Destination · the Netherlands
Discover programmes available in the Netherlands, from local opportunities to international schemes.
Key arrival formalities, timelines and the authorities to contact.
As an EU citizen, you have the right to work and reside in the Netherlands without a visa or residence permit. Your top priority is securing a BSN (Burgerservicenummer), the national ID number needed for taxes, healthcare, and banking. Book an address registration appointment at your local municipality (gemeente) or an Expat Centre. If you do not have a permanent home yet, register via the RNI database for a temporary non-resident BSN. Once you have a BSN, apply immediately for your DigiD—the mandatory digital identity system used to log into tax, health, and government portals online.
Income tax is withheld at source across two progressive brackets (~37% up to ~€75,000, ~49.5% above). If you were recruited from abroad, ask your employer if you qualify for the 30% Ruling tax exemption. An annual tax return is filed online via MijnBelastingdienst. Local municipal taxes (waste and water management, ~€300–€500/year total) are billed separately. A Dutch bank account (or an IBAN with Maestro/V-Pay support) is essential, as traditional Visa and Mastercard credit cards are frequently declined in local supermarkets.
Taking out basic private health insurance (basisverzekering) is legally mandatory within 4 months of moving (approx. €140–€160/month). It covers core medical care, but you must register with a local GP (huisarts), who acts as the compulsory gatekeeper for all specialist referrals. Consultations with your registered GP are 100% covered (€0 out-of-pocket). Dental care and physiotherapy require an optional supplementary policy (aanvullende verzekering).
Register your home address at the gemeente within 5 days of moving. Tenants arrange energy and water contracts online. For nationwide public transit, tap in and out using OVpay (contactless debit/credit card or phone), or buy an OV-pas (€6) / OV-chipkaart (€7.50) for travel passes and train discounts (e.g., NS Flex Dal Voordeel for off-peak train discounts at ~€6.35/month). EU driving licenses are valid indefinitely until expiration without mandatory conversion.
VOLUNTEERING Adult Association Volunteering | Volontariat Associatif Public-interest missions hosted by approved non-profits or foundations, specifically tailored for adults aged 25 and over. Offers a legal framework with…
View programme →A destination-specific cultural exchange combining childcare, accommodation, meals and pocket money.
View programme →VOLUNTEERING Austrian Abroad Service | Gedenkdienst, Friedens- & Sozialdienst Specialized international service pathways focusing on Holocaust remembrance (Gedenkdienst), peace-building, or social development work across the globe. Serves as…
View programme →VOLUNTEERING Civic Service Luxembourg | Service Volontaire Multi-track service for young adults under 30, spanning local community projects, cross-border exchanges in neighboring regions, or global development missions. Requires…
View programme →Reduce the cost of a first independent holiday through a means-tested French youth scheme.
View programme →Develop a business project alongside an experienced entrepreneur abroad.
View programme →European company mobility organised through a participating French CFA for apprentices and eligible recent graduates.
View programme →Learning mobility through an eligible adult-education provider, with formats from 2 days to 12 months.
View programme →DiscoverEU awards travel passes to eligible 18-year-olds so they can explore Europe during a defined travel window.
View programme →Vocational group or individual mobility organised through an eligible VET sending organisation.
View programme →Two-to-six-month supported placement abroad through a participating French employment or mobility operator.
View programme →Five-to-21-day non-formal learning exchange through a youth organisation or eligible informal group.
View programme →Choose Eurail if you live outside Europe or Interrail if you live in Europe, then plan travel days and mandatory reservations separately.
View programme →Paid traineeships for eligible 18–35-year-olds living in a participating European region. Country-level residence alone does not establish eligibility.
View programme →Volunteer for two weeks to twelve months through a funded European Solidarity Corps project.
View programme →Take part in a shorter funded solidarity project with an international team.
View programme →Join a recognised social, ecological, cultural, educational or peace-building placement abroad with structured preparation and support.
View programme →Short international group volunteering arranged through a sending organisation and a live host project.
View programme →Join community-focused volunteering and skills workshops to connect with local life across the Netherlands.
View programme →Complete a recognised public-interest mission abroad with a monthly allowance.
View programme →Choose one named project and site in an official annual call, then apply through the Italian public-service platform.
View programme →Tremplin Langues – BIJ combines language immersion with volunteering in a non-profit host organisation for eligible French-speaking residents of Wallonia or Brussels.
View programme →International UN Volunteer assignments selected against a live Description of Assignment.
View programme →Annual UNESCO-selected heritage action camps with applications handled by each implementing organisation.
View programme →Complete a structured professional assignment abroad with French public support.
View programme →Apply to an approved German sending organisation for a defined partner project, with preparation, support and public funding.
View programme →Arrange a defined exchange of help for accommodation and agreed meals; this is not employment or a funded programme.
View programme →Participate in organic farming and ecological life in exchange for meals and accommodation; no money is exchanged.
View programme →No programmes in this category are currently listed for the Netherlands. Select the category again to see all programmes.
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