Getting settled with the Netherlands Point of Entry

What can you expect as an international?

As most Undutchies know, embarking on a journey to a new country entails numerous tasks. Keeping an overview of everything that needs to be done and using Google translate or ChatGPT to sort through official Dutch websites can create a lot of frustration (believe us, we know). The Welcome to NL Relocation App is a great resource for internationals to take away some of this preparation anxiety and just follow the ready-made comprehensive guide that will lead you through every step of the process, from pre-departure arrangements, including essential immigration and travel documentation, to seamless settling-in procedures upon arrival in the Netherlands.

Every international’s journey consists of three main phases (and therefore, the app does too):

• Before moving: It is important to know about immigration formalities, necessary travel documents, housing, whether or not you can bring your pet along, and other start-up details before you make the journey to the Netherlands.
• Upon arrival: The formalities don’t stop when you step out of the plane. Arranging things such as your BSN, transportation, a bank account, and other daily life necessities will be number one on the priority list upon arrival.
• Settling in: After the most important formalities are out of the way the real integration begins. You don’t want to forget about details like figuring out your driver’s license, arranging medical care, and finding ways to make new friends, so make sure not to skip this step.

As you go through the phases in the app you will find a great clickable checklist that helps you stay organized throughout the process, and information sheets to help you easily find and contact relevant organizations.

What all of us organizations that work with internationals know is that there is much more to relocating than just the initial logistics. Everyone wants to feel at home and getting established in a new community is a big part of a successful move. We hear from a lot of internationals that this process can take quite some time, especially because they do not know where to find the resources to pick up old hobbies and meet new friends. That is why the Welcome Centers and the Netherlands Point of Entry made sure to include this in the app as well. With specific suggestions you can quickly connect with regional institutions that are ready to support you along your journey. The app is also personalized to your situation and tailored to cater to your unique needs, such as including daycare options and international schooling information if you have children, or work permit information if you are coming from outside the EU.

The best part of this great new resource is the people behind the app. There are regional international welcome centers standing ready to extend further assistance and answer specific questions. Whether it's guidance or support, the Welcome to NL Relocation App and network of regional centers’ goal is to ensure that every international’s transition to the Netherlands is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Helping your international employees

For Dutch organizations, universities, and companies, the Welcome to NL Relocation App can also serve as a valuable tool to support the onboarding process for newcomers. This resource and the Welcome Centers that focus on helping internationals can facilitate the resolution of personal matters that employees may encounter while transitioning to a new country, allowing you as a company to focus on integrating new employees into their new roles and teams.

You can also help connect your employees with this tool and the local organizations to offer extra support during their ‘onboarding’ in the Netherlands. Quality of life is an important factor to keep in mind when helping any new employee integrate into the company, and this is especially applicable for those who have come from abroad and are still getting used to the way things work in a new country. Pointing employees in the right direction and making sure that they get the personalized support and advice they need on topics such as housing, healthcare, taxes, and other practical worries, will help them to feel more comfortable and to a faster integration process. This is not only good for the employee, but also creates a better atmosphere in your teams as well as a higher chance of talent retention as your employees will feel supported both on and off the job.

Conclusion

As we hear from internationals every day, establishing yourself in a new country is exciting and worthwhile, but can be a confusing hassle as well. It is great when there are helpful people and resources to simplify this process along the way. Luckily, there are a lot of organizations in the Netherlands that are ready and willing to help, you just need to find them. Hopefully with the help of this article, our partner page, and the Netherlands Point of Entry you are now well on your way to connecting with those organizations who will make settling into the Netherlands a whole lot easier.