Where is best to live in Netherlands?
Amsterdam
There is no better contender than the Dutch capital, when it comes to the best places to live in the Netherlands. The city is home to over 180 nationalities and we are not surprised.
Amsterdam
There is no better contender than the Dutch capital, when it comes to the best places to live in the Netherlands. The city is home to over 180 nationalities and we are not surprised.
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a city with a pleasant atmosphere that will make you soon feel at home. Recently, it was ranked as one of the safest cities worldwide and the second safest city in Europe.
The Netherlands has a high cost of living, which includes everything from accommodation, groceries, and services. On average, the cost of living in the Netherlands is 10.7% higher than in the UK. Owning a car is particularly expensive, with high road tax and expensive repair costs.
Happy and High Quality Living
According to the World Happiness Report, the Netherlands ranks as the #5 happiest country in the world. From very friendly people to an extremely good work life balance, it's no wonder the people living in the Netherlands are so happy.
Wealthiest municipalities are Bloemendaal and Laren
The data shows that most millionaire households live in Bloemendaal or Laren - this is largely unsurprising, as these municipalities are known for their wealth and high property prices. In Bloemendaal and Laren, around three in every 10 people are millionaires.
People in the Netherlands appear to be slightly more satisfied with their lives, as when they were asked to rate their satisfaction they gave it an average of 7,4 out of 10 - slightly higher than in Germany, where people scored their lives a 7.
Both Germany and the Netherlands are safe countries to live and study in. Our advice is to find accommodations where it's away from clubs or bars (we know it can be tempting, but trust us on this one). Of course, there are unsafe areas in both countries depending on the city, so it's always best to do your research.
Although the official language is Dutch, almost 95% of the population speaks English. Therefore, not knowing Dutch isn't an issue! Learning Dutch is difficult because the Dutch people are eager to speak English. There isn't a language barrier, and this makes life more comfortable for those coming from another country.
Main types of crime in the Netherlands
The police registered 1.19 million crimes in 2011 and more than half of these were thefts or burglaries. The highest incidence were thefts from cars, bike thefts, housebreaking, shoplifting and pick-pocketing.
Should I move from USA to Netherlands?
Before you think if you can, you should question if you should. And, the short answer is that moving to the Netherlands is worth it. The Netherlands can offer you a high quality of life that is less expensive than that in the USA. The cost of living in the Netherlands is said to be about 20% lower than that of the US.
If a person is not a national of an EU country, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland, they can live in the Netherlands provided they meet certain conditions. And they need to hold a residence permit.
![Where is best to live in Netherlands? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L_-5kPRDMU4/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLAqvtxiq02A7wtPSwKJWftpAk6dXA)
The Netherlands has universal healthcare, but the government requires all adults living or working in the Netherlands to have basic insurance. The basic plan will cost € 100-120 out of pocket. If you're employed, your employer will pay a small percentage towards medical coverage as well.
West Michigan in particular has become associated with Dutch American culture, and the highly conservative influence of the Dutch Reformed Church, centering on the cities of Holland and (to a lesser extent) Grand Rapids.
The health system is better in Denmark (and almost everywhere in Western Europe), than in the Netherlands. Work / life balance is better in Denmark. Netherlands is better in terms of connections to other European cities.
According to the most recent findings from Numbeo, the Netherlands ranks #1 for quality of life based on several factors including cost of living, crime rates, healthcare, commute times, and environmental pollution. Denmark and Switzerland came in second and third respectively, rounding out the top 3.
The average home in Blaricum costs €800,000 and had risen an average of 12% from the previous year. Blaricum is a popular residence of many Dutch celebrities, including Rene Froger, Anita Meijer, Paul de Leeuw, Dennis Bergkamp, Gordon, Jerney Kaagman, John de Mol, Anita Witzier and Marco Borsato.
The Netherlands has had steady natural gas resources since 1959, when a wellspring was discovered. Currently the Netherlands accounts for more than 25% of all natural gas reserves in the European Union. Over the following decades, the sale of natural gas generated a significant rise in revenue for the Netherlands.
The rich are defined as those with with a minimum of €500,000 of disposable assets. A full 39% of repondents said they had inherited all or part of their wealth. Another 31% derived their money from their own businesses. This number advanced to 37% for those with more than €1m of discretionary assets.
Like Sweden, there is a significant wealth gap, and money plays a large role in achieving a higher standard of living. When asked to rate their satisfaction with their lives, people in the Netherlands ranked it an average of 7,4 out of 10 - only very slightly higher than in Sweden.
Can I live in Netherlands with English?
Visitors may find that it is possible to live in the Netherlands for a long time without learning Dutch, mostly because 2.5 million citizens in the country are not fluent in Dutch. A substantial number of the inhabitants of Amsterdam have English as their native language, mostly British and North American immigrants.
The Dutch people prefer you use “The Netherlands” as Holland is a Western region of the country and consists of two provinces: North Holland and South Holland [it used to be a single Province].
As determined by the Global Peace Index, Iceland ranked as the safest country in Europe. Iceland, Denmark, and Ireland ranked as the three safest countries in the world.
The Netherlands is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, with a high quality of life, great healthcare system, good work-life balance, safety and security, multicultural society, great public transportation, and strong social safety net. Let's take a closer look at each of these points.
According to the index “Good Enough to Eat,” the Netherlands emerged the leader thanks to relatively low food prices, low prevalence of diabetes, and better nutritional diversity than its European rivals.
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