That’s It, Folks

By Yolanda Bokhorst You must be wondering: what’s the connection between the words in the title? I can assure you; more than you would expect. Allow me to explain. When you buy a house without having the amount of the purchase price, expenses and taxes in your bank account, you will need to arrange a … Continued

In the Autumn 2019 issue of The XPat Journal, you can read our interview with National Geographic photographer Frans Lemmens. Frans’s books on the Netherlands include The Netherlands at Its Best, which brings you not only aerial views of villages, the Afsluitdijk dike that connects the province of North-Holland with the province of Friesland, still … Continued

By Patrick Rovers   It is clear that the European Union is facing its largest downsizing operation since its genesis in 1951. It stands to lose 67 million citizens, and 5.42% of its territory. It stands to lose London, its biggest population centre with more than 14 million inhabitants. Furthermore, it stands to lose one … Continued

The BSN, the Burgerservicenummer or Citizen Service Number, is a unique personal number that everyone in the Netherlands must have. It is something like what in other countries is referred to as a Social Security Number, Citizen Service Number, or Social Fiscal Number. Launched by the government in 2007 to streamline communication between Dutch residents … Continued

Moving to another country can be stressful and time-consuming and the last thing you want to have to worry about is whether your house will have power. Ampeer is a service provider specialised in energy-related services for expats that helps internationals manage their gas and electricity supply, no matter where they settle in the Netherlands. … Continued

By Deborah Valentine Those of us who have been living in the Netherlands for a while, have noted with sadness the number of international students starting their studies, without yet having a place to live. Each year, the lack of available accommodation for these students becomes painfully apparent. We were therefore delighted with the evolution … Continued

By Jan Vincent Meertens   In many cultures, people use high-context communication for two key reasons. One reason is their sensitivity to social hierarchy, also described as the power-distance dimension in the Hofstede model for intercultural management. Another key reason for a high-context communication style is the social interdependency that a community has developed, also … Continued

By Edith van Ruitenbeek   In the Netherlands and many European countries, cohabitation, instead of marriage, is an accepted way of living together – at least for tax purposes. However, for family matters and for residence permits it is not. In other countries, cohabitation presents even more of challenge, something that should especially be taken … Continued

There are cities that come to life in spring, but become drab, unimaginative blocks of building materials in the winter. However, one city that becomes part of a fairytale in the winter is Gouda. The highlight of this fairytale, this year, will be Saturday, December 13. On this day, From the early afternoon to late … Continued

One of the most important issues involved with buying a house – in fact without these you could not buy one – is finances. You either have to be able to rent a home, buy it, or finance it and there are certain tax issues to be taken into account, as well. Renting a house … Continued

By Chris Smit   “Belgium has a higher score on hierarchy than the Netherlands. This means that in Belgium, like in Guatemala, the boss is much more the boss than in the Netherlands, where the boss is more of a colleague, whose main task it is to create a pleasant work environment for his/her people. … Continued

By Yolanda Bokhorst   Don’t we all want the best for our children? We provide them with a safe and sheltered home, we raise them well, make sure they get an education and try to give them the tools to find their way through an increasingly complex world.   What role does money play in … Continued