Hello everyone!
I have noticed on these forums that a lot of people are repeating the same information. I am Dutch and have lived in the US for 20 years and am now moving back to the Netherlands so I have a lot of the same questions as all of you. Here are some of the things that I have found very helpful, some from my Dutch years, some from my own search in how best to adapt, and some tips from family and friends. Keep in mind that I have NOT personally dealt with most of these companies so cannot put forward any guarantee as to their products and services. As you have suggestions that may be helpful for the people that post on this website, I will check back periodically and update the links I have posted on here. Hope you all can find something useful here.


Justitie Immigration and Naturalisatiedienst
http://www.ind.nl/EN/

http://www.justlanded.com/english/Netherlands

Immigration lawyers

Have been personally in touch with Mr. Barth, he was extreemly helpful.
http://www.expatlaw.nl/

http://www.everaert.nl/

http://www.guapa.org/


Housing:

http://www.funda.nl

A site for rental houses and also buying. Can look up per address, city, or province. Handy is also that the housing sites have posted the “Makelaar” (realtor) in charge of renting/buying that house with a link to more houses. In order for you to rent a house/appartment in the Netherlands you will have to fill out an application with the “Makelaar” (make sure you know your rental history and references).

http://www.houselink.nl/index.cfm?/home

http://www.pararius.com/english/clientHome.php

http://www.wbawonen.nl/eng/huurwoningen.asp


Cars:

Driver's Licence
http://www.rijbewijs.nl/nl/english.asp

In The Netherlands you have the regular rental agencies like Avis and such. Public transportation is excellent and it would take an essay to show you the way to buying tickets and how to figure out to get from A to B in the tram and train system. ( I will save that for a later date).

http://www.bnm.com/amsterdam.htm

http://www.cheaperthancars.com/Country/Net...ands/Amsterdam/

http://www.amsterdam.info/nl/autoverhuur/

http://www.car-hire-centre.co.uk/rd-nether.../amsterdam.html


Schooling:

Main site for international schools, tabs in the upper right hand corner brings you to the different schools. These are good for international people that will stay international. If you are from Dutch decent and you want to integrate your children in the Dutch school system there is a different route you have to follow if your children do not speak Dutch.

http://www.intschools.nl/

They are so called “Schakelklassen” for one year there is intense education in the Dutch language after which the children can transfer into a local school.
(sorry these sites are in Dutch)
http://www.telderschool.nl
http://www.sardes.nl/Schakelklassen.html


Furniture:

Very good site for second hand anything but will have to know at least a little Dutch
http://www.marktplaats.nl/

Ikea is by far the best and cheapest way to get good furniture for the european living style
http://www.ikea.com/nl/nl/

http://www.morres.com/totale-collectie/5.CMS

http://www.loods5.nl/

A favorite store of the Dutch which you can find practically everywhere with very reasonable prices.
http://producten.hema.nl/


Taxes, import costs, etc.:

http://zoekdienst.belastingdienst.nl/Zoekd...k&term=rule

http://www.approvedarticles.com/Article/Be...etherlands/1180

http://www.expatax.nl/?gclid=CMHV-57o8pMCFQEnGgod1UrbWg

http://download.belastingdienst.nl/belasti...t20011126uk.pdf


Jobs:
(sorry some are in Dutch)

http://www.idealist.org/if/h

http://www.itjobboard.nl/

http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/en...ry/netherlands/

http://www.bizzz.com/photoads6/viewads.html

http://www.englishlanguagejobs.com/

http://www.jobstoday.nl/app

http://www.jobs.nl/

http://www.kellyservices.nl/web/nl/service...ages/index.html

http://www.olympia-uitzendbureau.nl/

Miniserie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijsrelaties
http://www.minbzk.nl/bzk2006uk/


Shipping/Moving:

http://www.douane.nl

http://www.shipping-international.com/

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

http://www.shipping-worldwide.com/

http://www.dhl-usa.com/IntlSvcs/ShipPrepHo...nationalService

http://www.123movers.com/international_mov...al/default.html

http://www.khz.nl/index_movers.php?language=uk


Banks of the Netherlands:

http://www.abnamro.com

http://www.inggroup.com

http://www.fortis.com

http://www.postbank.nl

http://www.rabobank.nl

http://www.sns.nl



Other social/cultural websites:

There is a ton of information about the whole of Europe on this site so it will keep you busy for a while. I found some of it is very outdated and the 'experts' that I have asked questions have answered with a big 'silence' so take what you need from the site, don't expect too much. I have added some interesting sites.

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/immigration/

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffa...-eu-immigration

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/thenetherlands/

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/radioprogra...rizons/070108dh

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/thenetherla...fe/culture.html


Moving Pets
http://www.netherlands-embassy.org/article...ef=AR00001142EN
http://www.jets4pets.com


International community in the Netherlands
http://www.elynx.nl/

Connect International
http://connect-int.org/index.html

Ministry of Economic Affairs
http://www.ez.nl/english/Organisation/

Handy dandy! Just like in other countries:
http://amsterdam.craigslist.org/

Undutchables:
http://www.undutchables.nl/workinginnl/links/

Justice Department
http://english.justitie.nl/