Finding a home

Renting
Check with your firm whether they want to act as a guarantor for your contract
It is standard to pay two ot three months` deposit
It is possible that you have to pay an extra first month to the landlord
It is standard to pay a month`s rent to the agent as a fee
Furnished means that you only have to bring your clothing and/or some ornament, semi-furnished means that the basic kitchen equipment, carpets and curtains are present and unfurnished means there is nothing in the property, not even flooring

Buying
You can lay claim to a mortgage when you are: a resident in the Netherlands for a period of at least five years and you have to be in permanent, full-time employment or be self-employed.

The associated costs of buying a property are around 10-12 percent of the price and include 6 percent tax, notary fees, house registration costs, estate agent fees and mortgage administration fees.

NB Although verbal agreements are not binding, be cautious as to what you agree to verbally

Open a bank account
"In general, the banks are efficiently and professionally run. They would be. The Dutch would have it no other way."

What do you need?
Everyone: a valid passport + proof of residency
non-EU citizens: proof of registration of the IND as well.

Links:
ABN AMRO
0900 00 24
www.abnamro.nl

ING Bank
0800 70 11
www.ing.nl

Postbank
0900 19 58
www.postbank.nl

Fortis Bank
0900 81 72
www.fortis.com

Rabobank
030 2 16 00 00
www.rabobank.nl

Make sure you have an insurance

House
If you own a house, make sure you have a homeowner's insurance on the building. A standard policy covers fire, flood, storm, and theft.
If you rent a home, make sure you know the details of your landlord's insurance covering damage.

Contents of your home
Insure your belongings with a contents insurance.

Car
"Driving in Holland can be positively bewildering. But do not be dismayed. You are not an inferior driver, you have simply missed some elementary unwritten rules of the road."

Insure your car with an all risk insurance. Then you have an (at least) third-party insurance for your car (which you are obliged to), an insurance against fire, theft and damage and/or injury to yourself and your vehicle as well.

For advice, call the Union of Insurance Companies: +31 70 3 33 87 77