Expats & new international staff

When preparing to come to Wageningen, housing is an essential matter that needs to be arranged. Because Wageningen is located in one of the most popular regions in the Netherlands, finding an affordable place to live can be difficult. Because of this we urge you to start your search as soon as possible, and several months prior to your arrival.

Some popular websites where houses are advertised are Funda, Pararius, and Short Stay Wageningen. Furthermore, you can check the information from the Dutch government about housing.

Finally, your manager can decide to use the Welcome Center Food Valley if further assistance is needed. They offer a home search program with three different tracks.

For children under 5 years old, there are several types of care. If you make use of them, you will often be entitled to government benefits that are described at the website of the tax office. At the WUR campus there is also a daycare center called Prins Vleermuis.

The Netherlands has an excellent education system that is open for pupils who come from abroad. In this brief video, the system with all its different options is explained, and also you can read more detailed information. When children are entering the Dutch school system, they are offered assistance to learn Dutch and make sure the transition is as smooth and efficient as possible.

For children entering secondary education, they can start at an International Transition Class, where they learn Dutch before entering regular classes. To make the transition easier, it is recommended, though not required, to take preparatory online classes in Dutch before coming to the Netherlands. Though not common for most newcomers to the Netherlands, one can also choose to make use of one of the International Schools.

Finally, as for entering university, the wide array of bachelors and masters in English makes it easy for students from abroad to start.

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, but the Dutch are taught English from a very young age. A recent study even found that the Netherlands are home to the best non-native English speakers in the world. Therefore, it is fairly easy for expats and new staff from foreign countries, to move to the Netherlands and still be able to communicate with the Dutch.

Want to learn Dutch or improve your English?

Wageningen in’to Languages offers a variety of language courses at levels from absolute beginner to academic writing.

• Check the language courses at: Wageningen In'to Languages

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) offers its employees attractive terms and conditions of employment. You can specify your own employment benefits via a specific model with several exchange options. For example, it is possible to choose for more vacation days, a bicycle or electric scooter to commute or exchange your vacation days for more money in December. Furthermore, we offer flexible working hours and there is plenty of room for personal development, opportunities for collective insurance and a good pension for a later phase in life.

• Read more about Salary, tax and pension

Banking

When you are employed in the Netherlands, or when you receive a scholarship and will stay for a longer period, you might consider opening a bank account in the Netherlands. In Wageningen, you will find several banks that will gladly assist you in opening an account. When you want to open a bank account, you must bring with you:

• Your passport with visa sticker.
• Your invitation letter of your host organisation, or your employment contract.
• Your rental or sub-rental contract.
• Your BSN number.

Insurance

If you are in paid employment with a Dutch employer, you must have basic health insurance. On the website EurAxess the Netherlands you will find more information for expats and new international staff, about the Dutch healthcare system.

If you do not qualify for the Dutch social security system and thus cannot apply for Dutch basic health insurance, you will need to find another solution to make sure you have adequate insurance whilst staying in the Netherlands. The immigration experts of Welcome Center Food Valley can arrange insurances for you (and your family members) with one of these companies.

Insurance checker

Each country has it’s own way of dealing with unexpected or unpleasant costs. The Netherlands has a highly developed insurance culture, in which everyone is expected to be appropriately insured. Nuffic has developed the insurance checklist to provide students and researchers an insight into the possible costs you might want to be insured for.

• Insurance Checklist

The Dutch healthcare system is likely to be different from the healthcare system in your home country. Here you can find more about the Dutch healthcare system:

• Wikipedia: Healthcare in the Netherlands
• Expatica: Healthcare & Health Insurance in the Netherlands

PhD students

PhD candidates will have to complete all the registration related steps outlined in the PhD timetable to be fully registered.

Staff

On the first day after arrival you will need to do the following:

• You must register at your department and bring along a passport photo
• You need to sign a work agreement and, if applicable, a confidentiality agreement, depending on whether you have paid employment or if you are here as a guest without a work agreement
• If you have paid employment, you will have an appointment with a personnel advisor, who will inform you about the most important rights and duties with respect to your work and provide you with some essential information about, for example, pension rights, holidays, and what to do in case of illness. If you have any questions about your contract, you may ask them during this appointment.

Wageningen University & Research offers introduction activities for new PhD candidates and staff members. We want to welcome you all! Get informed and have fun, for a good start at Wageningen University & Research.

Welcome Center Food Valley (WCFV) welcomes expats to the Netherlands. The Dual Career Program enables their loved ones to approach the job market with confidence. To help the partners to have a happy landing & living, a career helps to feel part of the Dutch society and to feel at ease in our small country. Read more at WCFW: