INTRODUCTION

THE NETHERLANDS CONSISTENTLY RANKS AMONG THE TOP PLACES IN THE WORLD TO LIVE AND WORK.

It may be a small country in size, but certainly not in impact. The Netherlands is famed for its liberal social policies, maritime trading traditions, battles to hold back the sea, robust multiculturalism and leading technological communications, making Dutch lifestyle a mosaic of cultural intrigue. Living standards consistently rank high in the 2021 OECD’s Better Life Index, and the Netherlands has the third best work-life balance and high levels of employment and household wealth. Dutch children, likewise, are ranked as the happiest in the developed world, topping two surveys conducted by UNICEF.

To newcomers, Dutch society might seem open and informal, but some complex social rules are at play. Ostentatious behaviour is frowned upon, egalitarianism is valued and Dutch people “like to be as normal as possible” according to Martijn de Rooij, author of The Dutch I Presume? The Dutch saying “doe maar gewoon dan doe je al gek genoeg” (just act normal, that’s crazy enough) is an anthem against eccentricity.

No Dutch city has yet reached a million inhabitants and each retains a unique character and architectural style. The capital is something else entirely, and in terms of atmosphere and attitude, Amsterdam and the Netherlands could be two different countries.

International residents tread a wellworn path to the “Lowlands”. Out of a population of over 17 million people, almost four million have a foreign background (cbs.nl). This multiethnic characteristic of the country’s population has historic roots stretching back several hundred years, though most rapid changes in population

demographics have come about in the last 40 years.

The Dutch government’s traditional reliance on a coalition of two or more parties has earned it the nickname “the land of compromise”. The Netherlands strengthened its stance on austerity with large gains achieved by proEuropean parties, the central-right liberal VVD and D66, and the Christian parties CDA and ChristenUnie. With Mark Rutte continuing as prime minister, this coalition gives the current Dutch government a comfortable majority. In the realm of royalty, the Netherlands’ biggest nation-wide party celebrates King’s Day on April 27 for the current King Willem-Alexander’s birthday, the ubiquitous oranjegekte (orange madness) still takes over, where people wear orange shirts, hats, dresses and wigs to celebrate while enjoying the annual free market (vrijmarkt), as it’s the one time when people can set up shop without a trading licence.

Culture and quality living combined make the Netherlands an attractive place for expats, who are an intrinsic part of the country’s knowledgebased economy. The Dutch people are generally receptive, curious, cultured, and friendly. English is widely spoken – a survey by Education First ranked the Netherlands as first in the world for English proficiency as a second language – but this can be a drawback for those learning Dutch. With many international companies headquartered in the Netherlands, there are plenty of employment opportunities.

Population: 17.7 million Density: 414/km2 (the second highest in the European Union in 2018) Administration: The constitution dates mostly from 1848, and revisions undertaken in 1983. Parliament consists of an upper chamber (eerste kamer) of 75 members elected by provincial councils and a lower chamber (tweede kamer) with 150 members elected every four years by proportional representation. The cabinet is the executive body and its constituents cannot be members of the cabinet and parliament at the same time. Monarchy: The House of OranjeNassau has governed the Netherlands since 1815. King Willem-Alexander, born 1967, was crowned in 2013, along with his Argentinean wife Maxima, who serves as the queen consort. Landscape: A fifth of the Netherlands is reclaimed from the sea (polders) and about a quarter of the country is below sea level. There are 20 national parks and a few modest hills, with the country’s highest point reaching 322 metres in Limburg. Agricultural facts: Tiny Netherlands is the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products, including mostly cereals (wheat in particular), feed crops (such as fodder maize) and potatoes. The Dutch cow is a revered milk machine, producing 35 litres a day. Media and culture: The Netherlands has the highest museum density in the world with nearly 1,000 institutions. The television program Big Brother and The voice of [country] are Dutch inventions. Design: Dutch icons of style are nurtured in the revered Design Academy Eindhoven and the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, attracting large ratios of international students. Dutch design is admired for its minimalist, quirky and often humorous qualities.