Information for new international staff

Immigration Services 

The Services Team of the International Office offers various services for its international guests and employees. These services include applying for Visa and Residence permits for prospective and current staff. PhD students, guest researchers and bursary PhD students are all considered as staff members. Furthermore, the staff of the Services Team can apply for visas and residence permits for family members of all prospective and current staff.  

As procedures for foreign nationals can be quite lengthy, the International Office would like to receive the onboarding for your position at least three months prior to the intended start date. 

European Union and EEA citizens 

If you are a European or EEA Citizen, no permits are required. EU nationals and EEZ Citizens are free to work and reside in the Netherlands.  

For more information, please scroll down to the “practical matters” section on this page 

Short stay: maximum of 90 days 

International staff members who will stay no longer than 90 days in the Netherlands do not require a residence permit. Depending on their nationality, they are either allowed to stay here on their passport or they need to apply for a short stay visa at the Dutch representation in their home country. Unfortunately, a short stay visa needs to be arranged by the foreign national; the International Office cannot assist in this matter. In many cases, a work permit is required as well but, again, here are some exceptions as well. The International Office will therefore judge the application and provide advice on the matter.  

Long stay: more than 90 days 

Generally, International staff members with a non-EU nationality who wish to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, will require a Dutch residence permit. Depending on your nationality, you may require an entry visa and residence permit or only a residence permit. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam can under most circumstances use one of the accelerated application procedures on your behalf, like the European Directive (EU) 2016/801 for scientific researchers, or the Highly skilled migrants scheme. It will need to be established whether you fall into one of these categories. The International Office will apply for the required visa and/or residence permit. 

Immigration Procedures

International employees, guests and PhD candidates who will work at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for long or short periods are subject to Dutch and European immigration legislation. This involves the legal right both to stay and to work in the Netherlands. Your specific situation will determine the arrangements that you will need to make. A number of criteria are relevant to this, such as your nationality and duration of stay. 

The International Office of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will be able to provide you, and any family members who will be accompanying you, with assistance in immigration and accommodation procedures. 

The first step in this process is to initiate the hospitality agreement or employment contract. Your supervisor must do this for you. Depending on your nationality and period of stay, the International Office will send you your login details to our online immigration system (Visa Care) with information regarding the immigration procedure applicable to the situation. If necessary, the International Office will apply for the required permits. Please note that you can only start your research activities when the respective authorities have issued the permits. As procedures for foreign nationals can be quite lengthy, the International Office would like to receive the onboarding at least three months prior to the intended start date. 

There are three types of immigration procedures: 

1. Residence permit (VVR) procedure: no entry visa required which means you enter the Netherlands with your passport. (ex: you have an American nationality and currently reside in the US) 
2. Residence permit (VVR) procedure + you currently reside in another Schengen country: no entry visa required which means you enter the Netherlands with the permit of another Schengen country and your passport.  (ex: you have a Chinese nationality and you currently reside in France and have a valid French residence permit) 
3. Long stay entry visa (MVV) and residence permit (VVR) procedure: entry visa required which you will collect at the Dutch representation before you can enter the Netherlands. (ex: you have an Indian nationality and currently reside in India)

Which procedure applies to you depends on your nationality and whether you hold a valid residence permit from another Schengen country. All of the above procedures run via VU Amsterdam. Here you can see the procedure that applies to you.  

• Australia / Canada / Japan / Monaco / New Zealand / South Korea / United Kingdom / United States of America / Vatican City State: Residence permit (VVR) procedure 
• All other non-EU countries: Long stay entry visa (MVV) and residence permit (VVR) procedure 
• All other non-EU countries but in possession of valid residence permit of another Schengen country: Residence permit (VVR) procedure 
• All EU countries / Iceland / Liechtenstein / Norway / Switzerland: No procedure required 

You can also enter your country of origin in the following link to determine whether you qualify for the Residence Permit (VVR) procedure or the Long Stay Entry Visa (MVV) procedure: Residence permit researcher on the IND website 

RESIDENCE PERMIT (VVR) PROCEDURE 

When you are eligible for this procedure, you are only required to have a residence permit (VVR) but not an entry visa (MVV). 

To apply for a residence permit (VVR), please follow the steps below or click on here for the infographic. 

Step 1: Onboarding 

Your supervisor at VU Amsterdam needs to onboard you into our HRM systems first. When the onboarding task comes through to the Staff Immigration team, we will start the process. Please make sure your supervisor onboards you three months before your start date so that we have enough time to apply for your permit. 

Step 2: Upload you documents into Visa Care 

You will receive an email with the login details to our Visa Care system where you can upload the documents needed for the application of your permit. Please refer to the section called “type of permits” to see what documents are needed for the permit that is applicable to you.  

Step 3: Submission with the IND 

Once all the documents have been uploaded and approved, we will submit the request for the permit with the IND. It may take up to three weeks (this can take longer depending on the time of the year) to receive a decision from the IND, after which we will email you with the outcome.  

Step 4: Book your travel tickets 

You can now book your flight tickets to travel to the Netherlands. Make sure to complete the task in Visa Care to inform us accordingly. 

Step 5: Biometrics and registration in the BRP 

If applicable, we will make an appointment for you at IN Amsterdam expat center to do your biometrics and register yourself in the BRP. Please refer to the section “IN Amsterdam”. 

Step 5: Pick up your permit 

Once you have done your biometrics it will take about two weeks for your permit to be ready. If applicable, we will make an appointment for you at IN Amsterdam to pick up your permit. Please refer to the section “IN Amsterdam”. 

Step 6: upload the copy of your permit into Visa Care 

Once you received a copy of your permit, please upload a copy into Visa Care so we can finalise your dossier.  

LONG STAY ENTRY VISA (MVV) AND RESIDENCE PERMIT (VVR PROCEDURE) 

VU Amsterdam needs to apply for a long stay entry visa (MVV) and residence permit (VVR) when you are a non-EU citizen from a country not specified in the list on this link. In case you hold a valid residence permit of another EU Schengen country, you are exempted from an entry visa and need to follow the Residence permit (VVR) procedure above. 

To apply for a Long Stay Entry Visa (MVV) and Residence Permit (VVR), please follow the steps below or see here the infographic.

Step 1: Onboarding 

Your supervisor at VU Amsterdam needs to onboard you into our HRM systems first. When the onboarding task comes through to the Staff Immigration team, we will start the process. Please make sure your supervisor onboards you three months before your start date so that we have enough time to apply for your permit. 

Step 2: Upload you documents into Visa Care 

You will receive an email with the login details to our Visa Care system where you can upload the documents needed for the application of your permit. Please refer to the section called “type of permits” to see what documents are needed for the permit that is applicable to you.  

Step 3: Submission with the IND 

Once all the documents have been uploaded and approved, we will submit the request for the permit with the IND. It may take up to three weeks (this can take longer depending on the time of the year) to receive a decision from the IND, after which we will email you with the outcome.  

Step 4: Pick up your MVV/biometrics 

Once you receive a positive decision from the IND you can make an appointment at the Dutch representative in your country to pick your MVV. You will also do your biometrics in this appointment.  

Step 5: Book your travel tickets 

You can now book your flight tickets to travel to the Netherlands. Make sure to complete the task in Visa Care to inform us accordingly. 

Step 6: Pick up your permit and register in the BRP 

Once you have done your biometrics at the embassy and informed us about your arrival date, we will make an appointment for you at IN Amsterdam to pick up your permit and register in the BRP. Please refer to the section “IN Amsterdam”. 

The staff immigration office will most of the time apply for either a Researcher permit or a Highly Skilled Migrant permit. 

Researcher permit 

A researcher permit falls under the Directive (EU) 2016/801 and is applicable for employees who will perform 0.5 FTE or more of research at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.  

Documents needed for the application of your researcher permit: 

• Copy of your passport (your signature must be on the passport as well) 
• A copy of your diploma. You should hold a doctoral degree or an appropriate higher education qualification. If a foreign document is written in a language other than English, French or German, you must provide a translation by a certified translator. Your local embassy/consulate can tell you where to find such a translator in your region. It is not necessary to legalise the translation of your diploma. 
• Antecedent's form. This will be supplied through our visa care system once you start the application process.  
•  HR VU Appendix (Guest) agreement form. This will also be supplied through our visa care system once you start the application process. You can complete this and submit onto visa care.  
• If you receive a salary from VU Amsterdam, you can just fill this in HR VU Appendix (Guest) agreement form. Please note that you must meet the minimum income requirements.  
• If you won’t receive a salary from VU Amsterdam, you will need to show proof of enough financial means. This can be done through a bank statement (not older than 3 months) a grant statement or through a sponsor.  
• Note: Additional documents are needed if we need to apply for your family's permits. Please refer to the section called “Visa application family members” 

Highly Skilled migrant 

The highly skilled migrant permit is applicable for employees of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam who either perform no research or perform less than 0.5 FTE of research.  

Documents needed for the application of your highly skilled migrant permit: 

• Copy of your passport (your signature must be on the passport as well) 
• A copy of your diploma. You should hold a doctoral degree or an appropriate higher education qualification. If a foreign document is written in a language other than English, French or German, you must provide a translation by a certified translator. Your local embassy/consulate can tell you where to find such a translator in your region. It is not necessary to legalise the translation of your diploma. 
• Antecedent's form. This will be supplied through our visa care system once you start the application process.  
• As you receive a salary from VU Amsterdam, you don't need to complete any other document. Please note that you must meet the minimum income requirements as set by the IND.  
• Note: Additional documents are needed if we need to apply for your family's permits. Please refer to the section called “Visa application family members”  

Family Members

If you, as a future employee or guest of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, wish to bring your partner or children with you to the Netherlands it is important for the International Office to know this before we start the immigration procedure. The International Office can assist you with the immigration procedure and apply for visas and residence permits for your family members on your behalf. 

You will need several documents, such as your marriage certificate if you are bringing a spouse and/or a birth certificate if you are bringing a child with you. In most, these documents will need to be legalised. Refer to the section called “Legalisation of documents” for more information, and make sure you start the legalisation process on time as the process can take a while.  

Please click here to find out if and what documents need to be legalised and the procedure to do this. 

Non-married couples may also initiate immigration procedures together. The International Office will provide you with all the necessary information, depending on your specific situation. 

Guest Agreements

If you plan on coming to the Netherlands as a guest of the Vrije Universiteit for more than 90 days, the person will need to be onboarded into the systems and we need to request a permit for you. Please refer to the other sections to determine the procedure and type of permit that applies to you. 

Student Assistants

International students with a non-EU nationality who will work for the university (usually) require a work permit from the UWV. It is therefore important to start onboarding in a timely manner because UWV has a statutory processing period of 5 weeks. Hence, please choose a realistic start date for the contract and take the 5-week processing period into account. If there are any doubts, please contact IO (immigration@vu.nl).  

Conditions regarding the work permit (TWV):  

• The student is at least 18 years old.  
• The student has a valid residence permit to study and is also registered for the current academic year.  
• Students may work a maximum of 16 hours a week or full-time in the months of June, July and August. This choice can be made only once a calendar year. 

Please be informed that:  

• The number of FTE cannot be changed throughout the contract. This is only possible after a new work permit application and approval of the UWV for the additional the hours.  
• The maximum number of 16 hours may not be exceeded (i.e. not an average of 16 hours a week). 
• Each new period is a new application, UWV does not grant an extension. The student's right to work ends on the last day of the work permit.  
• Students may only work if a work permit has been issued by the UWV; the faculty risks high fines if they do not comply with the regulations.  
• A work permit is bound to the employer. Should a student already have a part-time job for 16 hours with another employer, no other work permit can be issued. Only if this is withdrawn, IO can submit an application. 

Costs 

There are several costs involved in the process of applying for a permit.  

The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam covers the costs of your permit application (MVV and VVR). However, we do expect you to meet all the requirements and attend all the appointments, as the University will have to absorb the costs for this.  

Example of costs: 

• Researcher permit: € 210,00 
• Highly skilled migrant permit: € 350,00 
• Family permits: €70,00 per child, €210,00 for spouse/partner.   
• IN Amsterdam appointments: IN Amsterdam works with service fees that are waived for international researchers but failure to cancel on time may result in service fees up to 286 euros per person (excl. VAT).   

To apply for a permit or request an extension of a current permit, the employee must meet the minimum income requirements as set by the IND.   

In certain cases, the employee may fall under the reduced income requirements. (Ex: type of permit, depending on the function, if we are applying for a permit straight after an orientation year permit or after successfully completing a study) 

Important to note:  

The IND reviews the minimum income requirement every 6 months and may increase the figures accordingly.  

Our office performs a financial check every year. This is to ensure that a VU guest researchers still meets the minimum financial requirements. Please note we will be checking this against the newly imposed figures as set by the IND.  

Please inform the International Office of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam about your arrival date, so we can inform you about the required formalities and schedule an appointment for you at IN Amsterdam. IN Amsterdam provides a one-stop service for guests and employees of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 

Here you will be able to collect your residence permit and arrange your registration with the municipality. 

Appointments at IN Amsterdam 

If you plan on taking up residence in Amsterdam or one of the municipalities that fall under Amsterdam, we will assist you in making a reservation for your biometrics, BRP registration, and to pick up your permit.  

IN Amsterdam radius: Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Almere, Diemen, Haarlem, Hilversum, Haarlemmermeer and Velsen. 

Appointments outside of Amsterdam radius 

We unfortunately do not facilitate appointments for the IND lokets outside of the greater Amsterdam region. You can make an appointment directly via the following link: Online afsprakenplanner IND.

Please note the Rotterdam expat center and the Wageningen expat center charge a fee for making the biometric appointment and the appointment to pick up your permit. 

Biometrics 

The data from the biometrics is used to create your residence document. The following data is needed by the IND: photo, signature and/or fingerprints.  

Depending on the type of permit you will do your biometrics at the Dutch Representative in your country of origin, or directly in the Netherlands.  

BRP 

This is the Basisregistratie Personen or the Personal Records Database. The Personal Records Database (BRP) is a register of people who live or have lived in the Netherlands, or who are temporarily staying in the Netherlands. It may also include data of people who live outside the Netherlands or who don’t hold Dutch nationality. 

BSN number  

The BSN number (burgerservicenummer) is your unique Dutch citizen service number. You need a BSN number to work, open a bank account, receive your salary, to pay your taxes or to take out healthcare insurance.  

When you move to any city in the Netherlands from abroad for longer than 4 months, you need to register for a BSN number. When the staff immigration member makes an appointment for you at IN Amsterdam, they will also allocate you your BSN number. 

This is the same for the other municipalities in the Netherlands.  

RNI appointments 

Should you come to live and work in the Netherlands for less than 4 months you need to register with the RNI. For VU employees (except interns) we will be happy to facilitate the RNI appointment for you via IN Amsterdam. 

N.B. this is not applicable for interns. Interns must make an RNI appointment at any of the municipalities in the Netherlands. Click here for more information of where you can apply for the RNI appointment. 

You may have to provide the Dutch Immigration Authorities (IND), the Dutch Embassy or the Dutch municipal authorities with documents such as marriage or birth certificates. For instance, if you wish to bring your partner and children. Birth and marriage certificates will only be accepted when they are translated into Dutch, French, German or English by a certified translator, and when they are legalised by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can have your documents legalised at the Dutch Embassy. Please consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find an embassy near you.   

Legalisation is a procedure that serves to verify the authenticity of your documents. During this process, it will be confirmed that your documents were issued by an authorized official and that the signatures on the documents are genuine.  

If a foreign document has been legalised, the Dutch authorities will acknowledge that the document is legally valid in the Netherlands. A properly legalised document contains a minimum of three signatures and stamps, issued by the following authorities: 

1. The person or authority that issued the document (e.g. a municipal registrar). 
2. One or several higher authorities in the country of issue. The highest authority required to sign, and stamp is usually the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
3. The Dutch embassy or consulate in the country of issue. 

We recommend starting the legalisation process early. It may take several months to collect all the necessary stamps and signatures. If the country in which the document was issued has signed the Apostille Convention, the procedure is easier. In that case, your document does not require legalisation by the Dutch embassy or consulate. Affixing an apostille, issued by the designated authority in the country of issue, will suffice. 

Permit extension

Once you have agreed with your supervisor that your contract will be extended, your permit will also need to be extended. In order to initiate the process, we must first receive the extension task.  

The employee must initiate the extension process themselves in Success Factors. Please contact your supervisor and/or HR advisor who can explain in more detail how to do this.  

Once we receive the extension task, you will receive an email from our Visa Care system to log in and upload the documents needed.  

Changes in sponsorship

If you decide to take on a different role at another employer in the Netherlands, your supervisor must send us an off-boarding task. We will then deregister you with the IND. It is then your new employer's responsibility to request a change in sponsorship through the IND. 

Changes in purpose of stay

Should your position change within the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, it might affect the type of permit you have.  

Example: You are a PhD student on a Researcher's permit, but your role will change to that of Lecturer. Because you no longer perform more than 50% of research in your job, your permit will need to change to that of a knowledge migrant. You need to initiate the change in position yourself via Success Factors. Please inform us on time about this so we can initiate the process in our Visa Care system to amend your permit.  

Ending your contract

The following steps need to be undertaken should your contract end or you end your contract earlier than anticipated, and you will be leaving the Netherlands:  

• Depending on the situation your supervisor and HR must submit an off-boarding task for you. Please check with HR if this is needed. 
• You need to inform us accordingly (by email or by calling us) so that we can de-register you with the IND. 
• You will need to de-register yourself at your local town hall before leaving the Netherlands.  

• What are the waiting times at the IND?   The moment we submit a request for a permit the IND strives to give a reply within 3 weeks. However, waiting times at the IND can go up depending on the time of the year. The summer is a busy period, so make sure your supervisor starts on time with your onboarding and permit application.  
• What is a BRP? This is the Basisregistratie Personen or the Personal Records Database. The Personal Records Database (BRP) is a register of people who live or have lived in the Netherlands, or who are temporarily staying in the Netherlands. It may also include data of people who live outside the Netherlands or who don’t hold Dutch nationality. 
• Do I need to legalise my birth certificate? You do not need to bring a birth certificate when you register at IN Amsterdam and live in Amsterdam or any of the other municipalities that fall in the radius. If you register in any of the other municipalities in the Netherlands, you will need to bring a legalised birth certificate. The situation is however different for families, refer to the section “legalisation of documents”.  
• What is the difference between a visa (MVV) and a residence permit (VVR)? A long stay entry visa (MVV) is used to enter the Netherlands and a residence permit (VVR) is a document that gives you the right to stay here legally and looks similar to an ID card. Citizens of certain nationalities cannot just travel to the Netherlands; these nationalities require a visa sticker (MVV) in their passport which allows them to enter the Netherlands. A visa sticker is collected at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your home country (or a third-party country if there is no Dutch representation in your own country). Conversely, all non-EU citizens need a residence permit. This is an ID card which you will receive in the Netherlands. Please note that a long stay entry visa (MVV) is not the same as a short stay visa (VKV). While your nationality may be exempted from the VKV visa, this does not necessarily entail that you are exempted from a MVV visa as well (see section List of frequently used terms). 
• When can I start my permit application procedure? 3 months before that start date of your contract, any earlier and the IND will not accept the application. N.B. Make sure that your supervisor at VU Amsterdam onboards you first.  
• I want to apply for an orientation year visa. Do you help me apply for this? Unfortunately, we cannot help with this, you must apply for an orientation year visa yourself. You can find more information on how to apply for this by clicking here.   
• I want to apply for a short stay visa. Do you help me apply for this? Unfortunately, we cannot help with this, you must apply for a short stay visa yourself. You can find more information on how to apply for this by clicking here.     
• I qualify for permanent residence Do you help me apply for this? Unfortunately, we cannot help with this, you must apply for permanent residence yourself. You can find more information on how to apply for this by clicking here.   
• Is a Short Stay Visa and an MVV the same? No, they are two different things.  
• I am currently employed as a Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Can I accept another job with my current permit? As long as you keep a minimum of 0.5 FTE (50%) of research work at the Vrije Universiteit then you can accept another job.  
• I am currently employed as a Knowledge Migrant at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Can I accept another job with the same permit? No, this is unfortunately not possible. Your new employer needs to request a separate work permit for you.  

Books

• 'The low sky. Understanding the Dutch', Han van der Horst, ISBN 90 5594 199 9 
• 'Living in Holland', Marilyn Warman, ISBN 90 5464 033 2 
• 'The Holland Handbook', Stephanie Dijkstra, ISBN 978 94 6319 102 9
• 'The Xpat Journal. The Premier for Expatriates in the Netherlands' 
• 'How to be Dutch. The Quiz.' Greg Shapiro, ISBN 9789463190152 

Websites

• ACCESS
• Dutch News
• Expatica
• Euraxess
• INAmsterdam
• New in the Netherlands

The International Office of VU Amsterdam offers various services for its international guests and employees. These services include support in finding accommodation. Once your supervisor at VU Amsterdam registered you as employee, you will receive an offer letter in the form of an email. It will explain how to apply for accommodation via our International Office. If you do not receive this offer letter via email please contact us at accommodation@vu.nl and ask for the application form.

If you are looking for alternative accommodation, please be aware of the scams and never make payments before you see the room and checking the key is really opening your apartment’s door. For more information on scamming please click here. 

Short term accommodation

The accommodation services aim to over a ‘soft landing’ for international guests, staff members and (visiting) PhD students for their first half year in Amsterdam, before they search for their own accommodation. Depending on the availability, we can offer accommodation in Short Stay housing for a minimum period of one month and a maximum period of 6 months. This type of accommodation generally concerns complete furnished studios with private facilities.

VU Amsterdam has reserved a limited number of accommodations for prospective international staff with different housing providers. Unfortunately, we can only offer housing to around 50% of all incoming staff. We strongly recommend that you begin searching for housing on your own to improve your chances.

Housing Types
We offer housing for single occupants, or couples, for a maximum period of 6 months. We do not have family housing available.

An example of pricing: 

The apartments that we offer are from various social housing corporations in the Amsterdam area. Normally, Amsterdam residents have to wait an average of 15 years to be assigned this type of housing. With the social housing corporations we have arranged that we are able to assign a certain number of apartments to our international guests, staff members and (visiting) PhD students. However, since the Amsterdam area’s housing market is an overstretched market, we do not have an inexhaustible supply and therefore we can never guarantee housing.

Who can apply for accommodation?

All guests, staff members, interns and PhDs who have a courtesy or employment contract at VU Amsterdam (initiated by the supervisor of the department) and in case of a non EU citizen the Visa procedure has been approved (conditionally) will receive an invitation to apply for accommodation online via a google doc link.  You can only apply for accommodation from VU Amsterdam when you meet the following criteria:

• You have a non-Dutch nationality. Please note that when you have dual citizenship of the Netherlands and an EU/Non-EU country, you are not eligible for accommodation via us;
• You are not living in the Netherlands already. Our services are meant to provide a so-called soft landing for new incoming staff members. When you already found accommodation on your own or received accommodation from us before, it is not possible to apply again.
• If you are a single person or in a couple, then you are eligible for one of our housing options. We do not have family housing available.

You will automatically receive an invitation to apply for housing, this is part of the employment or courtesy contract process. Once your VU Amsterdam supervisor / promotor has initiated the employment contract process in your personal dashboard on vu.nl, your file will also be sent to the international office and then you will receive information regarding our accommodation services. We advise the department to initiate the process a long time before your arrival.

This means that after that you will receive an application form (Google doc) by e-mail. We advise you to send in your application form as soon as possible to have the best chance to get housing upon arrival.

VU Amsterdam recognises the importance to support new international staff in making the move to take up a position at VU Amsterdam. Changing work location is both a practical matter as a major life change, often affecting partners and families too. The university offers several services for senior researchers to support them before and after arrival at VU Amsterdam, also via the Relocation Advisors. More information can be found on the Relocation webpage.

Books

• 'The low sky. Understanding the Dutch', Han van der Horst, ISBN 90 5594 199 9 
• 'Living in Holland', Marilyn Warman, ISBN 90 5464 033 2 
• 'The Holland Handbook', Stephanie Dijkstra, ISBN 978 94 6319 102 9
• 'The Xpat Journal. The Premier for Expatriates in the Netherlands' 
• 'How to be Dutch. The Quiz.' Greg Shapiro, ISBN 9789463190152 

Websites

• ACCESS
• Dutch News
• Expatica
• Euraxess
• INAmsterdam
• New in the Netherlands

Before you start working at VU Amsterdam there are some practical matters that needs to be taken care of. 

Here you find information about what you need to know before you move to The Netherlands, once you arrive and what needs to be arranged. You can also find more information on the below practical matters here. 

Before you move to The Netherlands

Moving to another country might be a new experience for you. Besides dealing with immigration issues and finding accommodation , there are a few things to consider. Please find a useful relocation checklist on IN Amsterdam.

Once you arrive in The Netherlands

Please inform the International Office of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam about your arrival date, so we can inform you about the required formalities and schedule an appointment for you at IN Amsterdam. IN Amsterdam provides a one-stop service for guests and employees of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Here you will you will be able to collect your residence permit and arrange your registration with the municipality. 

Arrange insurance

It is important that you are properly insured during your stay in the Netherlands. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam requires all incoming international employees and guests to be properly insured by an internationally recognised insurance agency for the duration of their stay (this is also required by Dutch law). Your insurance policy should cover all costs related to sudden illness, accident or death. 

Finances

Once you have been appointed, there are some financial matters you need to be aware of, such as Dutch taxes and social security, but also the need for a bank account. 

We know that moving to The Netherlands has a huge impact on a family. Here you find all information related to our Partner & spouse network, childcare facilities, schools and education,  childcare benefits and much more.

Partner & spouse network

It is with great pleasure to welcome all partners and spouses of International Employees at VU Amsterdam to our network.  We are currently developing a programme and network to support accompanying partners after your arrival in a new country, city and culture. We aim to support you in both your professional and social aspirations. 

If you have further questions, ideas or would like to contribute to the programme, please do not hesitate to contact us via relocations@vu.nl. 

Childcare facilities

The general term for daycare in the Netherlands is kinderopvang, which covers options such as host parents, daycare facilities and nursery school. Please keep in mind that the demand for daycare facilities in the Netherlands is high and that it is therefore not unusual to encounter waiting lists of 6 months for certain facilities.

• Daycare
  Children up to four years old can be looked after in a daycare centre or crèche. Depending on the specific daycare center, they have special groups for babies and toddlers or combine the two groups. Most daycare facilities are open from 08.00 – 18.00 an offer all-day care. Some have longer opening hours and offer more flexible child care solutions. All childcare centers must comply with a strict standard of quality according to Dutch law. 
• Babysitters or Hostparents (gastouders)
  You can also wish to have your child looked after by a babysitter. In this case, a babysitter who is registered with an agency would take care of your child in their home or yours. Babysitters are only allowed to care for a maximum of four children. The agency selects their employees and inspects places of care for safety and hygiene frequently. 
• Buitenschoolse opvang - BSO (After School Hours Care)
  The BSO take care of children in the age from 4-12 after school hours and during holidays. Your child's school can help you find local ones.

For more information please see the Euraxess website or the website or IN Amsterdam

Schools and education 

In the Netherlands children have the obligation to go to school when they are 5 years old, but they can start school at the age of 4. They first go to a Primary School (group 1-8) and then they will continue their education at a school for Secondary Education.

• Primary School
  Children in the Netherlands generally attend primary school (basisschool) from age 4 to age 12. The Netherlands is renowned for having a strong, qualitative and well-balanced education system. Amsterdam offers a variety of schools: regular state schools, international schools, Montessori schools, religious schools, etc. It is recommendable to look for a school soon after arriving in the Netherlands. Before arriving it might be useful to already get informed on how to choose a school, how to apply and check primary schools (currently only available in Dutch unfortunately) in the area where you will be living. 
  Children between four and twelve years old, new to the Netherlands and not speaking Dutch can join the so-called newcomers’ classes. These classes have a program to learn Dutch and to get acquainted with Dutch culture. The aim is to let the children enter regular or bilingual education after one year.  
• Secondary School
  There are four branches of secondary education. A report from the primary school will advise which branch best suits the child. In addition to this report, children undergo a test in group 8 to assess their aptitude. This usually is the CITO test (CITO-toets). The results of the test and the recommendation, as well as pupils’ and parents’ own preferences, determine the type of curriculum the child will follow at secondary school. 
  
  If a child is (relatively) new to the Netherlands and would normally go to secondary school, but his or her level of Dutch is not sufficient, the child can attend an international bridging year. This bridging year is known as kopklas and takes place between primary and secondary school. Pupils are enrolled in the kopklas via their primary school but follow the secondary school timetable, keeping in touch with their peers. You can gain more information about this international bridging year at the primary/secondary school your child will attend. 

For more information please see the website of IN Amsterdam

Childcare benefits

Everyone who is considered an ordinarily resident, or who works in the Netherlands has a right to Child Benefit (Kinderbijslag) for children (including step- and foster-children) under the age of 18. This benefit is meant to allay the expenses of care for a child, such as clothing, sports activities and so forth.  Childcare allowance, is a contribution of the government towards the cost of childcare facilities, and is only applicable if you work in the Netherlands on the basis of an employment contract.

Please see the website of IN Amsterdam for more information.

Pregnancy and maternity leave

If you are an employee of VU,  you have the right to a total of 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave. The partner of the mother has the right to one week of parental leave once the baby is born (as of January 1st, 2019).

Pregnancy leave starts 6 to 4 weeks before the expected date of birth. If you choose to start your pregnancy leave 6 weeks before the baby is due, you have a total of 10 weeks of maternity leave (16-6=10). If you choose to start your pregnancy leave 4 weeks before the baby is due, you have a total of 12 weeks of maternity leave (16-4=12). The choice is yours.

It is wise not to wait too long before informing your employer about your pregnancy, as this allows your employer to take measures if necessary, such as finding a temporary replacement. You are expected to inform your employer that you are pregnant when you are 16 weeks pregnant.

Most women in the Netherlands remain under the care of a midwife (verloskundige) during pregnancy and childbirth. If you want to go straight to a gynecologist rather than a midwife, a referral from your GP is obligatory.

In the Netherlands, home births are relatively popular. If you'd prefer not to have a home birth, you can always choose to have your baby at a hospital. However, some insurance companies will not cover a hospital birth unless there is a medically compelling reason to do so. Be sure to ask about the cover provided by your health insurance policy first.

Please find more information on Expatica.com

Welcome event for new employees

Welcome to VU Amsterdam! The board of VU Amsterdam finds it important that new employees do not only get to know their direct working environment, but also get acquainted with VU Amsterdam as a whole. Therefore, eight times a year, the university organises a welcome event for new staff members. The event consists of an informal lunch meeting, specific information provision for international staff and a welcome speech by a member of the University Board. 

Workshops & events

Throughout the year, we schedule various workshops for international staff (and accompanying partners). Are you interested to participate in one of these workshops or do you have suggestions for any other topics, please feel free to let us know.

Welcome to the VU Amsterdam International Staff network, a network for all international VU employees that wish to meet, network and learn from each other. The VU international staff network provides a social, cultural and informational meeting platform all year round. The International Staff Network serves as the perfect place to gain knowledge, to exchange mutual experiences and to connect with international employees whether you are a newcomer or have already spent some years at VU Amsterdam. 

The International Staff Network as community builder provides a digital platform, as well as a physical Global Room where staff can meet and interact. Staff can initiate events, workshops and Q&A sessions on relevant topics. 
Want to join? Please go to our VU International Staff-group at meetup.com and register. 
Once joined, you will get access to our Global Room. You can join but also initiate events yourself that serve the international community at VU Amsterdam.

Once you have been appointed, your dashboard on vu.nl acts as the first port of call for information, including almost all HR issues. If you have any additional questions, the HR Service Desk is at your service on working days.

T 020 598 2882 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM) 
E servicedesk.hrm@vu.nl

Books

• 'The low sky. Understanding the Dutch', Han van der Horst, ISBN 90 5594 199 9 
• 'Living in Holland', Marilyn Warman, ISBN 90 5464 033 2 
• 'The Holland Handbook', Stephanie Dijkstra, ISBN 978 94 6319 102 9
• 'The Xpat Journal. The Premier for Expatriates in the Netherlands' 
• 'How to be Dutch. The Quiz.' Greg Shapiro, ISBN 9789463190152 

Websites

• ACCESS
• Dutch News
• Expatica
• Euraxess
• INAmsterdam
• New in the Netherlands