In the Netherlands there is a special regime for expats who will be assigned to the Netherlands, namely the 30%-ruling. To qualify for the 30%-ruling and thus the tax-free allowance, the expat must meet four conditions. One of these conditions is that he must be living more than 150 kilometers from the border at the … Continued

When you move to another country, you are faced with its rules and idiosyncrasies. Not only in daily life and at work, but also when it comes to other, more formal rules. Many expats are not aware of the many Dutch tax rules that apply to them too. Some of these rules have been adapted … Continued

Yes, I know, there are many good things about owning my own business (will someone please remind me what they are?) – but right now I’m feeling a bit out of stock on positive reasons. I knew I was suffering from a severe case of self-employment affirmation deficit syndrome when people in the Netherlands kept … Continued

It appears that the financial crisis is here to stay, and so is globalization – causing organizations to want to enhance the international character of their DNA. It is up to the HR and expat managers to make this happen, but they are limited by their board rooms’ suspicion when it comes to the high … Continued

According to the website, www.ikwordzzper.nl, the number of self-employed persons in the Netherlands is growing explosively; approximately 130,000 persons start up their own company every year. 95% of these are zzp-er, or zelfstandige zonder personeel; self-employed with no personnel – hence the use of this acronym in the site’s name. As a significant number also … Continued

The concept of a ‘career’ for the partners of globally mobile expatriates is usually not a straight path up a corporate ladder but rather a meander through available opportunities. Although planning a career throughout the uncertainty of an international lifestyle is difficult, there is a strategy that it makes it possible for accompanying partners to … Continued

Until approximately ten years ago, higher education in the Netherlands was a treasure that was reserved for those who spoke the language of this country. This is no longer the case. More and more education institutions are offering English-language higher education; currently, in excess of 1,500 courses are on offer that cover just about everything … Continued

One of the most important reasons for people to buy a house in the Netherlands is the deductibility of the mortgage interest. It is, in fact, the third most important reason – after flexibility in location and the accrual of wealth. What Is the Reason for this Deductibility? At the start of the 20th century, … Continued

When it comes to history, Zeeland, due to its location on (or, if you will, in) the sea, and with one part only accessible by tunnel or by driving through Belgium, has had quite a bit of interaction with nations and peoples that the rest of the country has not had. For instance, Veere; a … Continued

Wine2Share New in the harbour of Scheveningen is Wine2Share. This cute and intimate wine bar is run by Bas Loeve & Nicole Lousberg. Here, top-level wine is presented. You can walk in for just a glass, or stay for lunch or dinner. Wines are poured by the glass, but also by the bottle. If you … Continued

How economically independent are you? Who is financially responsible for your children’s happiness? These are two questions that pop up in my practice as a family lawyer all the time. After a divorce, men are in general financially better off than women. Gender equality in terms of economic independence should therefore be one of the … Continued

Beer Every year, in February or March, for three days, many towns in the southern part of the Netherlands are packed with people, dressed in all manners of strange costumes, while brass bands perform through the town streets and enough beer is brought in to float the country. The origins of carnival (carnaval in Dutch) … Continued