The Autumn 2009 Issue contains the following articles:

INTERVIEW

From the Point of View of… Tasoula Georgiou-Hadjitofi

“One of the current ideas is that we have more in common than we realize and that we should focus on that. But I disagree. What connects people is their value system. When you are a child, this is provided by your parents, your family, your town. As you get older, you realize that it is also your history and cultural heritage. We feel closest to those with whom we share the same values but… we must respect diversity. And respecting the differences in another is something that our value system should teach us; rather than raising our children to want to convert others to our way thinking. If you accept that everyone has a different perspective and are willing to listen to what others think and have to say – then you become a person who builds bridges rather than divides. People should not say ‘we are all the same’ – the beauty is in diversity. If we focus on the differences rather than on the similarities, then we will have a more constructive discussion and reach more constructive solutions. As long as we realize that we were all born equal, if not in opportunity, then certainly in worth.”

TAXES 

30%-Ruling; Recent Developments

By Rina Driece

Chances are that you are one of the lucky ones that are benefiting from that very special tax facility, the 30%-ruling. Or, if you are not, perhaps you are wondering what the attraction is and whether you qualify. Over the years, The XPat Journal has dedicated a number of articles to this facility, as there are always new developments. In this article, Rina Driece goes into a number of issues that have reached the courts – such as changing employers, scarce specific skills, being recruited from abroad, the ten-year term, and more – and into what the courts have ruled on these matters.

rina.driece@loyensloeff.com
www.loyensloeff.com

LEGAL

Crisis and Contracts, Changes and Chances - Hitting the High C’s in Confidence

By Godelijn Boonman

There were times when a permanent employment contract with a multinational company brought a plethora of benefits. From school fees and health plans for the entire family, to sabbaticals and fat end-of-year bonuses, it was all there, along with expat and housing allowances, great on-site sports and leisure facilities, fancy company outings and lavish Christmas parties.
However, with the changing times and tides, incoming expats are increasingly offered contracts previously tailored for local staff, only. The crisis has hit hard, at all levels, and even the big multinationals are aiming to cut back on their costs. The first thing to go are the perks and incentives that used to be part of the so-called 'expat contracts' and, quite often, existing contracts will be subject to change, to match the present austere circumstances. Under Dutch labor law, employers have the right to unilaterally initiate changes in an existing contract; however, quite often such changes will be dismissed in court, should an out-of-court settlement of the dispute fail.
Dutch labor law allows for changes in an existing employment contract for good reasons only. Reorganization in order to cut costs is not among them – however, reorganization of the company due to financial difficulties is a valid reason for change.
In this article, Godelijn Boonman explains what you can expect and undertake, should the crisis affect your employment situation.
www.gmw.nl/en
g.boonman@gmw.nl 

Work Permits and Highly Skilled Migrants

To live and work in the Netherlands, depending on where you are from, you need a work permit and/or a residence permit. Certain employees, called highly skilled migrants, do not need a work permit and are issued a special residence permit. How this all works and what the rules are regarding this, are covered in short in this article, as is the topic of students, and partners&children.
www.ind.nl

Gateway To Solutions – An HR Portal for International Employers

By Deborah Valentine

As a tax lawyer by profession who spent years advising international companies on tax, insurance and labour matters, Inge Nitsche is more than aware of the myriad questions and issues facing companies when employing internationally. It was based on this experience that she identified the need for an independent organisation which could simultaneously be a source of information for employers and their international staff as well as a vehicle through which their needs could be translated for Dutch governmental organisations and expat service providers. Inge founded the Dutch Expat Foundation in early 2008 to serve as an intermediary forum through which answers to the multiple questions posed by international organisations as well as their employees, with regards to relocating to the Netherlands or elsewhere, could be provided.
The Dutch Expat Foundation is a non-profit organisation which focuses on serving the interests of expats, as well as their employers, by providing information, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience, raising awareness, and influencing policy and regulations.
While the online information platform the Expat Portal focuses on the day-to-day questions raised by expats, the HR Portal is a response to the assistance required by employers’ HR departments in manoeuvring the bureaucratic complexities of ensuring that new staff members can get to work as quickly as possible.
www.expatfoundation.org

PROVINCE PROFILE

No One Is a Foreigner In Noord-Brabant – Simply a New Neighbour

By Deborah Valentine

For the residents of Noord Brabant, according to Richard l’Ami of the North Brabant Development Agency (BOM), the term ‘expat’ is an unfamiliar word, and concept. Newcomers are welcomed in the same warm manner in which Brabanders approach life itself – with curiosity, joie de vivre and the determination to find a way of balancing work and leisure. Much of this difference may well lay in the province’s history, as well as a mindset which is particular to this part of the country.
Even though the term ‘expat’ may be relatively unknown in Brabant, the BOM, under the guidance of Richard l’Ami, himself a former expat, is planning to launch an Expat Desk towards the end of 2009 to cater to the needs of this growing international population coming to settle in the province. The way it will be set up is unique, though. A back end office will be set up in Eindhoven for the more practical bureaucratic requirements international employees have to fulfill in order to work and live in the Netherlands, and will be complemented by front line offices in the other four major cities of the province. It is here that the more practical end of things such as referrals to local resources for housing, day-care, schooling, etc., will be taken care of; the softer side of living in a new country, and a new environment, looked after at the level it matters most – closest to home, in true Brabant style.
www.foreigninvestments.eu

BANKING

Mastering the Softer Side of Banking

By Deborah Valentine

“At ABN AMRO, we provide a comprehensive service that will suit your international lifestyle. We meet all your banking needs, wherever you might be and whenever you need it.”
With these opening lines, ABN AMRO greets its English-language Internet visitors with the promise of a service tailored just to their needs. For those interested in the bank’s ‘Expat Service’, the promise goes a step further: “It is a unique combination of our best banking services and personal advice from our Expat advisors.” As they well know at ABN AMRO, no two ‘international clients’ are alike, nor do they require the exact same services. So, how does ABN AMRO live up to its promises?
For Lars Tomson, Director of International Clients at ABN AMRO’s Kneuterdijk offices in The Hague, it is through the ‘softer side’ of banking that ABN AMRO is able to offer its international clientele the particular products they need and require. Personal attention that is based on an awareness of cultural differences, a curiosity about learning, a service-minded mentality, and a determination to find solutions.
www.abnamro.nl/english  
lars.tomson@nl.abnamro.com
rick.scholten@nl.abnamro.com

LEISURE

BRABANT – The Best of Two Worlds

By Sheila Gazaleh-Weevers

Brabant - a southern Catholic province where people are relaxed. Varied landscapes, fine castles, Carnival celebrations, jazz festivals, truly exceptional family recreation parks and memorable WWII sites. One of the largest Dutch provinces, with its southern boundary just short of running the entire length of the Dutch-Belgian border, Brabant has the best of two worlds.
Sheila Gazeleh-Weevers takes you on a trip through the cities of Breda, Eindhoven, ‘s Hertogenbosch, Bergen op Zoom, and Tilburg, as well as some of the smaller, yet equally picturesque towns.

ART

PAN Amsterdam

This year sees the 23rd PAN Amsterdam, the most important national art and antiques fair in the Netherlands. The fair attracts a huge variety of art lovers, both young and old, with a wide range of antique and modern art at prices from € 250 to € 1 million. PAN Amsterdam is also a good venue for potential art buyers who would like to look around and make comparisons.
PAN Amsterdam offers an exciting combination of antique and modern: old masters alongside contemporary art; modern and antique jewellery, old and contemporary silver, ceramics and glass; antique furniture and twentieth-century design. Equally surprising is the diversity of art from Classical Antiquity and non-European cultures, including Asian, African and Pre-Columbian art, ethnic art, and new Japanese and South Korean painting.
The fair’s latest innovation – the design pavilion – is PAN Amsterdam’s response to the growing demand for top-quality decorative art and design. In 2008, PAN Amsterdam introduced this pavilion featuring 20th-century furniture and lamps by leading national and international designers.
18 specialist vetting committees guarantee this quality at PAN Amsterdam. They are made up of more than 80 experts, who assess the quality, authenticity and condition of all the art objects before the fair opens.
PAN Amsterdam is the most efficient way to visit 120 galleries, art and antique dealers in one afternoon. They will be delighted to share their knowledge with every art lover, even if you are not planning on buying anything. This is why PAN Amsterdam is an annual highlight for 35,000 art lovers.

Dates: November 22-29
Location: RAI, Parkhal, Amsterdam
For more information, please visit: www.pan.nl

COLUMN

Funny You Should Ask About... Employment

By Alison Agudo

Funny you should ask about employment because, like many, I too have been unemployed and desperately seeking. As a 24-year-old American-born expatriate, I found myself thrown into the employment abyss at a time when people all over the world were – and still are – cringing at the very thought of job-seeking.
Fortunately, being an expatriate does give us one automatic advantage – whether applying to a university or looking for a job – particularly when we repatriate. The degree of adaptivity and open-mindedness required for individuals to be relocated to foreign countries is a powerful character enhancer that employers will certainly not overlook – so, as expats, we must not sell ourselves short. I personally have had to expand the margins on my CV page to near-breaking point in order to accommodate all the schools I have attended in various countries… and employers do take notice. However, while my extensive expatriate experience may add undeniable glamour to my resume, in today’s world, ‘glam’ is still not enough.
In her column, Alison Agudo shares with us the trials and tribulations on making up your mind on what you want, and finding that job, on the current job market.

CAREER

To Be Expatriated or Not? That Remains the Question …

By Nannette Ripmeester

What happens if you are living a happy life as an expatriate in the Netherlands and suddenly lose your job due to the economic climate? This was a rather unlikely scenario a year ago. Now it is the reality many expatriates are being confronted with. In this article, Nannette Ripmeester from Expertise in Labour Mobility sheds a light on the options available.
www.labourmobility.com

EVENT

‘i am not a tourist’ Fair Will Attract Thousands Of Expats

On Sunday, October 25, at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, Expatica will hold a one-day fair for internationals to obtain information, meet with expatriate-oriented service providers and network with thousands of other internationals.
For those expats still finding their way in the Netherlands, over 55 companies will be available to offer advice in housing, recruitment, relocation, taxes, and banking. In addition, approximately 35 organisations, schools and universities will be present. They can also attend informative presentations on the 30%-tax ruling, job hunting, mortgages, and how to succeed abroad.
’i am not a tourist’ 2009 will still offer the valuable resources that are so crucial for newcomers, as well as provide a wealth of information regarding entertainment and cultural pursuits for those who have already settled in.
Internationals will also have the opportunity to meet with expat-orientated groups and clubs, well-known expatriate authors, universities and many other organisations.
FREE tickets to the ‘i am not a tourist’ 2009 can be ordered at http://www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist/visitors_info.php.

International Culture & Leisure in Holland 2009/2010 Fair

On Sunday, September 20, The Hague will see the debut of a diverse and culturally welcoming fair tailor-made for the expat & international community which showcases International Culture and Leisure activities in Holland. This community consists of people residing in Holland from just a few months to as many as 20 years or more. Within this group there are more than 80 nationalities as well as multiple cultures and languages. What tends to unite them is the choice of English as the common language for communication, though for many it isn't their native tongue.
On September 20, the international community can find out about the major international culture and leisure events taking place in Holland during the cultural season 2009/2010. There will be over 100 culture and leisure organisations present ranging from classical music to water rafting. Additionally there will be information on careers and education, as well as information on events in Holland organised by other international cultural organisations, such as, for instance, African and Asian cultural activities. In addition, around 40 sports and social clubs from The Hague region will be represented at the fair.
This event replaces the ‘The International Community Fair’ – which, last year, attracted nearly 200 organisations and over 4,000 visitors.
For more information go to: www.FeelathomeinTheHague.com

EXPAT LIVING

Expatcenter – A Warm Welcome to Amsterdam 

The Expatcenter was created in June 2008 as one of the first offices of its kind in the Netherlands to cut relocation red tape and smooth the process of settling in, in order to better meet the needs of international companies and their expatriate employees. The fast-track service covers both the Amsterdam area and Amstelveen, as a joint initiative between the two cities, together with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) of the Netherlands.
Its location in the WTC in Amsterdam’s Zuidas makes it an easily accessible one-stop-shop for those seeking assistance in dealing with government regulations and other expat-related issues. Whether it’s a question on parking, taxes or health care, the Expatcenter staff is ready and able to offer assistance with expert attention.
This summer, the Expatcenter officially launched a pilot partnership project with companies in the private sector that offer specific expat services. Through the partnership, expats are referred to these partners on matters such as legal advice, taxes, banking, insurances, international schools, child care, employment, etc. A full list of the Expatcenter’s new partners can be found on the Expatcenter website.
This past year, the Expatcenter, along with the City of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Partners, Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board, Amsterdams Uitburo, and amsterdam inbusiness also launched what is today the most comprehensive international website on Amsterdam – the Iamsterdam portal site (www.iamsterdam.com).
Iamsterdam always has a finger on the digital pulse, with daily news updates, special features and a wealth of useful information for expats – including detailed articles on essential topics such as residence permits, finding a job, child care, or apartment-hunting.
welcome@expatcenter.iamsterdam.com
www.iamsterdam.com/expatcenter

Rotterdam Expat Desk – Streamlining Bureaucracy

By Deborah Valentine

What is often perhaps confusing for outsiders to any country is the logic which may or may not seem apparent in any given system. After all, one person’s or country’s logic may not be that of another. In October of 2008, The Rotterdam Development Corporation (OBR) officially opened an Expat Desk in the World Trade Centre, to provide expatriates and internationals with information on everything from housing and education to recreational opportunities in the area. In January of 2009, they extended their services with a pilot programme aimed at simplifying the resident permit application procedure for highly skilled and knowledge migrants. Given that officially one cannot start working before the process has been completed, this speeding up of the process is of course of great significance.
Rotterdam currently has an estimated 30,000 expats and plans to add to those numbers in the coming years. Being able to welcome them, make them feel at home and allow them to settle as quickly as possible is a strong incentive not only for the individuals involved, but also for the companies considering Rotterdam as a European or Dutch base. The goal of the Expat Desk is just that, to offer a friendly face and comfortable environment in which the needs and concerns of expats – from meeting their bureaucratic obligations to finding particular services – can be met.
www.rotterdam.nl/expatdesk

TRAVEL

The Kurhaus Hotel: A Grande Dame

The history of the Kurhaus hotel in Scheveningen dates back to almost 200 years with a thirteen-year-old Queen Wilhelmina signing the guest book in 1893.
This monumental former wooden bathhouse, dating from 1885, seems to exude a magical kind of magnetism, which for decades has attracted royalty, high-ranking officials, celebrities, artists, business people and many, many tourists to this location by the sea.
The Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel has lived many lives, but has still managed to maintain her character as a grand elegant dame for almost 200 years. This is partly due to the close attention that has always been paid to the preservation of her own particular character and historical details, and by meeting modern quality requirements regarding luxury and comfort.
Guests are treated to five-star luxury and comfort at all times, in combination with the classical Kurhaus service. The Kurhaus team is keen on making your stay as enjoyable as possible, offering modern rooms equipped with innovative facilities, surrounded by the inspirational Kurhaus with its magnificent authentic details.
Guests of the hotel, whether it be for business or for pleasure, aspire to an environment of contrasts that is both luxurious and contemporary.
www.kurhaus.nl or www.kurhaus.steigenberger.com 

COMPETITION

Calling Young Writers
Friendship in a global society is the theme of a new writing competition for expat children

By Robin Pascoe

One of the hardest things for children of international families who find themselves moving from country to country is leaving their friends behind. But a nomadic lifestyle has many benefits as well. Not only are kids exposed to a variety of cultures at a young age, they also end up with friends all over the world.
So, friendship was a natural theme to choose when The International Herald Tribune, DutchNews.nl and The XPat Journal decided to launch their Young Writers Competition for expat children. The competition is a chance for budding young journalists, poets and storytellers to showcase their talents and write about their personal experiences.
Jo Parfitt says that all these experiences deserve to be “preserved, shared, written down. This competition is just the kind of thing young people need to take that first step towards expressing themselves. The judges and prizes will give them something to work towards, a goal. And I for one can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

The Young Writers Competition is aimed at children between aged 6 to 18 attending international schools in the Netherlands or the bilingual streams in Dutch state schools – but anyone can take part, as long as the entry is in English. The competition closes on December 31 and the winners will be announced in early February.
Schools and parents as well as those interested in entering the competition, and companies which may like to sponsor the event, can get more details via the website: www.youngwriterscompetition.nl.

LEISURE

Winging It in Zeeland

By Suzanne Schreve

During July and August, three slices of the Netherlands turn into a German party pie. The otherwise sleepy region of Zeeland has long been a summer haven for our neighbours and it doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out why. Stretched-out beaches down three peninsulas, picturesque towns, salty sea snacks and long sunny days dominate the summer senses. But if you want to steer clear of the caravan trail, head down south in the autumn months. Once there you can bike, ride, drive or sail the Delta works, but soaring on a glider plane provides you with a bird’s eye view and experience you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Suzanne Schreve provides with a host of things to do while visiting these thin slices of country, just to the south of Rotterdam.

Gliding: www.ezac.nl  
Middelburg: www.stadgisdenservicemiddelburg.nl  
Site in Dutch, but tours available in French and English  
Zeeland Festival Website: www.zeelandfestivals.nl/

CULTURE

Holland Dance Festival – Celebrating Five Decades of Modern Dance Tradition

“The main theme of this year’s Holland Dance Festival revolves around the 50th anniversary of the Nederlands Dans Theater,” Samuel Wuersten, artistic director of the Holland Dance Festival explains, “and I am very excited, because this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dedicate an entire festival to one particular dance company. But we don’t want to make this merely a nostalgic tour. The Nederlands Dans Theater has crossed roads with many important choreographers and is a model for companies across the world. It has brought groundbreaking ideas for structuring companies, and has influenced how the dance company of today should be perceived. Many important choreographers have set their first steps here, after which they ventured into international careers across the globe. Instead of merely looking back, we will capture the dynamic of the moment, and show where dance can go, in the future.”
Samuel’s aim is to share the pleasure of dance with as many people as possible: “I consider myself a mediator who connects the audience with dance and dance with the audience. Dance does not rely on language and is therefore a great art form. I find the idea of seeing the body as an instrument, a translator of ideas and energy, very appealing and interesting. What current generations are doing in their leisure time is very virtual, with computers and games and simulations – while watching someone perform live is so much more beautiful. The intensity of such a moment is very empowering and it does something to people in a good way.”
The festival will take place in The Hague, on various locations, from October 28 through November 15. For more information, visit www.hollanddancefestival.com.