Countries
Netherlands: visas, tax & cost of living
No Dutch nomad visa: most use the self-employed permit (US citizens use DAFT). Residents are taxed on worldwide income, and Amsterdam runs pricey.
United KingdomNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a United Kingdom passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateHardLimited residence routes
Visiting
Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
The UK decides residence with its Statutory Residence Test (days in the UK plus your ties). As a non-resident you are usually taxed only on UK income; where one exists, a double-tax treaty with the destination decides who taxes what.
Double-tax treaty:yes, in force since 2008
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Healthcare agreement:A UK GHIC covers medically necessary state care on the same basis as a local, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · GOV.UK: tax on foreign income · HMRC: double-taxation treaties
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
United StatesNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a United States passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateHardLimited residence routes
Visiting
Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever you live, so you keep filing US returns abroad. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the foreign tax credit are what stop you being taxed twice.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · IRS: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion · IRS: tax treaties
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
IndiaNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a India passport
- VisitHardExceeds visa-free stay
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateVery hardVery restricted
Visiting
You need a visa, arranged at a consulate before you travel. Plan ahead: gather the documents, book the appointment, and allow time for processing.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
India taxes residents on worldwide income; your status depends on the days you spend in India (broadly 182 or more in the year). As a non-resident (NRI) you are taxed only on Indian-source income, and the relevant double-tax treaty allocates the rest.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Income Tax Department, India · India: Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
GermanyNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Germany passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateEasyStraightforward residence
Visiting
You have freedom of movement here: you can live, work and stay with no visa.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
Germany taxes residents on worldwide income; you become resident through a home available to you (Wohnsitz) or a habitual abode of more than six months. As a non-resident you are usually taxed only on German-source income, and where one exists a double-tax treaty with the destination decides who taxes what.
Double-tax treaty:yes, in force since 2016
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) · Germany: double-taxation agreements (BMF)
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
FranceNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a France passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateEasyStraightforward residence
Visiting
You have freedom of movement here: you can live, work and stay with no visa.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
France taxes you on your worldwide income if your tax home (domicile fiscal) stays there, broadly when your household, main home, main job or main economic interests are in France, so moving abroad alone may not end it. Once you genuinely settle elsewhere you are usually taxed only on French-source income, and tax treaties typically prevent paying twice through an exemption or a foreign tax credit, but treat any figures as estimates and check your situation.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · impots.gouv.fr - Residents de France · impots.gouv.fr - Les conventions internationales
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
SpainNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Spain passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateEasyStraightforward residence
Visiting
You have freedom of movement here: you can live, work and stay with no visa.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
If Spain still counts as your tax home (roughly 183+ days in the country in a year, or your main base of life and income sits there), Spain taxes your worldwide income at IRPF rates, so what you earn abroad usually counts too. The sting is softened by double-tax treaties and a foreign-tax credit, plus the Article 7.p exemption that can shelter work done abroad up to around 60,100 euros a year, but treat every figure as an estimate and check your own case before you file.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Agencia Tributaria: persona fisica residente en Espana · Agencia Tributaria: obtencion de rentas extranjeras, reglas generales
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
ItalyNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Italy passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateEasyStraightforward residence
Visiting
You have freedom of movement here: you can live, work and stay with no visa.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
Italy generally treats you as a tax resident if for most of the year (roughly 183 days or more) your home, family or registration ties are here, and residents are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live. The relief is usually a foreign tax credit for tax already paid abroad, often shaped by Italy's double-taxation treaties, so the same income should not be taxed twice.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Agenzia delle Entrate — Residence for tax purposes · Agenzia delle Entrate — Bilateral agreements to prevent double taxation
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
CanadaNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Canada passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateHardLimited residence routes
Visiting
Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
Canada taxes you on residency, not on holding the passport, so as long as the CRA still treats you as a resident (kept home, family or strong ties) you generally owe Canadian tax on your worldwide income. The relief is usually a foreign tax credit for tax you already paid abroad, often topped up by a tax treaty, though the exact amounts are only estimates until you check your own case.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Working-holiday visa:yes, ages 18 to 30
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Canada Revenue Agency, Determining your residency status · Department of Finance Canada, Tax treaties in force
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
AustraliaNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Australia passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateHardLimited residence routes
Visiting
Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
If you stay an Australian resident for tax purposes, Australia generally taxes your worldwide income wherever you live, with residency turned on the moment your real home and ties are here (a continuous stay of roughly 6 months can be enough). To soften double tax, you can usually claim a Foreign Income Tax Offset for tax already paid abroad, capped at the Australian tax on that income, and treaties may help too, so treat these figures as estimates and check your own case.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Working-holiday visa:yes, ages 18 to 30
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Australian Taxation Office — Australian resident for tax purposes · Australian Taxation Office — International tax agreements (tax treaties)
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
BrazilNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Brazil passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateHardLimited residence routes
Visiting
Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
If Brazil still counts you as tax-resident, usually triggered by a permanent visa, a temporary visa plus a job, or roughly 183 days in the country within any 12 months, the Receita Federal taxes your worldwide income, so you keep filing the annual return wherever you live. The relief is real but partial: tax paid abroad can normally be credited against what you owe in Brazil under a treaty or recognised reciprocity, so most people are not taxed twice on the same income.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Receita Federal — Acordos para evitar a dupla tributação · Receita Federal — Imposto sobre a Renda da Pessoa Física (IRPF)
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
MexicoNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Mexico passport
- VisitEasyVisa-free entry
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateHardLimited residence routes
Visiting
Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
Mexico taxes you on your worldwide income once you count as a tax resident, which usually means your main home or your center of life is here (very roughly, spending more than about 183 days a year can tip the balance). The good news is the SAT lets you credit foreign income tax you already paid, and Mexico's double-taxation treaties mean the same money should not normally be taxed twice.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · SAT - Servicio de Administracion Tributaria · SAT - Tratados en Materia Fiscal (para evitar la doble tributacion)
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
PhilippinesNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Philippines passport
- VisitHardExceeds visa-free stay
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateVery hardVery restricted
Visiting
You need a visa, arranged at a consulate before you travel. Plan ahead: gather the documents, book the appointment, and allow time for processing.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
If you stay a resident citizen, the Philippines taxes your worldwide income, but once you genuinely live and work abroad you usually count as a non-resident citizen and are taxed only on income from Philippine sources. The exact line depends on how long you are out and your ties back home, so treat these as estimates, and a foreign tax credit can offset tax already paid abroad.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · BIR - Taxation of Foreign Source Income · BIR - Taxation of Non-Residents
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
NigeriaNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Nigeria passport
- VisitHardExceeds visa-free stay
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateVery hardVery restricted
Visiting
You need a visa, arranged at a consulate before you travel. Plan ahead: gather the documents, book the appointment, and allow time for processing.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
If Nigeria still counts you as resident, roughly 183 or more days in the country in a year, or you keep a home, habitual abode or close family and economic ties there, you are generally taxed on your worldwide income, not just what you earn in Nigeria. There is usually a foreign tax credit, and Nigeria's tax treaties, so tax you already paid abroad can typically be set against your Nigerian bill, but treat these figures as estimates and check the current rules before you file.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) · FIRS - Tax Treaties and Related Matters
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
VietnamNetherlands
Your move to Netherlands on a Vietnam passport
- VisitHardExceeds visa-free stay
- NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
- RelocateVery hardVery restricted
Visiting
You need a visa, arranged at a consulate before you travel. Plan ahead: gather the documents, book the appointment, and allow time for processing.
Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, usually issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages for stamps.
Heads-up:ETIAS online travel authorisation, estimated EUR 20 fee, expected to launch late 2026 and become required during 2027.
At the border:Border officer may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds for the stay.
Working remotely
No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.
Tax and residency
Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.(estimate)
Vietnam treats you as a tax resident once you spend roughly 183 days there in a calendar year (or any rolling 12 months) or keep a permanent home, and residents are taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates of around 5% to 35%; there is no foreign-earned-income exclusion, but Vietnam's tax treaties and a foreign tax credit usually stop the same income being taxed twice.
Double-tax treaty:yes
Practical
Currency:EUR. Cost of living:high.
Healthcare:Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
Driving:A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Sources: Netherlands, Business.gov.nl (digital nomad) · General Department of Taxation (Tong cuc Thue) · GDT - Agreements for Avoidance of Double Taxation
Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.
Should you move to Netherlands?
If you want a polished, English-friendly base in the middle of Europe, the Netherlands delivers. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven are the main hubs, and you can get by in English almost everywhere. Now the honest part: it is one of the pricier countries on the continent. A single person in Amsterdam should plan for somewhere around 2,500 to 3,000 euros a month once rent, basic health insurance (roughly 160 euros), and groceries are in, and the real cost can edge higher depending on the flat. Rotterdam, Utrecht, or Eindhoven stretch your money noticeably further. What you get back is superb transport, genuinely fast internet, and a huge international crowd.
Netherlands visa and entry
There is no dedicated Dutch digital-nomad or remote-work visa, whatever the agency pages tell you. If you hold an EU, EEA, or Swiss passport, you can just live and work there. Everyone else usually goes through the self-employed residence permit, which means registering a real business and passing a points-style test that scores how much value it adds. US citizens get the easier path: the DAFT treaty (a Dutch-American friendship arrangement) lets you set up a business and live there on an investment of about 4,500 euros kept in the company. Treat this as background, not immigration advice.
Tax residency and what to check
The Dutch tax office works out residency from your facts and circumstances, basically where your real centre of life sits, not a tidy day count. Once you are a resident, your worldwide income is generally taxable. Newly arrived employees may qualify for the expat allowance scheme (long known as the 30% ruling), but it is being trimmed to 27% from 2027 and the salary threshold is rising, so check the current terms before you bank on it. Read all of this as how the system works in general, not a tax ruling for your situation.
Figures are estimates. Always check the official source linked below.
At a glance
- Currency
- EUR
- Cost of living
- High
- Digital-nomad visa
- No
- Tax & residency
- Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.
Frequently asked questions
- Netherlands: is there a digital nomad visa?
- No dedicated digital nomad visa; most people use a standard residence permit instead.
- Netherlands: when do you become a tax resident?
- Residency by facts/circumstances (centre of life), not a day count; residents taxed on worldwide income; 30% expat ruling drops to 27% in 2027.
- Netherlands: what is the cost of living?
- The cost of living is high and the local currency is the EUR. Treat any figures as estimates.
- Netherlands: do you need health insurance?
- Once you are resident or working, Dutch law generally requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) from a private insurer.
- Netherlands: can you drive on a foreign licence?
- A foreign licence works for short visits, ideally carried with an International Driving Permit, but once resident you may drive on it for only about 185 days before needing a Dutch licence.
Terms worth knowing
Europe: more countries to explore
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