important things to check on your Dutch employment contract in 2025

The prevention of psychosocial workload, which includes stress and burnout, also falls under the employer’s duty of care. No distinction is made in this respect. After all, burnout may manifest itself physically in some people, while it may manifest mentally in others.

Steps to take when you’re experiencing burnout

If you are experiencing burnout symptoms and can no longer perform your duties, the first step is simple.

Notify your employer 

You can call in sick by sending your employer a message. Does your employment contract or staff handbook contain more specific instructions on calling in sick? Great, follow these. 

photo-of-woman-on-couch-looking-down-at-phone-notifying-Dutch-employer-about-her-workplace-burnout
It’s important to notify your employer of your burnout. Image: Freepik

However, what’s important to remember is that you do not have to give a reason for your illness when reporting sick. 

Consult with a company doctor

So, what happens next? It’s up to your employer to involve the company doctor to assess your incapacity for work. 

The company doctor is not a doctor who gives you medical treatment. Instead, they will:

  • Advise you and your employer about your incapacity for work, 
  • the expected duration of your sick leave, 
  • the extent to which you can or cannot perform your duties,
  • and whether there are any steps that can be taken to stimulate your return to work. 

Follow the company doctor’s advice

As an employee, you are obliged to attend a consultation with the company doctor. 

Making yourself unavailable to the company doctor, failure to attend consultations or not following their advice will be considered a violation of your reintegration obligations. 

This can have consequences on your salary payments. 

Sick leave in the Netherlands when struggling with burnout

Speaking of your salary, what happens to this when you’re burnt out? How will you keep a roof over your head? Let’s walk through your rights when it comes to sick leave in the Netherlands. 

Under Dutch law, an employee is entitled to a continued payment of salary for up to 104 weeks of illness. By law, this must be at least 70% of your salary and correspond to at least the national minimum wage. 

photo-of-woman-lying-on-couch-with-burnout-taking-sick-leave-from-work-in-the-Netherlands
When you take sick leave for burnout in the Netherlands, you will receive at least 70% of your pay. Image: Freepik

However, this rule may be deviated from in the employee’s favour. For example, many employers agree with their employees to continue paying 100% of the salary in the first year of illness and 70% in the second year. However, they are not obliged to do this. 

READ MORE | What are your rights as an international working in the Netherlands? We asked the experts

Just how much salary you receive depends on your specific employment situation. You should be able to find the stipulated provisions concerning pay during sick leave in your employment contract, an employee handbook or, if applicable, a collective labour agreement. 

Can you be fired due to burnout?

In principle, a prohibition to terminate your employment contract applies during sick leave. Put simply, this means that your employment contract may not be terminated unless the termination is unrelated to your illness. 

This is often difficult for employers to prove. As a result, the prohibition on termination during illness is interpreted broadly. This means the prohibition applies even if you are partially working and partially on sick leave — in other words, as long as you have not made a full recovery. 

READ MORE | Unfair dismissal in the Netherlands: What you need to know [2025 guide]

However, once you reach 104 weeks of illness, your employer no longer has to pay your salary and can terminate your employment due to long-term illness.

It must then be established that your employer has fulfilled their reintegration obligations and that no recovery is expected in the next 26 weeks.

Do you want to understand your obligations during sick leave better, hold your employer liable for your burnout, or is your employer not fulfilling their reintegration obligations? Reach out to GMW lawyers. They are happy to advise international employees of their rights.

What if your Dutch employer doesn’t support you?

If your employer doesn’t take your burnout seriously, it’s up to the company doctor to assess your situation and advise them. 

If your employer doesn’t believe you’re suffering from burnout, you can turn to the company doctor. Image: Freepik

If the doctor agrees that you are suffering from burnout, then you can’t be obliged to return to work until the company doctor advises it. 

If your employer doesn’t want to comply with the company doctor’s report, it’s time to seek legal advice. 

Do you disagree with the company doctor’s advice? Then you can request a second opinion from another company doctor or ask for an expert’s opinion from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).  

Reintegration after burnout

During your sick leave, you must remain available to your employer (unless the company doctor explicitly advises that this is not in the interest of your recovery) and you must cooperate in drawing up a reintegration plan. 

As part of this plan, you may start with reintegration for a few hours a week and will be given a modified workload by your employer. This should always be in accordance with the advice of the company doctor. 

The first track of reintegration

During reintegration, the first step is to see if suitable work can be found or organised for you with your current employer. 

This could consist of doing part or all of your current job, but other work with your employer can also be considered. This is called the first track of reintegration.

Within this first track, the possibilities of adapting your work, making adjustments to your workplace, partially resuming your work or scheduling your shifts at different times are considered. These possibilities are included in the Action Plan for your reintegration.

The second track of reintegration

In the second year of sick leave, the so-called second track programme begins. 

In the second track, the focus is not only on returning to your current employer but also to other suitable positions outside the organisation. 

Burnout is never a pleasant experience, but that doesn’t mean you should immediately lose your job and your income. 

In the Netherlands, you are protected by acts, unions and employment law, so familiarise yourself, take the steps you need to take, and — most importantly — take a break.

Have you experienced workplace burnout in the Netherlands? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

How the Netherlands shows off its culture — and why the world is loving it

DutchReview Crew
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How the Netherlands shows off its culture — and why the world is loving it

The Netherlands might be small, but when it comes to sharing its culture with the world, this little country punches well above its weight. 

From orange-soaked King’s Day celebrations to innovative architecture, quirky humour, and a surprisingly forward-thinking education system — the Dutch have plenty to offer, and they’re not shy about putting it out there (in English, of course).

Here’s how the Netherlands is showing off its best bits — and why that’s a win for all of us.

Festivals: Putting Dutch culture on the global stage

Let’s start with the obvious: the Netherlands is famously gezellig, slightly chaotic on King’s Day, and suspiciously good at throwing a festival for just about anything (flowers, fish, fries — you name it). 

Group-of-friends-laughing-together-at-music-festival
The Dutch would never say ‘nee’ to a celebration. Image: Depositphotos

But beyond the stroopwafel stereotypes, Dutch culture is a fascinating mash-up of tradition, innovation, and international flair.

Events like Dutch Design Week, Pride Amsterdam, and, yes, even Eurovision, show off the country’s creative side, but not just for the locals, but for a global audience. 

Education: It’s not just windmills and wooden shoes

The Netherlands is home to some of the most international universities in Europe — and no, it’s not just because everything is in English (though that definitely helps). 

READ MORE | Studying in the Netherlands: the ultimate guide

Dutch higher education is full of forward-thinking approaches, digital classrooms, and tech-savvy tools that are reshaping how we learn.

group-of-students-studying-together-at-a-university-library-in-the-netherlands
Dutch universities are among the best in the world. Image: Freepik

But it’s not all shiny apps and robot tutors. There’s also plenty of debate happening here about the balance between Dutch identity and internationalisation. 

How much English is too much English? Can AI improve learning without turning students into zombies? The Dutch are asking all the right questions — and actually trying to answer them.

Satire: The Dutch way of saying “we care” (with a side-eye)

Let’s be honest — the Dutch have a unique sense of humour. It’s dry, direct, and often hilariously (or painfully) blunt. 

And that humour shows up everywhere: in news commentary, in late-night shows, in memes, and in those weird-but-wonderful editorial cartoons that say more in a doodle than some politicians say in a year.

photograph-of-a-man-looking-at-his-laptop-while-typing-on-his-phone
Nobody does social commentary like the Dutch. Image: Freepik

Satire plays a surprisingly big role in how the Dutch process politics and social issues. It’s a cultural tool that helps break down complex topics, challenge the status quo and, perhaps most importantly, keep things from getting too serious.

READ MORE | The ultimate list of Dutch Quirks

So if you ever wondered how a nation can laugh its way through housing crises and climate debates, you’ve clearly never seen a Dutch comedian in action.

Tech, tulips, and the future…well, of everything

Innovation is kind of a national sport in the Netherlands. Whether it’s creating sustainable floating neighbourhoods or rolling out a flashy online casino with quick payouts, the Dutch are quietly (or not-so-quietly) shaping the future.

You’ll also find that the latest tech trends often show up first in education. From AI in classrooms to digital administration systems that actually work (imagine!), Dutch schools and universities are busy experimenting with what learning might look like in the future. 

Why does all this matter?

Because sharing culture isn’t just about exporting Gouda and tulips (though we fully support both), it’s about building bridges, sparking conversation, and creating space for global perspectives. 

The Netherlands is doing that — not just through news articles and events, but through everyday openness, curiosity, and yes, a bit of Dutch directness.

Whether you’re an expat, a student, a tourist, or just a curious human scrolling the internet, there’s something refreshing about how the Dutch show up on the world stage — candid, clever, and always a little bit quirky.

And if you ever want to dive deeper into that world, you’re in the right place. 😉

How do you feel about Dutch culture as an international? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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