When looking for health insurance in the Netherlands, most people go directly to a comparison website and sign up individually. However, there’s another option many people – especially newly arrived immigrants – don’t know about: the collectieve zorgverzekering (collective health insurance). In some cases, it can save you money or give you access to additional
One of the first things you discover when you arrive in the Netherlands is that insurance is a normal part of daily life. The Dutch take them out almost instinctively. But for someone coming from LATAM, where insurance was often a luxury or simply didn’t exist in the same way, the number of options can
Many couples with kids in the Netherlands wonder if it makes sense for both parents to keep working. We break down the real numbers: subsidies, taxes, and what is actually left at the end of the month.
Is It Worth Working If You Have Kids in the Netherlands? The Real Numbers Read More »
When you are an employee in the Netherlands and you get sick, your salary continues: the law obliges your employer to pay you for up to two years. But when you are self-employed (ZZP’er), that safety net disappears. If you get injured, fall ill, or suffer from a burn-out and cannot work, your income stops
When you become self-employed (ZZP’er) in the Netherlands, the part that causes the most apprehension is taxes. The good news: the Dutch system treats the self-employed quite well thanks to a series of deductions that reduce what you pay. The less good news: you need to understand how VAT and income tax declarations work to
If you are going to work for yourself in the Netherlands, your first official step is to register with the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, KVK). This registration officially makes you a self-employed person (ZZP’er) and, surprisingly, it’s one of the simplest procedures you’ll do here. I’ll explain the complete process, step by step,
More and more Latin Americans in the Netherlands are taking the leap to work for themselves: designers, programmers, translators, care workers, construction workers, caterers. Becoming a sole trader here—what they call a ZZP’er (zelfstandige zonder personeel, self-employed without employees)—is surprisingly straightforward administratively, but there are several things you should understand before starting to avoid nasty
How to become a sole trader (ZZP) in the Netherlands: complete guide 2026 Read More »
If you have been living in the Netherlands for a while and have a health insurance policy (zorgverzekering), it is likely that you have heard of the term eigen risico but still do not fully understand what it means or how it impacts your wallet. Don’t worry: this is one of the concepts in the
