A finance career in the Netherlands

International finance talent acquisition

To ensure we can meet our clients' growing demand for talented finance professionals in a candidate short market, we are continiously looking to expand our network with international finance talent. One way we do this is by visiting countries to explore the finance talent pool on site. Last month our recruitment consultants went to South Africa. They came back with over one hundred suitable candidates with experience as financial accountant, senior financial accountant, controller or a position in a financial Shared Service Center.

Are you a finance professional and ready for an international move? Take a look at what a finance career in the Netherlands has to offer and contact us for a chat to discuss your options.

A finance career in the Netherlands

Robert Walters specialises in the recruitment of highly educated finance professionals for companies across the Netherlands. Our clients range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Lifestyle in the Netherlands

Work life balance is very important in the Netherlands. A lot of companies these days are very proactive toward flexible working, which means working from home for one or more days per week or renegotiating contracts about working hours if you or your partner is expecting. Read more about working hours in the Netherlands.

A good work life balance leaves time for sports. For every three people in the Netherlands at least one is an active member of a sports club. Health and sports are very important in the Dutch culture, you can see proof of it by how many people are riding their bikes everyday to work.

Dutch nature is beautiful, and always just around the corner. Contrary to what you might have heard, The Netherlands is not flat everywhere. You can find pretty little towns scattered around the country, mixed with scenic views of green fields with cows and canals.

Housing

Three of the country's major cities are Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. We have offices in each of these cities. They offer many job opportunities, and an international scene that makes it easy to fit in. Amsterdam is the most cosmopolitan of the three, being the capital. The city is known for its narrow streets and canal houses. Rotterdam has the biggest port of Europe and is a very modern city. Eindhoven is situated more into the countryside. The nickname of this city is Brainport, as it is home to a lot of tech companies. It offers a more family-oriented environment but as it is a university city still has an attractive night life.

Find rooms & appartments in the Netherlands.

Culture

The Dutch culture has a rich history, and a lot of museums and art galleries to prove it. Only in Amsterdam you already have 75 museums. The 'Rijksmuseum’, ‘Stedelijk Museum’, ‘Van Gogh Museum’ and the ‘Anne Frank House’ are the four most popular ones, and well known around the globe.

Have a look at other attractions & sightseeing in the Netherlands.

Safety

The Netherlands is a very safe place to live. No go areas are non existent. Children can play on the street without parental supervision, and you will see them on their bikes going to school by themselves. This caters for a very relaxed lifestyle.

Transport

The biggest form of transport in the Netherlands for short distance (you will probably already have guessed it) is the bicycle. 27% of all trips are by bicycle, and some people own more than one bike. For longer transport the car is the most commonly used. However, not everyone in the Netherlands owns a car since the public transport is very easy to use, accessible and safe. The train is a popular means of communication and even small towns have a train station.

Visa

If you are planning to come to the Netherlands, you need to apply for a 'highly skilled migrant visa'. A Master degree or CA level education is required to apply for this visa. For further questions about visa applications we advise you to contact the Dutch Immigration Service (IND). The website www.iamexpat.nl will probably also answer a lot of your questions.

Fun facts about the Netherlands

1 in 5

of the Dutch population is foreign. There is a vibrant expat community
25%

More than a quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level
9 in 10

The Netherlands has the highest English-proficiency in the world: around 9 in 10 people speak English
1.83m

Dutch people are the tallest in the world. The average height of Dutch men is 1.83m
80%

of the world's flower bulbs come from the Netherlands

A word from our candidates

Mack Patterson moved from South Africa to Amsterdam and currently works as a Management Information and Annual Reporting Specialist at InsingerGilissen Bankiers.

Mack: "I have found that The Netherlands is strongly geared towards making the transition of expats seamless. That combined with the ease of language, efficient public transport and vibrant Amsterdam lifestyle has aided in making this an incredible experience. With Amsterdam being a cosmopolitan city, I’ve easily been able to start a new chapter, make connections and feel home, away from home."

Contact us

Frans Kools worked at Staples Europe for 10 years when the company was split up. His position as HR director expired, giving him time to think about his next move.

Tom Touber gained over 30 years of experience in various c-level roles. In addition, Tom coached professional sailing teams in the "Volvo Ocean Race," the champions league of the sailing world.

Pim van Stolk graduated in 1981, followed by a successful career in finance. In 2020, his retirement was approaching, but Pim was not finished.

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