In the category Editor's Pick you will find a growing collection of articles which were originally published in The XPat Journal. The XPat Journal ® is the premier English-language magazine for expatriates living in the Netherlands and has been in publication since 1998. The quarterly magazine guarantees high-quality and timely editorial content, articles and interviews covering a variety of topics such as Dutch culture, legal and financial issues, international education, expat management, housing and health care. Those of you who are considering building a new life in the Netherlands or are already settled here will surely benefit from the local knowledge we share through these articles. So feel free to browse through this archive and make yourself more familiar with the ins and outs of the Low Countries.

The Planet: Your Backyard?

This article was originally published in The XPat Journal Autumn 2018 Issue By Edith van Ruitenbeek Family Law for Expats Living an expat life can be exciting, but also very challenging – especially as far as family matters are concerned. Divorce rates, for instance, are higher than average among expats. Last summer, I once again … Continue reading "The Planet: Your Backyard?"
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Three Unique Living Opportunities in The Hague

Living in The Hague means living in the only large Dutch city by the sea! Just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful historic city centre with its stately buildings, you will find more than 10 kilometres of beach and unspoilt dunes. Just 15 minutes on the tram will allow you to breathe in the … Continue reading "Three Unique Living Opportunities in The Hague"
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To Be or Not to Be a Father

By Edith van Ruitenbeek What does ‘being a parent’ mean? What do custody or parental responsibility entail? For instance, do you have a say in the choice of school for your children? Especially for unmarried expat parents, the answers to these questions are not simple. If an expat father wants to create the best conditions … Continue reading "To Be or Not to Be a Father"
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What are your rights if you’re dismissed?

By Godelijn Boonman Employment law in the Netherlands offers employees a number of protections against dismissals. Unfortunately, many internationals are unaware of their rights. Permission To start, employees with a permanent contract are given very strong protections by the law. An employee with a permanent contract cannot be dismissed without permission from either a judge … Continue reading "What are your rights if you’re dismissed?"
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What’s the Role of a Dutch Manager in the Office?

This article was originally published in The XPat Journal Autumn Issue By Chris Smit Different Roles in Different Cultures I like the saying an ex-colleague introduced me to: “We all do the same things, just differently”. In other words, we all eat, drink and sleep, but what we eat, when we eat, how we eat, and even … Continue reading "What’s the Role of a Dutch Manager in the Office?"
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Working in Self Employment

Though most people work directly for an employer, over the past years, a considerable and growing number of people in the Netherlands have chosen to work in self-employment, to the point where, at present, 1.76 million people have self-employment as their main, or only, source of income. Of these, 900,000 are what the Dutch call … Continue reading "Working in Self Employment"
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