Thinking about moving to Netherlands? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Netherlands stands out for an open, welcoming environment, how far English gets you day to day and strong public transport, while it is worth weighing a tight housing market, a higher cost of living and a heavier tax burden.
Netherlands at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living80/100
Cost of living here sits among the pricier EU countries. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €2700 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €1500 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English90/100
English is very widely spoken. You can handle daily life in the cities in English, though some official paperwork is still in the local language.
Safety82/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 82/100 means safe: everyday crime is low and the main cities feel comfortable, including at night, with normal precautions.
Healthcare85/100
Scored 85/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). A strong universal system with good access and quality; most needs are covered publicly.
ClimateMild
A mild, temperate climate without big extremes. Typical daytime highs: winter around 6°C, spring 13°C, summer 22°C, autumn 13°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~5 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 5 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Netherlands's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes~37/49.5%
Personal income tax: 36.97% up to ~€76k, 49.5% above. As a freelancer: Same brackets minus entrepreneur deductions (zelfstandigenaftrek shrinking to ~€900 by 2027). Company owners: CIT 19% up to €200k profit, 25.8% above, dividends (box 2): 24.5% on the first ~€68k, 31% above. Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Netherlands stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Netherlands scores best for:
- An open, welcoming environment.
- How far English gets you day to day.
- Strong public transport.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Netherlands, keep an eye on:
- A tight housing market.
- A higher cost of living.
- A heavier tax burden.
Is Netherlands right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Netherlands actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Netherlands lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.