THE NETHERLANDS IN SHORT - REFERENCES

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

ACCESS
Non-profit volunteer foundation which offers information, advice and support to all nationalities settling into and throughout their time in the Netherlands. Maintains a comprehensive database of information and offers a telephone and email information service, runs educational seminars and workshops on all manner of topics and has various publications designed to meet the needs of the English-speaking community. ACCESS are always looking for new volunteers.
Zeestraat 100 2nd floor, 2518 AD The Hague
Visit ACCESS Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm at The Hague International Centre, The Hague City Hall Atrium, Spui 70, The Hague
Tel: 0900 2 222 377 (local rate 20 cent per minute)
www.access-nl.org

OUTPOST THE HAGUE (at Shell Headquarters)
The center of a worldwide spouse-to-spouse network providing Shell families with practical information about living conditions in expatriate locations around the world.
All Outpost locations provide career and development resources and relocation resources to Shell expatriates and repatriates.
Postal address: P.O. Box 162, 2501 AN The Hague
Visiting address: Carel van Bylandtlaan 16, HAG C30, 2596 HT The Hague
Tel.: 070 377 65 30
www.outpostthehague.com

OUTPOST THE HAGUE (in Rijswijk)
Kesslerpark 1, 2288 GS Rijswijk
Tel.: 070 447 57 85
www.outpostthehague.com

OUTPOST AMSTERDAM
Grasweg 31, 1031 HW Amsterdam
Tel.: 020 630 34 33
http://countrysite.globaloutpostservices.com/amsterdam

OUTPOST ASSEN
Schepersmaat 2, 9400 HH Assen
Tel.: 0592 363 064
www.outpostassen.nl 

EXPATRIATE ARCHIVE CENTRE
The Expatriate Archive Centre welcomes contributions from retired, repatriated or current expatriates and their children.
Paramaribostraat 20, 2585 GN The Hague
Tel.: 070 427 2014
www.xpatarchive.com

THE PROTOCOL DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry in The Hague helps serve the needs of the staff of international organisations and of representatives of other countries (and their families) who have been afforded diplomatic status.
Tel.: 070 348 6289
www.minbuza.nl/protocol  

INFORMATION DESKS

THE HAGUE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
The Hague City Hall, Atrium, Spui 70, 2511 BT The Hague
P.O. Box 12600, 2500 DJ The Hague
Tel.: 070 353 50 43
Open Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.00 hours.
www.thehague.com 

EXPATCENTER AMSTERDAM
WTC Amsterdam, F-tower 2nd Floor
Strawinskylaan 39, 1077 XW Amsterdam
Tel: 020 254 79 99
www.iamsterdam.com/expatcenter

EXPATDESK ROTTERDAM
Beursplein 37, Room 337/338, 3011 AA Rotterdam
Tel.: 010 205 28 29
www.rotterdam.nl/expatdesk

EXPAT CENTER LEIDEN
Stationsweg 41
2312 AT Leiden
Tel.: 071 516 60 05
www.expatcenterleiden.nl

EISC EXPAT INFORMATION SERVICES CENTER ALMERE AREA
Expat Desk World Trade Center Alnovum
P.J. Oudweg 1, 1314 CH Almere Stad
Tel.: 036 523 84 07
www.wtcaa.nl 

 
WELCOME FAIRS

I AM NOT A TOURIST FAIR
Welcome fair for expats organized every October at the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist

FEEL AT HOME IN THE HAGUE
This event, organized in September by members of the international community, for the international community, is aimed to showcase the wide variety of clubs, groups and associations that exist in the Hague region.
www.feelathomeinthehague.com
 

RECOMMENDED READING

General

THE UNDUTCHABLES
By Colin White and Laurie Boucke
Published by White – Boucke Publishing Inc.
A tongue-in-cheek observation of the Netherlands, its culture and its inhabitants.
www.undutchables.com

THE LOW SKY, UNDERSTANDING THE DUTCH
By Han van der Horst
Published by Scriptum/Nuffic
The book that makes the Netherlands familiar.
A detailed exploration of the reasons for desire of the Dutch for independence, their sense of respect and their business sense
www.scriptum.nl

AT HOME IN HOLLAND
Published by The American Women’s Club of The Hague.
A practical guide for foreigners moving to the Netherlands.
www.awcthehague.org

HERE’S HOLLAND
Published by Eburon Academic Publishers
By Sheila Gazaleh-Weevers
with Shirley Agudo & Connie Moser
Colorful two-in-one guide to Holland for travellers and expats alike..
www.heresholland.com  

DEALING WITH THE DUTCH
By Jacob Vossestein
Published by KIT Publishers
The cultural context of business and work in the Netherlands
www.jacobvossestein.nl
To order: www.hollandbooks.nl

THE DUTCH AND THEIR DELTA
Living below sea level
By Jacob Vossestein
Published by XPat Media
The fascinating account of how the Dutch manage to live below sea level
www.jacobvossestein.nl
To order: www.hollandbooks.nl

LIVING WITH THE DUTCH
By Norean Sharpe
Published by KIT Publishers
Nurtured in the Netherlands Norean Sharpe accounts of her experiences in this amazing little country in Europe. She gives her private thoughts and comments and makes sharp and witty observations of the Dutch way of life.

ONLY IN HOLLAND, ONLY THE DUTCH
By Marc Resch, Published by Rozenberg
An in-depth look into the culture of Holland and its people.
www.rozenbergps.com

MANNNERS IN THE NETHERLANDS – DUTCH DITZ
By Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen
Published by Uitgeverij Becht
Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen is known in the Netherlands as the ‘Queen of Manners’ and has published a series of ‘Ditz’ books such as the Dikke Ditz, or its summary version, the Dunne Ditz, and the children’s KinderDitz on etiquette and manners.
www.rildis.nl

HOW TO SURVIVE HOLLAND
By Martijn de Rooi
The author manages with quick wit, sarcasm and slightly self-deprecating humor to more than adequately convey a rather candid assessment of the Dutch people as a whole. His ability to really explain a country and its folk in such a clear context obviously has a lot to do with the fact that he is both a sociologist and a journalist.
www.dutchshop.nl  or www.hollandbooks.nl

MY ‘DAM LIFE
By Sean Condon
Published by Lonely Planet Publications
www.lonelyplanet.com

VISIONS OF THE NETHERLANDS
Photography: Frans Lemmens
Text: Martijn de Rooi
Like a consummate Dutch old master, photographer Frans Lemmens has painted a rich and colorful portrait of this often-surprising country, the people who live in it and the places and things worth seeing.
www.dutchshop.nl  or www.hollandbooks.nl

HOLLAND BOOKS
Features a wide range of books and travel guides on Holland: www.hollandbooks.nl
 

Cultural Transition

THE ART OF CROSSING CULTURES
By Craig Storti
Published by Intercultural Press
www.interculturalpress.com 

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CULTURE SHOCK
By Colleen Ward, Stephen Bochner, Adrian Furnham
Published by Routledge
www.routledge.com

CULTURE SHOCK NETHERLANDS
By Hunt Janin
Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions
www.marshallcavendish.com

A MOVEABLE MARRIAGE
Relocate your Relationship Without Breaking it
by Robin Pascoe
Published by Expatriate Press Ltd.
www.expatexpert.com

HOMEWARD BOUND
A Spouse’s Guide to Repatriation
By Robin Pascoe
Published by Expatriate Press Ltd.
www.expatexpert.com  

XENOPHOBE’S GUIDE TO THE DUTCH
By Rodney Bolt
Published by Oval Books
A guide to understanding the Dutch that goes beyond the tulips and windmills to reveal their real personality and peculiarities.
www.ovalbooks.com

A BROAD ABROAD
The Expat Wife’s Guide to Successful Living Abroad
By Robin Pascoe
Published by Expatriate Press Ltd.
www.expatexpert.com  

A MOVING LANDSCAPE
By Jo Parfitt
Published by Summertime Publishing
Over 20 years abroad described in moving poetry to which any traveller will relate.
www.joparfitt.com

BLACK AND ABROAD
By Carolyn Vines
Published by Adelaar Books
Experiences and perspectives of a black American woman traveling and living abroad.
www.blackandabroad.com

Dutch Language

THE DUTCH TONGUE
By Ben van der Have
Written in the form of a conversation between a student of the Dutch language, Nancy, and her local linguistic expert, Thomas, Ben van der Have takes the reader on a journey of language learning which goes far beyond the rules of grammar and vocabulary teaching.
www.scriptum.nl  or www.hollandbooks.nl  

DUTCH FOR EXPATS
By Maik Klaassen
Published by VanDorp Educatief/XPat Media
A comprehensive course book intended for adults living and working in the Netherlands who need to learn and practise the essential communication tools of the Dutch language in a limited timeframe. CD-rom included.
www.nederlandsalstweedetaal.nl  or www.hollandbooks.nl  

DUTCH FOR SELF-STUDY
By Hinke van Kampen
Published by Het Spectrum
This book and two cd-roms provide the basic structures of the Dutch language
www.spectrum.nl

DUTCH FOR DUMMIES
By Margreet Kwakernaak
Published by Pearson Education Benelux
Speak Dutch the fun and easy way. With dialogues from the book on audio CD.
www.dummies.nl

DUTCH - LONELY PLANET PHRASEBOOKS
Published by Lonely Planet
www.nilsson-lamm.nl  

A DICTIONARY OF DUTCHNESS
Published by DutchNews.nl
Do you have to visit the IND, are your children doing VWO and do you live in a Vinex area? Can you recognise bn’ers and do you know BOB? Have you got a DigiD and are you paying OZB? If this all sounds like double Dutch, then you need this book.
www.DutchNews.nl  
 

WEBSITES

LANGUAGE TRAINING
www.berlitz.com
www.britishschool.nl/languagecentre
www.ita-talen.nl
www.kickstartschool.nl
www.kit.nl
www.learndutch.org
www.lexicon.nl  
www.linguarama.nl
www.nederlandsalstweedetaal.nl
www.reginacoeli.nl
www.taalthuis.nl

CULTURAL TRANSITION, CULTURE SHOCK AND RELOCATION
www.tckworld.com
www.tckinteract.net
www.career-in-your-suitcase.com
www.expatexpert.com
www.branchor.com

THE NETHERLANDS - GENERAL
www.holland.com  
For useful and fun information on what’s on in the Netherlands.

www.expatica.com  – News and community portal for expats in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Moscow, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

www.iamexpat.nl  - For expats of all colours, shape and sizes.
News, life style, housing, career and education in the Netherlands

www.xpat.nl  – The information platform for expatriates in the Netherlands with an event calendar, Dutch news, expat book reviews and a large archive of articles and books on the Netherlands published by XPat Media

www.outpostexpat.nl  – Website of OUTPOST Expatriate Information Center with practical information about living conditions in a.o. the Netherlands.

DUTCH GOVERNMENT
Access to the websites of the Dutch Government Departments and Ministries. www.overheid.nl
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.minbuza.nl/english
Comprehensive information on the Netherlands in many languages. Also: news, ethical issues, foreign policy and contact information for all ministries and diplomatic missions.

THE DUTCH ROYAL FAMILY
www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english  

WEATHER INFORMATION
www.knmi.nl
www.weer.nl
www.weathernews.nl
www.buienradar.nl  

DUTCH HISTORY
www.minbuza.nl/history : this website covers Dutch history from 50 BC to 2005 and is maintained by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is meant as an introduction to Dutch history for foreigners and provides a concise overview of the highlights of Dutch history. Users can search within eight themes by date. Click on the ‘read more’ buttons for more detailed information on each period. The site is beautifully illustrated and is available in five languages.

www.studybuddy.nl : StudyBuddy provides chronological overviews of history and historical maps organized by country and contains a concise history of Holland in English: on the map click on Europe and select The Netherlands
 

More on this subject can be found in The Holland Handbook 2011- 2012