The Netherlands made it into the top ten of most attractive countries to work in, but most impressive was how it faired for employee satisfaction. The country ranked first in the category, with 76 per cent of workers saying they were satisfied or very satisfied in their role. The factors contributing most to these contented workers were their salaries, good relationships with their colleagues, a healthy balance between work and family lives, and the ability to work from home (the Netherlands was shown to be the most flexible place to work, with 20 per cent of workers operating from home and a third enjoying flexible hours).
Workers also ranked the Netherlands highly when it came to optimism, which, as the report suggests, is likely to do with the fact that the Netherlands has a strong economic outlook.
It appears that happiness is something which comes naturally in the Netherlands, and there are plenty more statistics to back this up. For instance, the newly released World Happiness Report 2017 has once again shed favourable light on the country. The annual report looks at how countries rank in terms of citizens’ happiness rather than the strength of its economy, stating that happiness should be “the proper measure of social progress and the goal of public policy”. The Netherlands came in at an impressive sixth place, rising one place from the previous year.
What’s more, back in 2013, a Unicef report found that, overall, Dutch children are the happiest in the world, suggesting it may be the perfect place to raise a family.
With so many positives going for it, it’s no wonder the Netherlands has many expats now calling it home.
However, ranking so highly in certain areas comes with an inevitable downside; the Netherlands can be a very expensive place to live. But a financial adviser can help. Smart management of finances so that you make the most of your money is enough to boost anyone’s happiness, and an expat financial adviser from Blacktower can help you with this.
While Blacktower won’t necessarily help you to find satisfaction in your job, we can give you expert guidance on how best to manage your money. When you’re moving around the world – whether it be for work, leisure, or, as seems to be the case in the Netherlands, both – Blacktower can help get your finances in check wherever you end up.
Contact our expat financial advisers in the Netherlands can give you all the guidance you need.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.
There are very few life changes as profound as those that come with retiring. Increasingly, science is making clear what many retirees know already: that a fulfilling and long retirement is invariably a busy retirement. You might retire from your working age career, but the best way to enjoy your sunset years is to keep active, whether it is playing sport, creating art, being part of a community or having a “second career phase”.
If your expat financial adviser in the Netherlands has not alerted you to the fact already, you should be aware that the deadlines for Dutch tax returns are looming. Depending on your circumstances, these are as follows: