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info@connect-int.org
From 1 July 2019 it will be illegal in the Netherlands to hold your mobile phone in your hand while cycling, so be warned!
Calling, texting, WhatsApp, navigation, playing Pokémon Go, listening to music or just holding your phone in your hand to check the time will land you a €90 fine.
Continue reading “Don’t text and cycle!”
If you are new to the North of the Netherlands and are feeling a bit out of your depth below is a list of some useful websites where you can gain additional information (generally in English).
Connect International has worked for over 20 years with the international community in the North of the Netherlands. Our ultimate goal is to help internationals coming to live in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe to feel at home as quickly as possible.
Continue reading “Useful links and information for newcomers”
There are almost 360 species of wild bees in the Netherlands, with half of all bee species being listed as endangered. ‘Nederland Zoemt Bijentelling’ is a national action to count the number of bees on the weekend 13 – 14 April 2019.
Continue reading “National Bee Count 13 – 14 April”
Getting around the Netherlands is easy when using the train system. Get yourself an OV card, or e-ticket, check in and out and done. But here are some tips for getting the most out of the NS train services.
Except for health insurance, which is mandatory for people living or working in the Netherlands, the type and the amount of insurance you want to purchase is mostly a personal decision. These following list of insurances are the typical types of insurances that many people carry in the Netherlands, including vehicle, personal liability, home-owners, house contents (personal possessions in the accommodation), legal and travel.
Could you make it in the Netherlands as an entrepreneur? In 2015 the Dutch government brought in new regulations to help ambitious businesspeople from non-EU countries. A one-year ‘start-up’ residency permit has been specially designed to help people like you in the Netherlands. As part of the scheme, all entrepreneurs are required to have a mentor, or ‘facilitator’ on-board and for their start-up to offer something innovative in the Dutch market.
Continue reading “Starting a business and obtaining a residence permit via the Start-up Permit”
Here are the steps to follow when you discover your Residence Permit is lost or stolen:
When you first get your Residence Permit, always make a copy (paper or digital) and keep it safe. If you save the front and back image on your phone, you can easily find your V-number to put on a police report.
The IND has created a special webpage concerning Brexit and the rights of residence in the Netherlands for UK citizens. We have reprinted part of this information below from this link: https://ind.nl/en/pages/brexit.aspx
The worst has come to pass, someone has stolen your beloved bicycle! What to do now?
Well, besides getting the bus to work, there are a few more things to check.
Excerpted from https://fvbdeboer.nl/ with permission
If you are planning to be in the country for some time, you may wish to buy a house in the Netherlands, as it can work out more beneficially financially than renting long-term. However, it is a good idea to make sure you are aware of all the pitfalls too before investing in a foreign country. FVB de Boer has written a 10-point guide to make sure that you have thought of everything before taking the plunge.
Continue reading “Mortgages and buying a home in the Netherlands”
