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Published October 15, 2026

Internationals in the Netherlands: what the numbers actually show

The public debate around international talent in the Netherlands has grown louder in recent years. Housing pressure, regulatory changes and a shifting political climate have built a narrative that the country may be losing its edge as a destination for global professionals. The numbers tell a different story.

The fundamentals remain strong

The Netherlands ranked first in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, scoring 624 against a global average of 488, and has held the top spot for most of the past decade. Between 90% and 93% of the Dutch population can hold a full conversation in English, which makes integration into daily and professional life easier here than almost anywhere else in Europe.

In the World Happiness Report 2026 the Netherlands sits seventh out of 147 countries. That is its lowest position to date, but still inside the global top ten and ranked first within Western Europe ahead of Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and France. Four Dutch cities feature in the global top ten for liveability, reflecting institutions, infrastructure and a quality of life that has held up through a turbulent decade.

Amsterdam Schiphol serves over 300 direct international destinations. The Netherlands ranks second on the DHL Global Connectedness Index 2024. For professionals maintaining ties to home, that level of connectivity is hard to beat anywhere on the continent.

Technology

ASML, Adyen, Booking.com, Philips and NXP Semiconductors are all Dutch. Dutch startups raised €2.64 billion in venture capital in 2025 across 265 deals, an 11% increase on 2024 and the third best year on record. Techleap counts 11,301 active tech companies, and the Amsterdam-Delta ecosystem leads the EU ahead of Paris and Berlin. The Dutch scale-up ratio of 21.6% still trails the European average of 24.1%, which is precisely the gap the new coalition's multi-billion-euro national investment fund is meant to close.

The competitive picture

The Netherlands is facing real competition for international talent. Portugal offers a 20% flat tax rate for ten years. Spain and Germany have redesigned their immigration systems to actively recruit global professionals. The Netherlands needs to keep pace.

The tools are still here. The Highly Skilled Migrant visa processes in two to four weeks for recognised sponsors, one of the fastest routes in Europe. The expat ruling pays a tax-free allowance of 30% of salary throughout 2026, reducing to 27% on 1 January 2027, and remains a meaningful financial differentiator over the five-year term.

None of this looks like a country in decline. It looks like a country with exceptional foundations that now has to fight harder for its position than it did a decade ago.

What would make you choose the Netherlands over other European destinations?

judith

Judith Roetgering

Managing Director at Rehive People

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