EMPLOYMENT Work permits; Employment law; Working culture; Finding a job

FAMILIES RANKED TOP IN THE WORLD FOR CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING

BY UNICEF, THE NETHERLANDS IS GREAT FOR FAMILIES.

The applications for both the entry visa (MVV) and residence permit are streamlined into one Entry and Residence Procedure (TEV), which can be granted before arrival. Family immigration policies have been reformed, making it easier and less costly. Partners or relatives can apply for permits on behalf of family member(s) who live abroad. Partners do not need to be married to receive residency (under certain conditions). It is important to visit the IND website (www.ind.nl) for the most recent changes in rules and permit feed.

EU/EEA/SWISS NATIONALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS

• Register in the Municipal Personal

Records Database (BRP) and get your social number (BSN). • Next, make sure you have all the paperwork together: passports, a marriage certificate and birth certificates with an Apostille stamp (if required from your country). Work permits are not required. • And be sure those paperwork documents are translated into Dutch,

English, French or German. • Any family members not an EU/EEA/

Swiss national? Submit a mandatory “verification against EU law” to the IND for a certificate of lawful residency good for five years. • Visit www.ind.nl for conditions.

NON-EU/EEA/SWISS NATIONALS

• Non-EU/EEA must have their own, separate, residence permit. • This application fee depends on your personal situation and permit type. • TIP: Partners and family members generally receive the same conditions as the relative they are joining in the Netherlands. • Rates are subject to frequent change, so it is best to refer to www.ind.nl.

SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS

• Want to bring a family member to the Netherlands? Sponsor them: sign a declaration, meet certain obligations, and prove you can support your spouse or relative (www.ind.nl has a table of required income levels). • If you, along with your family, come to the Netherlands as a highly skilled worker, your contract will be sufficient to meet the requirements regardless of the length

of employment.

AU PAIRS

• Bringing an au pair to the

Netherlands? One of the key rules is that the au pair cannot have previously worked for your family abroad. • Only a recognised au pair agency can submit a permit application on behalf of an au pair. • Au pairs can stay in the Netherlands for one year as a “cultural exchange” who cannot work outside his or her agreed au pair duties. • No previous Dutch residence permit for exchange purposes can be on your record if wanting to au pair. • An au pair must be over 18 and under 31 and cannot be a family member in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree.

• Light, domestic duties in exchange for bed and board CHILDCARE ALLOWANCE are the norm. Eight hour work day are the maximum (30 bring a visit to the kinderdagverblijf or give the customer waiting lists. hours per week), with two days off weekly. • Parents working (or studying) in the Netherlands are • As a sponsor, have sufficient income to support family entitled to the childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) and au pair. And make a daily schedule for the au pair for children under 12 to help cover the cost of childcare, agreed upon in writing. and can reduce costs up to 93 percent depending • https://ind.nl/en/exchange/Pages/Au-pair.aspx has a on income and number of children. See more info list of conditions for au pairs who wish to come to the at www.svb.nl.

Netherlands, as well as conditions for what an au pair is • Childcare allowance depends on a household’s allowed to do. (joint) income. • Childcare allowance for high-income households CHILD BENEFIT is capped at a certain percent of costs, depending on income. • Parents living or working in the Netherlands with children • Parents must be employed (or studying) to under 18 are entitled to the kinderbijslag, a quarterly claim allowances. contribution to the cost of raising children from the • The childcare centre or childminding agency must be

Sociale Verzekerings Bank (SVB). registered in www.landelijkregisterkinderopvang.nl. In • The amount depends on age, special needs, etc., but is case of childminding services, the childminder must be not income-related. registered as well. • This contribution can sometimes be paid into a foreign • In the event of sickness, holiday, parental leave, extra bank account (see www.svb.nl for a list of offices) training or part-time unemployment benefit, the number or hours “worked” remains unchanged, as does the CHILDCARE (KINDEROPVANG) number of hours of childcare allowance granted. • Childcare allowance is also capped to a set of maximum It is never too early to register your child for day care, for hourly rates (230 hours max per month), depending instance, when you are pregnant. Government policy can be on the type of care. Both can be calculated on the found on www.rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch). government site www.government.nl. • Parents cannot claim allowances if they look after each CHILDCARE OPTIONS other’s children or if relatives provide care. • Kinderdagverblijf day care for children aged six weeks to Norway, Iceland or Switzerland. Are you from another four years old. Search online for kinderdagverblijven in country? In that case, you need a valid residence permit your area and orientate based on the websites. Always or work permit. service a call. Urban areas have a shortage so expect long FUN TIPS FOR FAMILIES • You have the nationality of an EU country, Liechtenstein, • Out of school care: day care centres that provide • Get out and about! There are many playgrounds tucked

Buitenschoolse Opvang for children up to 12 years old. between the houses, streets and shops. • Private day care: In large cities, private facilities offer • Fun for free – visit a children’s farm or kinderboerderij. flexible options up to 24-hour care, international These city farms often have educational and recreational nurseries and pre-school establishments. Note that activities during the week. private day care falls mostly outside the childcare law • Cultural fun – There are over 1500 museums in the (wet Kinderopvang), so special childcare allowance is Netherlands. Dutch museums often have audio guides for not applicable. kids available in several languages and have special tours • Pre-school/playgroups (peuteropvang): pre-school/ for children, as for instance Rijksmuseum and Muiderslot. playgroups aimed at helping to prepare children aged • Hit the beach – the Netherlands has 451 kilometres between 2/2,5 and 4 years old for their transition into of coastline accessible by car, bike, boat and primary school (this varies per city). Focus is on child public transport. development. A child can usually attend a peuteropvang • Dutch theme parks – De Efteling is a huge park for three hours per day, either two or four times a week. offering exciting rides for older kids and a Disney-

Working parents can receive the kinderopvangtoeslag, esque experience with folkloric touches for towards the cost of peuteropvang (conditions apply, see younger ones. More theme parks can be found

Childcare allowance). at www.pretparkennederland.nl. • Activities overview - Good sites for finding out more about children’s activities include “away with children” (www.wegmetdekids.nl) and “out with children” (www.uitmetkinderen.nl).

CHURCH CROSSROADS INTERNATIONAL CHURCH +31 (0)20 545 14444 • info@xrds.nl • www.xrds.nl •  @Crossroads International Church • Instagram @XRDS Church •  @Crossroads International Church FAMILY CONSULTANCY UTE’S INTERNATIONAL LOUNGE Aagje Dekenkade 2, 2251 ZV Voorschoten • +31 06 50601984 • info@UtesInternationalLounge.com • www.utesinternationallounge.com •  @UtesInternationalLounge • Instagram @utesintlounge •  @Dr. Ute Limacher-Riebold CHILDCARE NANNY NINA BV Hendrik Figeeweg 1-P, 2031 BJ Haarlem • +31 (0)6 8326 1116 • aupair@nannynina.nl • info@nannynina.nl • www.nannynina.nl •  @NannyNinaGlobal • Instagram @nannynina_aupair •  www.linkedin.com/company/10546308 PARTOU KINDEROPVANG Sportlaan 1, 4131 NN Vianen • +31 (0)88 235 7550 • klantenservice@partou.nl • www.partou.nl •  @partou.kinderopvang • Instagram @partou-bv VILLA BLOOM Loosduinse Hoofdstraat 536, 2562 BE Den Haag Beeklaan 535a, 2562 BE Den Haag Utenbroekestraat 4, 2597 PH Den Haag Thomsonlaan 17c, 2565 KX Den Haag Buurtweg 16, 2244 AD Wassenaar +31 (0)70 820 0542 • info@villabloom.nl • www.villabloom.nl •  @villa.bloom LAWYER GELIJK ADVOCATEN Smalle Haven 151, 5211 TK Den Bosch • +31 (0)73 750 2828 • info@gelijkadvocaten.nl • www.gelijkadvocaten.nl •  @gelijkadvocaten •  @gelijkadvocaten

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AU PAIR COUPON €100

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