The Village found out whether it is difficult to go to study, find a job and create a business in one of the most liberal countries in Europe

The Netherlands are one of the most densely populated countries in Europe: almost 17 million people are crowded in an area of a little more than 41 thousand square kilometers. 90 % of the population live in cities. It was there that most immigrants who make up about the fifth of all residents settled: 1.6 million - immigrants from the European Union, and 2 million - immigrants from other countries, including Turks (396 thousand), Moroccans (380 thousand) and Surinams (348 thousand). There are not many Russians in the Netherlands: about 30.5 thousand. According to the quality of the quality of life , compiled by the organization of economic cooperation and development, the Netherlands are in eighth place. The Village, together with the SelfMadetrip portal, found out what to study, work and do in this country.

Studies

Dutch education is valued in the world: 13 universities in the country are included in the 300 best universities in the world in the QS ranking . It is convenient for foreigners to study: there is a large selection of programs in English.

In the Netherlands there is a binary higher education system: applicants choose between two types of universities - with a research or applied slope. Universities of both types adhere to the Bologna system, which involves studying at the undergraduate, in the magistracy, and then (if desired) in doctoral studies.

For admission to undergraduate, a certificate of secondary education is required, and a diploma of obtaining a bachelor's degree of bachelor's degree. Foreigners also need to confirm the level of English proficiency by passing the IELTS, TOEFL or another similar, for example, Cambridge English. For admission to some faculties, you need to show a portfolio or go through entrance tests.

Foreigners pay more for their studies than the Dutch themselves or EU citizens themselves. So, the undergraduate will cost the Russian 6-15 thousand euros per year, and the magistracy - 8-20 thousand. To the study for training, you need to add 800-1 100 euros per month for other expenses. To cover these costs or part of them, you can take a student loan or try to get a scholarship. 67 scholarships are available to Russians (some of them are designed exclusively for Russian citizens). The scholarship can cover the entire cost of training or part of it, and sometimes accommodation costs.

The visa for a foreign student is engaged in the university who accepted it. After the student paid for the training, the university sends the necessary documents to the Netherlands immigration service, and that, if everything is fine, passes them to the embassy. The student will remain to take his visa when she is ready.

Emma Belyaeva, a student of the Magistracy of the Technical University of Dorthta: I live in Delft and study in the magistracy at the local technical university - Tu Delft - the oldest and largest University of the Netherlands. Training here is paid, about 15 thousand euros per year (local and immigrants from EU countries are much cheaper). If you are lucky enough to become the owner of a scholarship, the cost of learning will be reduced by 70–90 %. To get it, you need to prepare in advance, learn about such opportunities, track information.

Studying is completely different from what we are used to in Russia. Here students are given much more freedom, relying on their consciousness, responsibility and independence. All opportunities and resources give you, and you already decide whether to use it or not. No one will control or kick you so that you study. The teacher rather plays the role of a mentor or curator than a teacher in our understanding. You can always approach him for advice, discuss your project. The student and the teacher here communicate on an equal footing.

A very large plus of training is English -language programs (I, for example, study in English). Moreover, there are faculties where, even for the Dutch, lectures are held in English. As a result, you receive a diploma of a Western European university, which is quoted in all countries, and do not waste time and energy on the study of Dutch, which is most likely not useful to you (unless, of course, you want to stay here for good). Meanwhile, the level of English rises significantly. In general, everyone is talking in English here, so it is easy to adapt.

After the magistracy, I plan to go to graduate school here, in Delft. There are many grants for graduate students, and research that may not be related to your specialty directly. The scholarships receive a salary from the university - an average of 2 thousand euros monthly. True, from this amount you need to pay tax.

Students here are allowed to work up to ten hours a week - almost everyone is working on. And after the end of the undergraduate or magistracy, a foreign graduate can remain in Holland for a year to search for work.

Job

The unemployment rate in the Netherlands is just above 7 %, while the largest number of unemployed belongs to the age category of 15–25 years. The average wage is about 3,100 euros per month, and the minimum salary is 1.5 thousand. Approximately a third of the income goes to tax payment, and with a higher salary, the tax can reach 55 %. Vacation here is charged with a bonus, as if the 13th salary, which is paid in the middle of the year.

To come to work in the Netherlands for hiring, you need to get a residence permit and work permit. The receipt of these two documents occurs simultaneously - a single permit is drawn up. The employer initiates the process by submitting an application and the corresponding set of documents to the migration service. As in many other EU countries, the employer must prove that he is forced to hire a foreigner to work: to submit a certificate of long -term announcement of the open vacancy and its unclaimed among citizens of the EU countries, a certificate of the number of interviews, the reasons for the refusal of other applicants and the like.

The process of obtaining a visa for highly qualified immigrants is somewhat simpler. Such lucky ones include engineers, IT specialists, and employees of the financial and tax areas. They are most in demand in the Netherlands. Tax discounts are even provided for them: 30 % of their income is not taxed at all.

True, only a company that is included in a special list can be invited to work. Any foreign employee who needs to apply for a work visa must offer a decent salary. Its minimum size is 38,466 euros per year for specialists under 30 years old and 52,463 euros - for an immigrant over 30 years old.

Elena Mikhailova, worked in the Netherlands during her studies: most foreign workers (of course, if we talk about qualified specialists) come to the Netherlands, already having a labor contract with a particular employee company. The country is interested in attracting specialists, so it is quite possible for foreigners to find a job here. The easiest way to do this from the EU or foreign graduates of local universities.

As a rule, the company first proposes to conclude a fixed-term employment contract for six months or a year to a new foreign employee. Then the contract can be extended for the same period or not extend. According to the law, after three urgent (temporary) contracts, the employer must either offer the employee a permanent contract or terminate his cooperation with him. Naturally, everyone is interested in obtaining a permanent contract, because it is he who is the key to a stable life in the country. The employee cannot be fired with him, you can get a mortgage and so on.

Business

Immigrants who want to open their own business in the Netherlands should receive a residence permit for entrepreneurs. Resolution is available only to those whose business is useful and necessary for the country. The usefulness of the enterprise is evaluated on a special scale of the Netherlands Service of Entrepreneurship.

Special conditions are provided for startups: they need to show an innovative product, the availability of funds for financing the project, as well as an agreement with the intermediary in the Netherlands (a company that helps with the search for investors and advises on any issues). The intermediary must be included in the approved list . In 2015, four Russians received permission to open their startups in the Netherlands, they were overtaken by the number of only Americans.

You can get a residence permit as a foreign investor. For this, it is required to invest at least 1.25 million euros in the Dutch economy. And this is not enough: the Dutch entrepreneurship agency should still evaluate whether the investment will have a significant impact on the country's economy. In addition, it is necessary to prove that the money was received legally.

Gleb Laskin, private entrepreneur (translation services): It is not difficult to open his own business in the Netherlands if it is private entrepreneurship (analogue of the Russian IP). To do this, you need to come to the Chamber of Commerce, consult with the employee, fill out the necessary documents and pay the fee (about 100 euros). Neither a notary, nor an accountant, nor a lawyer will be required. To register an individual entrepreneur in Holland is a very popular and common practice that allows us to legalize a freelancer. Most often, IT industry experts, web designers, translators and guides resort to this.

For private entrepreneurs, there are many tax benefits. To understand which one you can count on, you need to correctly indicate some indicators in the tax return. For example, the number of working hours. We are used to the fact that working hours is the time that we spend at work. And here they still include the time spent on the road or to a business meeting at dinner. And these nuances need to be known and displayed in the declaration.

A private entrepreneur in Holland pays income tax and VAT. We income tax is from 33 to 52 %, depending on the type of activity and the total income for the year. This is a lot, therefore, of course, everyone is interested in obtaining benefits. Thanks to them, the tax can be reduced to 25 %.

The text is prepared by the SelfMadetrip service

Natalya Shavkunova took part in the preparation of the material

Cover: Matt Thorpe

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