Reply to: Amsterdam

[norrahe]

First speak to your agency, some of them are used to dealing with expats and can advise on what you need to do.

If they are unforthcoming with said advise then have a look at the expat centre link I provided earlier.

The BSN/SOFI number has to be applied for in the area you live in. If you are going to spend less time than 3 months in NL then you can get a SOFI ( not BSN) number from the tax office (Belastingdienst), if you plan to spend longer than that then you will need to get a BSN number which you can do by registering at your local municipality.
Before you register you do need an address, as they will not register you till you have one.

the BSN number is crucial, as you will not be able to get a bank account without one. If you are staying in A'dam then you can survive on your credit card, but you will find outside of A'dam very little people take credit cards (only maestro or chipknip), as I found out when I first moved over here.

If you are going to stay resident in the UK and intend to use your UK ltd, then make sure you speak with your accountant or a Dutch tax adviser( I've also provided a link to someone I use over here, and they have been really helpful) to make sure you have the correct administration set up. You will need to pay tax in NL from day 1.

Good luck!

[tarbera]

Zuid

A number of UK contractors stay in the Hotel CitizenM City (round the corner from Zuid) about 90Eur a night so quite cheap compared to the rest.

[Catatonic]

Burger Service Nummer (Dutch 'Burger' = citizen) Some more info : BSN / sofi / tax number

I used to be work for a company in that area as well, the nearest city district office will be in President Kennedylaan IIRC, pretty close to the RAI (convention center). You can go to the Expat Center at the WTC near the Amsterdam Zuid station and ask them about all the formalities.

Also if you actually rent a place and/or register yourself with the city, you will get bills for council's tax (quite low) and another for maintenance of water bodies etc - these will vary based on your location, with the Centrum being more costly and the Zuid being slightly less.

If you get to live at a bit of a distance from the office, then look for the sterabonnement (star-something, contract i think) from the Amsterdam transport authority and load it into a OV card - this will save you some money if you like to explore the city on your own time.

Be open to living in nearby cities/towns as well where rent will be cheaper but you pay the difference in time/fares to the NS - some folks commute from Leiden a nice uni town, Haarlem (mixed views) etc

Thanks for the advise on the BSN/SOFI number and the office details - very helpful. I vaguely remember Amsterdam from a few stag weekends and think I'd rather find somewhere in Amsterdam as seem to remember most of the locals had bikes and think the trams were good too so getting around didn't appear to be an issue.

[petergriffin]

Just adding to a previous post : you would need a BSN number.

You can apply (and should have applied) for a sofinummer while in Britain by just writing a letter to the Belastingdiest central office in Heerlen.

Another piece of advice: every district in the N. has a designated solicitor that can give free legal advice, usually an hour a week or twice a week. I can't remember the name of this scheme but ask around. Don't be deterred by the fact it's free because it's usually good.

[theflamingduck]

Burger Service Nummer (Dutch 'Burger' = citizen) Some more info : BSN / sofi / tax number

I used to be work for a company in that area as well, the nearest city district office will be in President Kennedylaan IIRC, pretty close to the RAI (convention center). You can go to the Expat Center at the WTC near the Amsterdam Zuid station and ask them about all the formalities.

Also if you actually rent a place and/or register yourself with the city, you will get bills for council's tax (quite low) and another for maintenance of water bodies etc - these will vary based on your location, with the Centrum being more costly and the Zuid being slightly less.

If you get to live at a bit of a distance from the office, then look for the sterabonnement (star-something, contract i think) from the Amsterdam transport authority and load it into a OV card - this will save you some money if you like to explore the city on your own time.

Be open to living in nearby cities/towns as well where rent will be cheaper but you pay the difference in time/fares to the NS - some folks commute from Leiden a nice uni town, Haarlem (mixed views) etc

[Catatonic]

Expat linky

You may require a SOFI number an accountant

Or what a SOFI number is?

[Catatonic]

Thanks for the feedback. The client is based in the ZuiderAmstel district. I'm currently sourcing a payroll company. I think the best idea, as suggested, will be to ask colleagues when the contract commences in terms of finding a flat and stay in a hotel for the first few weeks.

Not sure what this BSN number is?

[theflamingduck]

Just adding to a previous post : you would need a BSN number. The Expat center will help you with that but according to a contractor who used to work with me, he went to the Belastingdienst office near the Sloterdijk station (Amsterdam) and got it sorted out himself and said they were quite helpful.

I am not sure if you would be eligible for the 30% ruling (which reduces tax quite a bit, if you plan to pay any in the Netherlands) but might be worth checking out.

To get a BSN number, you might have to register yourself with the City council, you can do that in the various district offices (stadsdeel).

Housing is a nightmare though, you might be better off renting a short-term flat/flat-share and then look around or ask colleagues if any of their friends/relatives/acquaintance are looking to sublet. If you use an agent to find a place, the standard agency fee in the Netherlands is one month's rent (what I've been told, I found one thanks to a friendly colleague)

Also buy/rent/take your bike and a whole lot of locks !

HTH.

[northernladuk]

What kind of crappy advice is that ????

You could neg rep him but he only return the favour.

and I can advise, there are a million of us working in Amsterdam

Isn't much better advice either.

[TestMangler]

Yes, as long as you can shell lots of money. If you don't mind sharing a flat with some Dutch nymphomaniac student you'll find many many adverts at the central Openbare Bibliotheek.

Don't spend all of your money on drugs and prossies.

What kind of crappy advice is that ????

[Bunk]

Don't spend all of your money in drugs and prossies.

Very Freudian.

[tarbera]

What location is the contract

This week I secured a 6 month contract in Amsterdam. Are there any other contractors on here working there? Any advise on accommodation and is it easy to rent a flat? Any other bits of advise would also be helpful. My nearest airport is Manchester so currently looking into flights as I imagine will be best to book in advance.

What location is the contract ? and I can advise, there are a million of us working in Amsterdam

Have you got your payroller sorted out.?

[norrahe]

Expat linky

Also make sure you you either have a payroll company sorted out over here or have spoken with an accountant regarding using your UK limited as there will be a lot of admin to fill in.

Flights book in advance, well in advance.

You may require a SOFI number - again consult an accountant

[northernladuk]

This week I secured a 6 month contract in Amsterdam. Are there any other contractors on here working there? Any advise on accommodation and is it easy to rent a flat? Any other bits of advise would also be helpful. My nearest airport is Manchester so currently looking into flights as I imagine will be best to book in advance.

You could of course try searching the forum. There are a lot of questions about Amsterdam and Netherlands.

[petergriffin]

Any advise on accommodation and is it easy to rent a flat?

Yes, as long as you can shell lots of money. If you don't mind sharing a flat with some Dutch nymphomaniac student you'll find many many adverts at the central Openbare Bibliotheek.

Any other bits of advise would also be helpful.

Don't spend all of your money in drugs and prossies.