I want to move to the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Where do I start?

Question

I am 22 years old and newly graduated with a Business Administration and Information Systems degree from the University of Washington. I would be willing to learn Dutch for this of course. This has been a desire I've had for a long time now. Please help!

Answer 1

You will find it very hard to get a long term visa to the Netherlands, or a working permit.

Unless you have speciallized in one of the few professions needed in Europe (not just the Netherlands but the whole European Union) and in that case it will just be a long and expensive process.

You can find more info here:

http://www.ind.nl/EN/

This is the part of the government that gives out working permits.

You can often also find a lot of information on the site of the Dutch embassy or consulate near where you live.

If you are willing to just come to the Netherlands, and you can afford it,  you might consider studying for an other year of so, as student visa are often easier to get and after that you might be able to search for work here too. (I am not sure, never having studied I do not really know what kind of studies do fit in the requirements.)

An other option, most likely not for you but I think I should mention it, is coming as Au Pair, work here for a year and get to know the country that way. But it is no party, it is often hard work, long hours, no privacy, and pocket money rather than pay, but if you want to get to know my country it might be the way for you.

If you really want to come you will find a way, coming for a holiday can be a good start, as you can get a good view on the country and the realities of life here (but remember that you can not apply for long term visa while within the Netherlands.)

If you do, do not spend (most) of your time as tourist, but do the things you would do as someone job and home hunting.

Talk with job agencies, look in the different parts of town (and in the smaller towns around Amsterdam,) for places to stay, comparing prices and what you would get for them.

Lastly, it might be possible to work for an American company, for their Dutch devision, that way they will take care of the paperwork, and they may even pay you extra for the inconvinience of living abroad. But that kind of jobs is also not easy to find.

Good luck.

PS:

Also read the answer by Bla Bla in this question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

She gives more details and facts.

Answer 2

A plane ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!