Relocation to Netherlands
In A City of Expats, Expat Housing is Hard to Find in the Netherlands
With so many different industries investing in the Netherlands, it has become home to many expatriates. The retail, oil and gas, technology, and healthcare industries are creating a lot of movement of talent to and from Amsterdam and its neighboring cities. Even with its reputation as a global mobility hub, the rental market here is tough on expatriates and anyone without permanent residency in the Netherlands.
Dwellworks years of experience here and our Destination Consultants’ strong relationships with local rental brokers positions us to find not only the best housing, but also at competitive rates for expatriates moving alone or with family. Many of our Consultants have 10-plus years experience finding housing and navigating the rental market in The Netherlands. After working closely with brokers to secure housing, our Consultants handle every other detail – from securing a driver’s license to recommending the best place to buy a brand-new bike for getting around town. It’s these levels of detail that set us apart from other global mobility providers. And with The Netherlands being home to so many cultures, our Consultants are culturally well-versed too, with 14 different languages spoken among our two dozen local Consultants.
Area Orientation: Every employee wants to know more about the place they are moving to, whether it’s previewing neighborhood rental options, calculating commute times, or understanding the available community activities and hot spots. Our Destination Consultants always start the service experience with “How can I help?” and then put their local expertise to work with information, exploration, and guidance that aligns with your employee’s priorities.
Rental Home Finding Assistance: Our Consultants are experts in matching property solutions to employee budgets, requirements, and expectations, and are also a resource for understanding local leasing practices and landlord processes. After sourcing suitable housing, scheduling viewing appointments, and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of possible options, our Consultants help employees submit rental applications to give them the best chance of being selected as the preferred tenant.
Settling-in Services: Our Destination Consultants guide the employee through the full settling-in process, including support with key services like social insurance registration, banking services introductions, driver’s license application, and health care guidance. If the family has children, we also assist with school explanations, registration, and tours.
Departure services: Clients authorize this service when they are looking for end-of-assignment support for their employees. Our Destination Consultants advise on rental property termination, final property inspections, and the steps employees should follow to ensure a successful refund of their security deposit.
We check-in with the employee throughout their destination services experience via system-generated Pulse Checks to ensure we are meeting their expectations – and can quickly course-correct if needed. It is important to us that we provide exceptional service at all times. Visit our Destination Services page to learn about our end-to-end solutions and support.
Happy Customers
We are proud to earn the respect and admiration of the employees we assist. Here is some of our favourite feedback received from satisfied employees:
Our Local Experts Cover All of Netherlands
Dwellworks pairs each relocating employee with an empathetic and experienced Destination Consultant who lives in or near the employee’s new city and knows everything there is to know about that destination location – or knows where to find the answer. Our local experts are also well-versed in the nuances of the relocation process; many of them have been through the moving experience themselves.
Using our online service platform called myDwellworks®, our local Consultant connects with the employee long before their arrival in Netherlands to establish a relationship, understand the employee’s priorities, and begin conducting personalized research. Consultants are familiar with neighborhood differences, school district boundaries, and the local cost of living to aid your employees in securing a rental home that meets their needs.
Consultants are also the go-to for any other assistance or recommendations needed by your employees. Whether it’s identifying the closest bank, understanding the healthcare system, finding a market for fresh produce, or getting recommendations for nearby restaurants, parks, or youth sports leagues, Dwellworks Destination Consultants will have the answer.
With Consultants in Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and all of the cities that relocating employees want to live, we cover all major corporate hub locations. We can also assist in less traditional relocation markets. With knowledge of local laws, schools, and housing prices covering every province, Dwellworks virtual Consultants can assist with moves to any location in Luxembourg.
So, whether the move is near the North Sea or near the Germany or Belgium boarders, our Consultants can provide area overviews and introductions, assist in the housing search, coordinate settling-in services, and offer access to other helpful guides through our myDwellworks® platform – with the continued guarantee of that personal touch.
Technology Supports Every Move
Whether employees are looking for local trusted guidance pre-arrival, tips throughout their program, or neighborhood info and local favorites 3 months later, look no further than myDwellworks®.
Our easy-to-use online resource offers insights for successfully navigating a new location, from learning about neighborhoods, to viewing housing styles, to ‘How To’ guides for completing important tasks – all available 24/7.
myDwellworks® is also a convenient communication platform for the employee and their Destination Consultant to send and retrieve messages, ask questions, and share and comment on properties.
And the best part? Flexibility to access the portal on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone with content not only available in 100+ languages but also for a full year after program initiation!
From Our Experts: Understanding the Netherlands Rental Market
There are a few contributing factors that make the Netherlands housing market daunting unless explored with a trusted expert like a Dwellworks Destination Consultant. Our Consultants share their experiences and best practices with each other, so they all stay on top of changing trends in every Netherlands market from Heerenveen to Maastricht. Here are 3 factors they stay well-educated on to best assist assignees moving into a new home in the Netherlands:
Working with a broker: Brokers are employed by landlords to source properties and negotiate prices on the landlord’s behalf with expatriates. Using a broker is not legally required and does come with a fee of about one month’s rent, but not using one makes the rental search significantly more challenging. Dwellworks leverages our relationships with brokers to find the best properties and deals for our client’s employees.
Housing Points System: All properties in the Netherlands are allocated points and given a capped rent amount dependent upon their market value, size, energy efficiency rating, and outdoor space. The number of points determines to whom the housing can be offered – contributing to the shrinking market for non-local residents.
The Affordable Rental Act: This newly instated law applies to newly concluded rental contracts and shifts the points system from two to three sectors, including social rent, medium rent, and free sector. This is reducing the number of affordable rentals available, leading to fewer rental properties on the market and, therefore, fewer tenants leaving their current rentals.
While Dwellworks Consultants are aware of these factors and their changes, our relationships with reliable brokers are also important to stay up to date on any last-minute developments or rental loopholes.
Other Dwellworks Services Available in Netherlands
Intercultural Training
Dwellworks offers an array of Intercultural Training solutions which can be delivered pre-arrival or once settled in.
This vital service offers cultural tips and training to help employees and families acclimate faster to their new culture and feel more comfortable in their new location. Click below to learn more about Intercultural Training.
Temporary Accommodations
Have employees traveling for business, on a short-term assignment, or needing an interim housing solution prior to their final move?
We have you covered with convenient, fully furnished temporary accommodations solutions to meet all these needs and more. Click below to check out Dwellworks Living and our corporate housing solutions.
Become a Destination Consultant in Netherlands
Are you an expert in getting to know your city? Do you love helping others learn how to move successfully to your town? Are you great at property research and developing relationships with local landlords and property managers? Become a Destination Consultant! Our Consultants are the face of our company and the reason why relocation experiences with Dwellworks are so successful.
We are always looking for new local experts across Netherlands to add to our team. The role of Destination Consultant is great for those looking for part-time work while providing a valuable service. To learn more about becoming a Consultant, click the button below: