Reply to: going dutch

[jenever]

I worked in Amsterdam for three years and really loved the city and the experience.

The law there means you have to run your own Dutch company (which I did) or go through a management company which will charge 3-500E a month.

Go the management company route, it was a costly mistake not to because the accountant has to deal with every trivial matter if you do not speak Dutch - and they make a killing out of it.

Make sure you get your contract while in the UK as foreign sourced professsionals are entitled to a rebate of tax on the first 30% of their income.

[Hart-floot]

Worst place I have ever worked, the accommodation was not difficult to find but it was never really that clean or it was dark and dingy. I spent most of my time being stopped by Brits asking for directions to the red light district.

With all the derision made of British food around the world I would have to say that Dutch food is far far worse.

It looks like a place to visit for weekends only - no more.

Lived and worked there for many years. Accomodation cheaper than London but can be difficult too find. Avoid the Bijl!

I ended up living in one of the other Raanstad cities and commuting on the train to Amsterdam. Utrecht, Haarlem & Leiden are cool places to live and far nicer than Amsterdam. Less crime, less grime, less tourists and these days far more laid back.

[privateeye]

anyone have any experience of working out in amsterdam?

apart from the glaring obvious. just want a view of lifestyle, accommodation, people, infrastructure, transport, food, wine and errr women?

e d

Worst place I have ever worked, the accommodation was not difficult to find but it was never really that clean or it was dark and dingy. I spent most of my time being stopped by Brits asking for directions to the red light district.

With all the derision made of British food around the world I would have to say that Dutch food is far far worse.

It looks like a place to visit for weekends only - no more.

[Angela_D]

When I was there some people with UK Ltds were getting everything invoiced and paid into UK. If it is a UK agency that may work for you.

[el duder]

i think the above extract was taken out of context.

i think it applies to all contractors outside the EU.

soz babes

[Joe Black]

Presumably if you're registered there you should still be able to set-up as a independant/local company just like cloggie does.

I guess what this is part refering to is the idea of providing 'services' in the Netherlands while being registered as some form of independant consultant in the UK, which unfortunately is all still up for grabs until the EU sorts out it's bloody 'services directive'.

"I'm no fan of the EU, but that is illegal under EU law"

Since when does that stop them?

[Fleetwood]

I'm no fan of the EU, but that is illegal under EU law. If a cloggie can set up on his own, then so can anyone legally in the EU.

[el duder]

useful info...

Contracting in the Netherlands
Legal Considerations

Dutch law states that all non-Dutch individuals working in the Netherlands must be employees and, furthermore, that Dutch tax, where not eliminated under a Double Tax Treaty (see below), has to be deducted via monthly withholding and paid across to the Dutch tax authorities at that time. It is therefore not legal for a non-Dutch individual to work in the Netherlands as a sole trader or member of a partnership although some individuals continue to operate in this way

[Angela_D]

I did a year in a telco there in 99.

Loved it but started enjoying the party lifestyle a bit too much near the end.

You will probably have to pay tax at source nowadays.

Accommodation is a bit of a 'mare. There is a shortage. try viavia.nl Lot of high quality council places are illegally sublet.

I tended to avoid the centre and obvious places at weekends as there were too many Brit/Irish/German stag weekends. Pretty ugly.
But during the week it was cool.



A

[el duder]

no finance sector.

good point made.

[Mustang]

El Duder, I would be keen to find out too - do you work in Telecoms?


I heard that working in Holland would require you to pay Dutch taxes - can anyone throw any light on this?

[Xenophon]

come on seriously.

apart from the red light district.

what is it like to contract in amsterdam.

No idea. Have been several times, but purely social.

[The Lone Gunman]

Dont forget

[Xenophon]

Plenty of women in Amsterdam. They seem to spend a lot of time standing in windows with very liitle on.
Visit the Banana Bar.

Banana Bar for the win!

[el duder]

...

come on seriously.

apart from the red light district.

what is it like to contract in amsterdam.