FAQ - Life in the Netherlands

During your time in the Netherlands, you will meet expats and expand your social circle. In Maastricht, there are several expat communities outside the University. You can find a lot of them on Facebook if you search for expats in Maastricht.

The Expat Centre Maastricht Region also has information on Social Groups & Social Clubs.

Where can I find expat communities within Maastricht University? 

Within the University of Maastricht, there are several opportunities to meet other expats. For example via a language course (see learning languages), Events from UM and via Studium Generale (lectures and workshops).

At KCIS, we can also apply for a residence permit for your partner and/ or children. If you want to make use of this service, you can contact us via e-mail. Keep in mind that you will have to pay the IND administrative fees for your family members yourself.

How does the Dutch school system work? 

School systems work differently everywhere and to explain the system in the Netherlands we added a link below, which explains it via a short video: Dutch school system

There is one International primary and secondary school in Maastricht: UWC Maastricht 

According to the Dutch Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet), every individual living in the Netherlands has to take out adequate insurance covering costs for health care in the Netherlands. 

During a welcome meeting with new staff members, KCIS will explain which insurance you will need. You can already find some more information here.

You can also have a look on the following page of our partner Health care Maastricht region, where you can find information about finding a GP, dentist, pharmacy, hospitals and emergency medical care. 

It can be very difficult to obtain housing in the Netherlands. We advise you to start searching for housing as soon as possible, especially in the summer period. At KCIS, we cannot directly assist with finding a place to live, but we do provide you with as much helpful information as possible. A good place to start is the official housing agency of the university, Maastricht Housing. The Maastricht Region Expat Centre also has some information about housing in the region.

There are a number of government benefits that you might be entitled to such as health care allowance, rental allowance, child(daycare) benefit. Each benefit comes with its own rules and requirements. If you want to apply for one, please check carefully if you meet the requirements. You can find more information on the website of the tax office.

At the start of your new employment, it is also fun to learn a new language. Through the UM language centre you can learn many other languages ​​in addition to Dutch.

Next to learning a language at the language centre, there are other options to learn the language such as through a podcast via UM for Dutch learners, Language café Babel and Nederlands als tweede taal / Dutch as second language.

Once you relocate to the Netherlands, you can still drive here using your foreign driving license for a specific period. How long depends on the country that issued the driving license. With a driving license from outside the EU, can still drive for 185 days in the Netherlands. After that, a non-EU license has to be exchanged for a Dutch license or you have to take a Dutch driving exam. An EU driving license, you can still use for 15 years after the license was issued. Of course, the license must remain valid.

For up to date information on how to change your foreign driving license, see this information from the Netherlands Vehicle Authority. With a 30% tax rule, you can usually exchange your driving license more easily.

A BSN number (burger service nummer) is your own social security number. You need this number for example for your health insurance or salary payments. See this page for more information.

You will receive a BSN when you register in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) or in the Registration for non-inhabitants (RNI). During a welcome meeting, KCIS will explain the registration procedure.

Whether you are a Dutch citizen or an expat, you are required to pay taxes if you earn a salary while living in the Netherlands. You can find more information about taxes on your wage here.

The Belastingdienst (Dutch tax office) collects taxes through a variety of streams. Here are the main tax types that you will most likely encounter in the Netherlands: income tax, wage tax, VAT tax (BTW). This website explains more about this topic.

Employees who come to work in the Netherlands from another country may incur additional costs, the so-called extraterritorial costs. An employer can give the employee a tax-free allowance for the extraterritorial costs incurred.

Instead of reimbursing the actual extraterritorial costs, an employer may also reimburse the extraterritorial costs by providing 30% of the salary, including compensation, tax-free. This scheme is known as the 30% tax scheme. The tax authorities set criteria for granting the 30% rule. You can find more information on the website of the Dutch tax office and in the KCIS group on Umployee, which you can access once your employment starts. 

Dutch civic integration means knowing about Dutch culture, speaking the Dutch language and being able to work or study independently. People who move to the Netherlands permanently or for a longer period can take part in the civic integration process.

On the websites of the Dutch government and Dutch immigration office (IND), you can find some relevant information on Dutch civic integration: 

 Integration in the Netherlands
 Living in the Netherlands

You can follow a civic integration course in a classroom setting. Alternatively, you can do a course independently. At the end of the course, you must sit an exam. Newcomers in the Netherlands have 3 years to complete the civic integration process after their arrival in the Netherlands.

 Registering for the civic integration exam