We create

team spirit

The Netherlands

General information

The Netherlands is situated in Western Europa. But also, the islands Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten in the Caribbean Sea belong to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There are also the special communities Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba called the Caribbean Netherlands.
The capital is Amsterdam, but the parliament and government are settled in The Hague. Around 25% of the country is below the sea level. However, the country is protected by 3000km dikes. 1  2  3  4

The Netherlands is a founding member of the EU, part of the Eurozone and as well as being a part of the Schengen Area and the trilateral Benelux Union. The prime minister is Mark Rutte and the King of the Netherlands is Willem-Alexander. The country has an area of 42 thousand km², and around 17 million inhabitants are living there. The four biggest cities are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. In Rotterdam, there is the largest port in Europe. 2  5  6  7  8

 

Leisure

Leisure is an important point in a new neighborhood! Here you meet people, and you can discuss your new life.

More about Leisure in the Netherlands

Living

You want to move? You want to rent or buy a house? Any daily life questions? In need of a babysitter? You want to get around? We can give you the first answers.

More about Living in the Netherlands

Work

The work environment is certainly different in The Netherlands. We give you tips and explain the basics. Register at our job exchange www.germanexpats.info. Maybe you will find your dream job.

More about Work in the Netherlands

GerMaps

Are you looking for a German speaking doctor? Or a baker with German bread? Then you are exactly at the right place. Be it a German school, a good dentist or ”German” food, we are always happy to help.

More about GerMaps

Fun facts

  • There are more bikes in Holland than inhabitants. In Holland, there are around 17 million inhabitants and around 22,5 million bikes. 9
  • Around 355 000 Germans are living in the Netherlands. 104 000 of them are 'First Generation Germans'; they are not born in the Netherlands. 10
  • Why is the national colour orange? It’s the color of the royal family. Willem of Orange is the forefather of the royal family. 11
  • The Netherlands is famous for tulips. But did you know tulips are originally from Turkey? There is a legend that it was a present from the Turkish sultan to a Dutch nobleman. 12
  • The Netherlands was the first country which legalized gay marriage. This happened in 2001.13
  • Putting the flag out and hanging your child’s school bag on the pole is a sign that they have passed their high school exams! You will see this all over Holland around the second week of June.
  • Have you heard about Suriname? It was a colony from the Netherlands. The official language there is still Dutch. People from Suriname belong to one of the biggest immigration groups in the Netherlands.14
  • According to a study, people living in the Netherlands are the healthiest in the world. 15
  • The Netherlands is a very low and flat country. The only height constructions are bridges, some buildings, and in the South, the Vaalserberg (322,4m, MASL). Dutch people then often are talking about mountains.
    Note: The highest point of the Netherlands is with 877 meters of Mount Scenery on the Caribbean island Saba! 2  16

Some impressions

Section The Netherlands

Meet the Germans

We started Meet the Germans in the neighbouring country of Germany. Currently, we are mostly active in and around Utrecht. We are also interested in other parts of the Netherlands; perhaps you want to support us? If you are interested, please send us a message.

Founded
2013
Spoken Languages
German, English, Dutch
Ambassador
3
Volunteer
2
Happy people
500+

your 'dutch'

team

500+

Happy people

535

Cups of Coffee

>250

Acitivities

3

Ambassadors

2

Volunteers

Join our Team

Apply Now


References:
1 Rijksoverheid (2017). Caribisch deel van het Koninkrijk. Retrieved on May 18, from https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/caribische-deel-van-het-koninkrijk
2 Landenweb (2017). Nederland. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from https://www.landenweb.nl/nederland/
3 Geschiedenis van Zuid-Holland (2017) Den Haag, bestuurlijk centrum sinds de middeleeuwen. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from https://geschiedenisvanzuidholland.nl/thema/den-haag-bestuurlijk-centrum-sinds-de-middeleeuwen
4 Stowa (2017). Deltafact. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://deltaproof.stowa.nl/pdf/Deltadijk?rId=2
5 Europa Nu (2017). Schengenlanden. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from https://www.europa-nu.nl/id/vh7tltw4kdtf/schengenlanden
6 Auswärtiges Amt (2017). Niederlande. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Laender/Niederlande.html
7 cbs (2017). Grote steden groeien door geboorte en immigratie. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2017/01/2016-grote-steden-groeien-door-geboorten-en-immigratie
8 Port of Rotterdam (2017). Andere havens. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from https://www.portofrotterdam.com/nl/de-haven/haven-feiten-en-cijfers/andere-havens
9 Bovagrai (2017). Mobiliteit in cijfers, tweewieler 2016-2017. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://bovagrai.info/tweewieler/2016/media/Mobiliteit-in-Cijfers-Tweewielers-2016-Webversie.pdf
10 cbs (2017). CBS database Bevolking; generatie, geslacht, leeftijd en migratieachtergrond, 1 januari. Retrieved on March 21, 2018, from https://www.cbs.nl/
11 holland-ratgeber (2017). Warum sind Holländer orange? Oranje?. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://www.holland-ratgeber.de/warum-sind-hollaender-orange-oranje/
12 Tulpen (2017). Een stukje geschiedenis. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://www.tulpen.nl/kinderen/geschiedenis
13 Het homohuwelijk (2017). De geschiedenis van het homohuwelijk. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://www.hethomohuwelijk.nl/trouwen/informatie/geschiedenis-van-het-homohuwelijk
14 CBS (2016). Bevolking naar migratieachtergrond. Retrieved on March 20, 2018, from https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/achtergrond/2016/47/bevolking-naar-migratieachtergrond
15 cheatsheet (2014). Why the Netherlands is the healthiest country in the world. Retrieved on May 18, 2017, from http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/why-the-netherlands-is-the-healthiest-country-in-the-world.html/?a=viewall
16 Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland (30.10.2017). Caribisch Nederland in Beeld. Retrieved on November 14, 2020, from https://www.rijksdienstcn.com/documenten/brochures/infrastructuur-milieu/caribisch-nederland-in-beeld/caribisch-nederland-in-beeld/caribisch-nederland-in-beeld