The Spring 2008 Issue contains a.o. the following articles:

TAX

Tax Relief On Your Study Expenses
By Particia van der Hut

Many foreign students come to the Netherlands to follow a full-time study – and study costs can really add up, particularly in the case of an MBA. After graduation, some students choose to stay in the Netherlands to work; many, however, are unaware that the study expenses incurred over previous years can bring them substantial tax relief in the subsequent years.
As is evident from this contribution by Patricia van der Hut, the tax situation for students is well worth looking into, even if you have already completed your studies. Be sure to seek professional advice, so that you can enjoy the maximum benefit.
pvanderhut@finsens.nl
www.finsens.nl 
 

 
INTERVIEW

From the Point of View of… Anders Hellström

“Life takes unpredictable turns. I compare it to when I was a little boy and watching a raindrop travel its way down a window pane. You would expect it to go straight down. But it doesn’t. It hits a speck of dirt and swerves around it, then it merges with another raindrop and travels along with it and then, it hits a line of water or another speck of dirt and, if you trace its path, you find that instead of traveling down in a straight line, it has taken many detours and ended up in a completely different place. That is what life is like. Things happen, good and bad, and you cannot predict where you will end up.”
Anders Hellström

EDUCATION

International Studies in the Netherlands

The Netherlands, with its international orientation, is becoming an increasingly popular destination for students looking for an education that will help them prepare for the global labor market.
Due to its small size and the huge ambition of its people, the Netherlands was never big enough to satisfy its adventurous and enterprising population, which has been flocking out to discover the world for centuries. Conversely, the Netherlands has also always welcomed those who, out of necessity or a sense of freedom, came here to pursue their luck. For entirely practical reasons, the great majority of the Dutch people have always been able to speak at least one other language, which has always stood them in good stead as hosts and as guests.
This international orientation and experience, these open arms and this language aptitude have contributed greatly to placing the Netherlands high on the list of possible places to pursue a higher international education. In this article, The XPat Journal goes into the structure and options of the Dutch international education programs.
www.studyin.nl

EVENT

The Hague Jazz Festival

Go Home Singing and Dancing
In 2005, after the departure of North Sea Jazz Festival for Rotterdam, The Hague seemed to echo with silence. Entire generations of Hague citizens, who had grown up with the busy-ness and the bustle of the festival – and many of whom had had their first summer job there – found themselves at a loss. They wanted something to be proud of again.
In 2006, In eight weeks' time, Ruud Wijkniet created the first Hague Jazz Festival, a festival that encompassed six stages and contracted performers such as Toots Thielemans, Richard Galliano, Denise Janah, and Gare du Nord, as well as several local bands. It attracted 8,500 visitors and – despite grumblings among the press beforehand – turned out to be a great success.
For more on the third Hague Jazz Festival and the line-up, including Stanley Clarke, Level 42, Billy Cobham, Chic, Omar Hakim and many more, visit www.thehaguejazz.com 

The festival will take place on May 23-24, with a warm-up on Wednesday, May 21.

EDUCATION

CLIL – Bilingual Education - TTO: Here to Stay!
By Onno van Wilgenburg

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), known in Dutch as ‘tweetalig onderwijs’ (‘TTO’), or bilingual education, is an educational approach in which non-language subjects such as history or biology are taught using a language other than the mother tongue. Over the past the years, CLIL has developed into a specialist school type in secondary education. English is the main target language.
CLIL in the Netherlands originates from the international education stream. Here, international education is only available to a specific target group, consisting of expats, children of diplomats, etc. International schools are not allowed to accept pupils who do not have an international background. In 1989, one of the international schools decided, upon the demand of the parents, to open a bilingual department for Dutch students, who would follow the regular Dutch curriculum partly in Dutch and partly in English. The initiative of this school (Alberdingk Thijm, Hilversum) led to the successful introduction of CLIL into Dutch secondary schools. Since then, the number of CLIL-schools has grown rapidly from one CLIL school in 1989 to a network of 99 secondary schools in the 2008/2009 school year.
General information on CLIL in the Netherlands, including an overview of schools can be found on: www.netwerktto.europeesplatform.nl

TAX

Dutch Tax Return: Heaven or Hell?
By Arjan Enneman

In the Netherlands, the tax year is equal to the calendar year. Before April 1, a tax return needs to be filed for the previous year. This is, however, not always mandatory. In many situations where somebody has worked the whole year and is not able to claim any deduction or tax credit, the wage tax withheld on the salary is the final tax claim (see the article Tax Refund or Tax Assessment). This way the number of tax returns that have to be filed is reduced. The tax office will determine, based on the information they have received from third parties such as employers, banks, the municipality, insurance companies – and on tax returns from previous years – whether they need to send you a tax return.
To be able to file the tax return you will have to collect all the necessary documents, such as year end statements and proof of payment of certain deductions. A tax advisor can help you to determine what is required and what is deductible.
arjan@expatax.nl
www.expatax.nl

CULTURE

Nederlands Dans Theater

A Dance Company Like No Other
Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) is a state-of-the-art contemporary dance company that was established in 1959 by 18 dancers members who decided to break away from the traditionally orientated Het Nederlands Ballet (Ballet of the Netherlands) company. What typifies this company is its dedication to the exploration of new forms of dance, its openness to new ideas and experimentation, and its use of new techniques. Though its dancers are originally classically trained, the training program at NDT involves both classical and contemporary dance and the repertoire of the NDT is best described contemporary dance, rather than ballet.
The dance companies are not all that make Nederlands Dans Theater world-famous; the repertoire, the house and guest choreographers, the unexpected and therefore unique touches, are all elements that make a visit to an NDT performance a mesmerizing experience. The lighting, the décor, and the incredible fantasy of the choreographers take you to a world well beyond the ordinary – and make you reluctant to return back to the confines of our own universe.
www.nederlandsdanstheater.nl
www.ndt.nl
www.youtube.nl/user/neddanstheater

TAX

Pay Attention, Not Tax!
By Connie Moser

As if life isn’t expensive enough, the powers that be attach a hefty 19% tax on top of the price of goods and services, called the Value Added Tax or VAT (BTW in Dutch). What’s more, this tax will go up to 20% in 2009. The good news, however, is that many people are eligible for a refund of the VAT they have paid. Sound too good to be true? On the contrary, it’s as easy as 1-2-3!
VATfree.nl is a new, unique and easy way for all international visitors from non-EU countries to shop tax-free in the Netherlands. VATfree.nl allows you, or your family and friends, to shop tax-free in every shop in the Netherlands…
www.vatfree.nl
www.ishoptaxfree.com

FASHION

Made to Taste – an Exquisite Experience in Men’s Fashion
By Diane Lemieux

Foreigners occasionally complain that The Hague is a provincial town when compared to the flare of cities like Paris, Madrid or Milan. This city is not ‘in your face’ with its glitz and charm; it needs to be discovered, to be savoured like a vintage wine found in an old cellar. Via Andres is one example of the jewels to be found; a classy boutique in an otherwise bland mass-market.
www.via-andres.nl/EN/

ECONOMY

The International City of Rotterdam
By Diane Lemieux

Rotterdam’s international community is substantially smaller than that of either Amsterdam or The Hague. Though small, it is estimated that there are 174 nationalities living side by side within the city. The difference lies primarily in the city’s entrepreneurial labour market. In 2007, 339 branch offices of foreign companies were registered in Rotterdam, representing almost 12,000 jobs. Rotterdam’s reputation as an international city lies mainly in the fact that its business community is actively focused on world markets. This international orientation is partly a result of the fact that Rotterdam is one of the world’s largest and busiest port-cities. However, it is not only in the transport sector that Rotterdam has influence overseas.
There are two other sectors in which Rotterdam is globally recognised. The first is as an international centre of architecture. The second sector which supports Rotterdam’s international stature is its role in preparing young people for the global market place; greater Rotterdam (which includes Delft) attracts the largest number of foreign students to its internationally recognised institutions of higher education than any other region in the Netherlands.

EDUCATION

English-Language University Education – in The Hague!

Tucked behind the Holland Spoor train station is the campus of The Hague University. The modern campus, including an unusual, circular, red-brick residential high rise, is surrounded by water. The bright, oval atrium hall, with its soaring glass ceiling is busy; on any given weekday, 17,000 students and 1,600 staff members walk to and from classes or take a break in one of the gezellige cafés on the ground floor.
The University of The Hague offers six full-time bachelor degrees entirely in English, each one with an international focus – such as International Business and Management Studies, International Communication Management, International European Law and more – as well as four full or part-time master’s programmes, including Accounting and Control, Business Administration, European Law & Policy and International Communication Management.
For more information, visit: www.hhs.nl

INTERVIEW

Learning Dutch: Cerebral Gymnastics

Dutch for English-Speaking Expats
Maik Klaassen has developed his own method for teaching Dutch, which is well suited for the expat market and has been written in English. The lessons are short, followed by exercises, and the accompanying CD-rom provides plenty of listening practice. The book is also an excellent reference book, starting at the most basic level and taking it from there. You don’t need to know a thing about Dutch to learn from this book. On the other hand, if you already do know a thing or two, this method also allows you to skip as many chapters as you want and to pick up from where you need to learn more.
For more information on the book/course Dutch for English-Speaking Expats, visit www.nederlandsalstweedetaal.nl/expats .

EDUCATION

The World Of Webster University

Founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1915, Webster University is an accredited, non-profit American university with over 100 locations in ten countries, hosting 22,000 students around the world.
Webster University enjoys an international reputation for teaching and academic excellence. Renowned for its innovative, accredited educational programs, Webster meets the needs of students, businesses, and working adults around the globe.
The academic programs include: Business & Management, International Relations and NGOs, Media Communications, Behavioral & Social Sciences, etc. as well as three new programs, covering Counseling, Communications Management, and a Global MBA.
For more information, visit: www.webster.nl

EDUCATION

Global Success with Online Learning

Today thousands of students from over 130 countries, attracted to the prospect of a US-accredited degree, are realizing their academic goals through University of Phoenix (UPX) Online. Unhindered by time zones and national borders, these international students are seamlessly integrated into highly interactive and demanding US degree programs. The resulting multi-national interaction transcends cultural and social boundaries, creating a uniquely rich learning environment.
Taught by a practitioner faculty, and endorsed by international corporations, University of Phoenix advanced degree programs can be completed in less than two years, offering potential for promotion. With over 300,000 students enrolled – the university is America’s largest private university.
For an overview of the Program courses, visit www.global.phoenix.edu

Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest

International Education with a Dutch Touch
In 1983, Het Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest was issued a licence by the Dutch government, allowing it to provide international education alongside the Dutch curriculum. The choice was made then – and 25 years later this is still the case – to organise Dutch and international streams alongside each other, whereby students share the same building, the classrooms and facilities.
At Het Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest International School this ‘two schools-one building’ formula has given students from outside the Netherlands the opportunity to follow an international curriculum in English (International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programmes) in a Dutch setting. This allows them to integrate into and develop an understanding of Dutch culture and society.
More information on Het Rijnlands Lyceum International School can be found on the website: www.isrlo.nl

Academic Education in the Netherlands, Good or No Good?
By Jacob Vossestein

Every year, an increasing number of international students – not only from other European countries but also from the USA, China and India – come to study at the Dutch universities. Most of them follow their studies at English-language faculties, but there are academics who take the trouble to learn Dutch in order to study here, so apparently they think it is worth their while!
In a counter-movement, several Dutch students, looking for something they think is missing in Dutch academia, prefer Belgian universities. So what is true about Dutch education?
www.jacobvossestein.nl

TAX

A Tax Refund or a Tax Assessment:
Is It Legally Yours?
By Liane van de Vrugt

The principles behind a ‘tax equalisation policy’ is that the employee should neither suffer financial hardship nor enjoy a financial windfall, as a result of the tax consequences of an international assignment. He or she should pay neither higher nor lower taxes than he would have had he never left his former home. Hence, the employer should be paying all related worldwide effective taxes for the employee. This policy serves to put the employee in a tax-neutral position during the assignment.
In order to implement the tax equalisation procedures, the employer withholds a hypothetical tax from the employee when the international assignment starts. At the end of the year, the hypothetical tax is compared with the estimated home country taxes, and a settlement is made. But what if the partner of the employee also earns an income and different tax rates apply? What if personal decisions, such as keeping a second or third home, influence the actual tax burden?
lvdvrugt@vedeve.com
www.vedeve.com

LEISURE

Biesbosch and Dordrecht:
a Different Kind of Beaten Track
By Suzanne Schreve

The Dutch have the habit of calling anything higher than a speed bump a mountain, but so will you if you live here long enough. If you realise that half of the country’s surface is less than 1 metre above sea level, and much of the rest of it is actually below sea level, the fact that you can live to say it at all is worth mentioning. In fact, our expertise in hydraulic engineering throughout history has led to the saying ‘God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands’. And although we do not sit high, we do sit dry – but it hasn’t always been that way. One of the areas most notably affected and created by floods is the city of Dordrecht and surrounding national park the Biesbosch. While the history and expanse of both areas allow for at least a long weekend break, a comprehensive two-day visit will swallow you up in layers of natural and man-made beauty.
www.hollandsebiesbosch.nl 
 

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