Go Netherlands! A good raincoat will be your best friend!
- Career Center
- Le 27 mai 2022
Audencia's Career Center and Alumni teams are delighted to to bring you “Go Netherlands!”, the guide to working in the Netherlands.
Following the success of the guide to working in France for internationals, this new edition focuses on a country that is a destination of choice for Audencians. Members of its thriving community of students and alumni say they choose the Netherlands for its economic stability, work-hard-play-hard lifestyle, multiculturalism and for being a country where English is often the working language.“Go Netherlands!” is a valuable resource for students considering a career in the Netherlands after their studies. Starting with HR professionals’ top tips and debunking the myths and realities of the workplace, Go Netherlands! also showcases the experiences of more than 20 alumni who have aced the challenge of finding a job and settling in the Netherlands.
This week, discover what Aurélie Brouwers from France has to say.
About Aurélie:
- Graduated from the Grande Ecole Master in Management programme in 2020
- Just been promoted to Brand Trade Marketing Manager at Reckitt in Amsterdam
- Native language: French
- Other languages spoken: English
- Level of Dutch: intermediate
- Been living in the Netherlands: since January 2021
Aurélie's key message: “A good raincoat will be your best friend!"
My biggest challenge
Getting all the admin done! As soon as you know you are going to the Netherlands, make an appointment straight away to get your BSN number because this can take a while. This BSN number is unique to you and allocated to everyone who stays for more than 4 months. It’s mandatory to have one and once you have it, you can use it for any government service in the Netherlands. It’s also mandatory to register for local health insurance, and you will risk being fined if you don’t. The last important and challenging thing is to get a local bank account. Be aware that credit cards aren’t always accepted in local shops.
My advice & top tips
Finding a place to stay in the Netherlands is really challenging, especially if you're on a tight budget, so try and explore as many different accommodation solutions as you can.
Check out iamsterdam.com, your country’s embassy website in the Netherlands, and check out all the Facebook pages to look for a place and to get advice.
You might also want to have a look on funda.nl or kamernet.nl, pararius.com
Quirky & cultural
My spoken Dutch was very basic when I arrived in Amsterdam, so I definitely remember the first time I managed to have a short conversation with a native speaker. Never give up and try to stick to speaking Dutch. Dutchies have a tendency to switch to English whenever they feel you’re not 100% confident with your Dutch, so don’t give up! But don’t worry, the Dutch are super welcoming and respectful. They smile a lot and are always willing to help.
And finally
The Netherlands is an amazing country with friendly and relaxed vibe. Just go there and enjoy some gezelligheid!
And get yourself a bike!
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