Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the more LGBTQIA+ friendly countries in the world (see LGBT Equality Index) offering a high standard of living, robust legal protections, and comprehensive healthcare for transgender individuals. Overall, the Netherlands provides a relatively safe and inclusive environment for trans people. This might be under threat by the rise of fascism though.

This Expatica article gives a very general impression of life in the Netherlands; below are more specific considerations.

Why the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is one of the more progressive countries in the world, famously the first to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. There are several positive factors to life in the Netherlands:

• Article 1 of the Constitution centers on equality and prohibition of discrimination (see Wikipedia and Dutch constitution text). This explicitly covers discrimination based on religion, belief, political disposition, race, gender, disability and sexual orientation.
• The Netherlands ranks #6 on the World Happiness Report 2024 especially in terms of income and social support. Dutch society generally cares for each other, reflected in decent and affordable (gender-affirming) healthcare as well as education, widely usable and reliable public transportation, societal safety nets like unemployment, overall safe living environments. (The downside: high taxes.)
• Vacation, pregnancy, sick leave: based on employment laws, employees have rights to a minimum number of vacation days (4 times the number of hours worked per week) as well as fully paid pregnancy and sick leave. This can also be used for gender transition, and while not legally required, some companies may even offer special gender transition leave as a separate benefit.
• LGBTQIA+ rights and community: beyond legal rights like gender recognition (including X) and same-sex marriage, there are many strong communities with Pride events and dedicated queer spaces in many Dutch cities. Some queer/trans organizations include:
  • COC Nederland as a generic queer aimed organization, with regional associations
  • Transgender Netwerk Nederland as a trans advocacy organization
  • Transvisie as a trans patient advocacy organization, including an English contact group for peer support
• Independence from Car Culture: The Netherlands has fantastic public transport options and a bike culture that is second to none. This makes it significantly easier to avoid the expense and hassle of car ownership (unless you have specific needs). There are also a number of car share systems in place if you do need a car on occasion.
• Water management: about a third of the Netherlands (not all!) is below water level, forcing Dutch engineering efforts to combat flooding. This has led to an extensive system of dikes and pumping stations managed by regional water authorities for which any resident can vote, regardless of citizenship. These elections are entirely separate from the main political system, reducing chances of Dutch water management being waylaid by trends on a national level.

Why not the Netherlands?

Recent political developments have seen a rise of the far right - unfortunately the Netherlands is not exempt from the global slide towards fascism. There are also other societal factors to weigh:

• Political climate drifting further right: While the outright fascist party FvD has lost most of its followers, the populist anti-immigrant party PVV has risen in its place and become the largest party in the country in the latest 2023 election. Other government coalition parties include the VVD, the economically conservative liberal party; and the BBB, the conservative climate change denying farmers’ party.
• Dutch tolerance and directness: while the Netherlands is known for its tolerance, this is mostly based on a sense of societal compliance: “just be normal, then you’re weird enough” is an often used Dutch saying. Dutch communication also leans very direct to the point of bluntness: while usually meant for honesty and efficiency, it can be hurtful when not accustomed to these societal standards.
• Bureaucratic hindrance of trans rights: while gender-affirming healthcare is available, initial evaluation has on average two years long wait lists. Legal gender recognition for changing between F and M requires a mandatory “expert statement”: a 2019 proposal to remove this expert statement met a great deal of societal resistance, thus was dropped. To change gender to X, there is even a legal procedure to submit to court via a lawyer required on top, with a three month waiting period after approval.
• Colonialism and racism: with its strong colonial history, Dutch society struggles to come to terms with colonialism and racism. The most obvious is the discourse surrounding “Zwarte Piet” (Black Pete) and the anti-immigrant party PVV’s “fewer Moroccans” speech from 2014, still relevant as they hold governmental power today.

Political situation for trans people

The Netherlands has a law on self determination, meaning you can choose your gender marker and given names, once a year and after a three months waiting period. However the conservative and far right parties are in power and things might change in the future.

More info in this topic here https://www.expatfocus.com/netherlands/articles/living-in-the-netherlands-as-a-transgender-expat-5006

Access to trans health care

In The Netherlands, it is compulsory to take out a private health insurance. Many Dutch insurance providers reimburse a decent amount of gender-affirming care treatments, provided that they have contracts with the institutions performing them.

The official channel to start HRT in the Netherlands is by referral to an endocrinologist, which can be obtained from your GP or your gender clinic, almost always after getting a gender dysphoria diagnosis. You nearly always need an official diagnosis, so if you have paperwork with an ICD-10 diagnosis of F64.0, bring that with you, it will make your life easier.

Undertaking HRT through official channels is not only the safest option, but also the only way to be eligible for at least partial reimbursement by Dutch health insurers. DIY hormone therapy is accessible, sellers exist that ship from within the EU (and thus without any customs interfering).

In the Netherlands, certain gender-affirming surgeries can only be accessed through gender clinics. This means they can only be pursued in consultation with a team of psychologists, endocrinologists, and surgeons.

A lot more information on the topic can be found here https://dutchreview.com/expat/trans-healthcare-in-the-netherlands/

Finding a GP

The first step to accessing Dutch healthcare, including trans healthcare, is to register with a GP (Huisarts). Due to a doctor shortage, it can take some time to find a practice that is accepting patients. Many practices also have postcode restrictions.

The most thorough approach is to use a map search to locate every huisartspraktijk (GP office) in the general area of your registered address, then check with each one individually. Some will have websites that say whether they are accepting patients, and may even let you register online, but most of the time, you have to call on the phone. Most offices have English speaking staff, if you ask.

Once you register, make an appointment (usually on the phone again.) Some Dutch doctors will be surprised that you are making an appointment when you aren't sick, so you can explain that you have a chronic condition that you would like advice about, or that you need to have your usual medication filled for the first time in the Netherlands.

It is important to note that many GP's will schedule 10-15 minute appointments per patient/medical issue. This is also due to a general shortage of medical staff. If you think you will need longer than that you can ask for a double appointment. You can always ask how long the GP's standard appointments are.

Note: most healthcare professionals should be fine treating trans/queer patients. But if you want to be extra sure, Roze In Wit (https://www.rozeinwit.nl/en/) is a registry of Dutch healthcare professionals (GP's, specialists, psychologists) that explicitly state that they are queer supportive. However, this list doesn't mention if the GP's have space to take on new patients; and specialists will need a GP referral to be seen.

Arriving in the Netherlands

When you have just arrived, you may not yet know how to get around, or how to obtain basic resources. Regardless of what visa you choose, you'll need a lot of the same things to start out. Here are some important things that might help.

Cell phones

Until you have a residence permit, you will only be able to obtain prepaid service with a physical SIM card. To get connectivity quickly, you have a few decent options:

• Lebara offers a tourist prepaid SIM that can be bought with cash. It can be activated any time within about 90 days of purchase. This is a good option for when you have just arrived, and you can get it by going into a cell phone repair shop that advertises Lebara service. In most city centers this will not be hard to find. If you struggle, try going to the shop of a major service provider, like Odido or KPN, and simply asking where you can buy a Lebara SIM. The downside is that Lebara's network coverage is not top tier.
• KPN offers prepaid service, but you need to buy minutes, SMS, and data in discrete packages, and the pricing is not so good. However, if you anticipate getting your residence permit quickly, you might choose this, just because it is then extremely easy to convert to a post-paid "normal" account when you have your residence, and KPN network coverage is the best.

In any case, Dutch cell phone providers must let you take your phone number with you if you change your service. As long as you keep your service paid for, you shouldn't have to change numbers, even if you move between providers or service types. If someone tries to change it anyway, tell them no.

Dialing phone numbers

You may see Dutch phone numbers written with a 0 in front, a 6 in the front, or +31 in the front.

• Starts with 0: from a Dutch phone, you can dial it exactly as it is written. From any phone, you can dial +31, skip the 0, and dial the rest.
• Starts with a 6: from a Dutch phone, you can dial 0, then the whole number as it is written, starting with the 6. From a foreign phone, dial +31, then the 6 and then the rest of the number.
• Starts with +31: from any phone, you can dial this number exactly as it is written. From a Dutch phone, you can drop off the +31 and start with 0 instead.

Public Transit

You have 4 main options for paying for public transport in the Netherlands:

• Acquire an anonymous or personalized OV-chipkaart and manage it's credit balance.
• Use your chip and pin enabled debit card directly (or alternative NFC digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Wallet).
• Purchase a paper chip ticket at the station/bus/terminal.
• Purchase online and receive a paper ticket with QR barcode (usual done for international travel).

These scanners form part of a barrier that requires you to tap ON to enter and tap OFF to exit. If you have a QR code, at least one of these scanners will have a transparent panel for scanning the QR code.

Using your OV-Chipkaart/Debit Card

3 OV-Chipkaart readers next to each other. They each have distinctive colors and marking to indicate that they are for different modes of transport.

OV-chipkaart reader for the train (yellow) with a toeslag reader for paying a top-up for the non-stop fast train. You first need to tap ON with the train ticket (left) to get on to the platform and then tap the Toeslag to pay the extra fee if you choose the high speed direct train. Most trains do not require this extra fee and it's marked clearly on the departures board if the train you are taking requires it.

Your OV-Chipkaart or Debit Card should work on all public transport in the Netherlands.

At all train and metro stations there will be card readers in the station. Some are combined with barriers which prevent access to or from unless you scan your card. Other, smaller stations, may only have a reader on the platform to use.

Buses and trams tend to have the card readers in the vehicle itself and require you to board and then tap IN with your card and tap OFF before you disembark.

You don't generally need to tap your card/ticket when you transfer between trains. If you're transferring from one mode of transport to another, like train to metro or tram to bus, you will need to tap OFF for the one more and ON for the other. They will have distinctive readers for each mode.

Some journeys there is a "supplement" (toeslag) that you need to pay for that trip. For example, if you go from Schiphol to Rotterdam Centraal, you need to pay this. In this case, there is a special post on the platform that you'll tap on to add your toeslag to your card.

The cost is based on how far you traveled, i.e. where you got on and got off. Because of this, it's not easy to predict how much your usual usage will cost: you should plan to add 30-50 euros when you first buy your card, and pay attention to how fast you are using it. If your balance becomes too low (under €20), you won't be able to board transit until you fill it up: the system enforces that you will have enough money when you get on in order to pay for the most expensive possible trip from that point. If you fail to tap out, or if you fail to tap in and then tap out at a train station with access gates, the full €20 will be kept. You can correct this on the NS website but only if you have a personalized OV-chipkaart.

OV-Chipkaart

You can get an anonymous OV-chipkaart at one of the big yellow kiosks. You'll find these in any big train station, including at Schiphol Airport. You preload some value onto this card with any bank card or cash, and then tap it against a reader every time you get ON or OFF of a bus or tram, or when you enter or leave the train station. A train conductor may ask to see your OV card when you're riding, and tap it to see that you've paid.

Don't lose this card: the value on it is like cash, and can't be retrieved if your card gets away from you. If you're prone to losing things, keep it on a lanyard or something.

If you get on the train and realize you forgot to tap, you can use the NS app or website on a mobile phone to quickly buy a ticket (whoops!) In that case, you will show the conductor your phone if you have your ticket checked, and you'll show your phone to the station exit turnstile in order to leave.

You can also use your chipkaart to rent an OV-fiets, which is one of the blue-and-yellow public bicycles you'll see in cities. You will need a personalized OV-chipkaart (with photo ID) and a free seasonal OV-fiets season ticket.

Debit Card

Your Dutch bank card (Maestro) should work at all the same readers that you'd use your OV-Chipkaart. Additionally, NFC mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Wallet also work.

Banking

You will not be able to get a Dutch bank account without your BSN (citizen service number) which you typically obtain after your residence is approved. (In some cases, you may find out what it will be before this, but it's not clear whether it can be used yet for banking when that happens.)

Without a Dutch PIN card, there are some places where you will have to pay in cash only. In particular, Albert Heijn (most common grocery store) does not allow you to pay with credit cards, or even Visa or Mastercard debit. It accepts only PIN cards on the Maestro system. Until you have this, use the cash lane to check out, or... just go to Jumbo instead.

You'll also have this PIN problem at some small retailers, such as in street markets or corner stores. When you don't have a Dutch PIN card, make sure to always carry a little cash.

Groceries and Supplies

Sunday is a quiet day in the Netherlands and many stores tend to be closed. There are some, more religious, municipalities that have rules around which shops can be open but most larger municipalities/cities tended to allow shops to decided for themselves. Most supermarket chains are open but just tend to close sooner in the evening (often 7pm). If you find yourself in small towns or the countryside, you should plan ahead for the weekend and make sure you have enough to eat and such.

Many shops also open late or not at all on Mondays (or only open after noon). This is a way of making sure shop owners and retail workers can access things like doctors and banking that are not open at the weekend, which is pretty nice!

Also check the section about banking -- it can be hard to pay for things without a PIN card from a Dutch bank, and you should carry some cash if you don't have one. Credit cards tend to only be accepted in tourist centers or at restaurants. Cash is still accepted most places unless explicitly indicated with signage.

Accidents and Emergencies

Our national emergency dialing code is 112. Use this, or ask someone to call for you, if you are in a dangerous situation and need emergency services right away.

If you need medical attention right away, but are not in need of an ambulance (something like a painful ear infection or an animal bite) you can call a spoedhulp huisartsenpost. This is like a general urgent care clinic. If it's something they can't handle, they will send you to the hospital emergency department.

Emergency medical costs

Not as bad as the USA! You may end up being billed a few hundred euros if you need to be seen right away at the hospital and you don't have any insurance yet.

About the police

Dutch police (politie) usually show up promptly when they are called, and are trained much better than American police at de-escalation, conflict resolution, and public safety. With that said, there are certainly issues of uneven enforcement sometimes, often based on race or social class. However, in general, if you need to call the police, doing that will not put you or someone else in danger of your lives.

(If you are from the US, it may reassure you to know that ANY use of a firearm by a police officer is automatically investigated by the national police, and it can and does lead to the officer being prosecuted when there is abusive behavior.)

Many municipalities also have a community law enforcement group (handhaving.) These are not police, but they are related to the law enforcement system -- they don't carry weapons, and can issue fines and tickets, but cannot make arrests. They deal with things like public nuisances and civic order (think of parking tickets, trash in the wrong places, etc) but can also give you advice if you're lost or having a problem. A lot of people get irritated with the handhaving, because their main job is to enforce all the little annoying stuff that keeps public life orderly, and sometimes it seems like they are doing it just because they can... but they can actually give you helpful advice if you need it.

There's also the military police (Koninklijke Marechausee) who you'll encounter when you go through a border control, or if there is a matter of national security. They are usually heavily armed and wear berets. They're pretty easy to spot, and the ones at the airport checkpoints at least always seem professional and polite.

Immigration (work in progress)

Obtaining a residence visa

To stay longer than a tourist visa allows, access banking and health insurance, or start a path to permanent residence or citizenship, you must first get a residence permit.

The most likely routes are:

• Self employment through the DAFT: IND site on the DAFT -- https://inls.nl/daft/ Our guide on applying for the DAFT Netherlands-DAFT
  • The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) is an agreement between the United States and the Netherlands that allows Americans to acquire a two-year Dutch residency for the purpose of “starting a business." Many types of businesses can qualify under the DAFT including brick and mortar businesses, online businesses, and freelancing/consulting. The most basic requirements are that you are the sole proprietor of the business, that you “invest” and maintain €4,500 in your business's bank account, and that you are not employed by another entity/company while on the DAFT. Since a broad array of business types can qualify under the DAFT, this opens up immigration opportunities for people usually not covered by other skill or job-based visas.
  • Some people who moved to Netherlands a couple of years ago via DAFT created a detailed webpage about what they now know: https://v.st/daft#. Our guide on applying for the DAFT is here: Netherlands-DAFT

• Skilled immigration: IND site on highly skilled migrants -- https://ia key requirement isnd.nl/en/residence-permits/work/highly-skilled-migrant
  • You will need a job at a company listed here: https://ind.nl/en/public-register-recognised-sponsors/public-register-regular-labour-and-highly-skilled-migrants
  • The candidate will need to meet some basic requirements but a key requirement is income amount so this is an important criteria to consider when applying for a job.
  • Expat scheme tax advantage -- formerly known as 30% ruling-- can apply to Americans on this type of visa: https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/coming-to-work-in-the-netherlands-30-percent-facility https://business.gov.nl/staff/employing-staff/the-expat-scheme-30-percent-ruling-in-the-netherlands/
  • Our guide on applying as a highly skilled migrant ("kennismigrant") is here: Netherlands-Skilled
• Student visa: https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/study/student-residence-permit-for-university-or-higher-professional-education
  • You will need to study at one of these institutions: https://ind.nl/en/public-register-recognised-sponsors/public-register-educational-institutions

Routes that are currently not available:

• Citizenship by descent: Unlike other countries that may extend citizenship based on having a ((great-)grand)parent who is/was a citizen, this does not apply to the Netherlands directly.
• Asylum options: The Netherlands at the moment does not allow asylum process for Americans. While that might change, so far it has not. NL has not accepted American asylum seekers so far, so this may be relevant only as last resort: https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/asylum/apply-for-asylum-in-the-netherlands#process-and-costs However, asylum from other countries has been granted on grounds of sexual orientation putting you at risk in your Country of origin.

Other routes for working in the Netherlands: https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work

Apostille

Overview

Apostille is a way for the Dutch government, or another government, to see that an official piece of paperwork you have brought from outside the country is real and valid. It's a form that is filled in by the government who initially created the paperwork, and it contains a standard set of information which helps other governments accept and understand each other's official documents. You will get it by sending your original forms by mail to the state government that issued them, or having a professional do that for you. They will be returned to you with the apostille form attached, and you must not remove it. You have to do this for most pieces of official documentation that you want to use in your immigration process, but not for your passport.

Apostille is based on a treaty among several countries. If you need to bring documentation from another country that is not on this list, you will probably need to supply an official translation instead.

What do I have to apostille?

You'll obtain apostille during your immigration process for your birth certificate. Depending on your life history, you may also need apostilled copies of other life event documents, especially if your legal name or gender marker has changed during your life, or your minor child is immigrating with you. The purpose of these documents is to show that your birth certificate, and all of the documents you may provide, are really referring to the same person or people

Most people do not need all of these documents. In many cases, you will only need your birth certificate. Always ask a lawyer's advice if you are not sure which documents to provide.

• Birth certificate: you will always need to supply an apostilled copy of this document for everyone who is going to immigrate to NL. If your name and gender on your passport matches the one on your birth certificate, and you are not married, and are not immigrating with a child, then you may only need your birth certificate.
• Marriage: if you have been married, and your name changed because of this, you should obtain an apostilled official copy of your marriage certificate. You may not need to do this if your current legal name in your passport matches the name on your birth certificate. If you are not married anymore, you should provide your apostilled divorce decree or annulment, or the death certificate of your spouse.
• Divorce or annulment of marriage: if you are bringing an apostilled marriage certificate, and have legally terminated your marriage since then, you should provide an apostilled copy of the divorce decree or the order of annulment. If you cannot obtain this in time, ask a lawyer how to provide a signed affidavit of unmarried status instead.
• Legal change of name or gender marker: if your name or gender marker has changed by a court order, and your current legal name or gender on your passport does not match the ones on your birth certificate, OR your minor child is immigrating with you and your current legal name is not the one listed as a parent on their birth certificate, you should bring an apostilled copy of the court order(s) by which you changed your name or gender.
• Adoption of a child: if your minor child is immigrating with you, and you are not listed as their legal parent on their birth certificate, you will need an apostilled copy of the court order by which you became their legal parent.
• Termination of parental rights: if your minor child is immigrating with you, and a parent listed on their birth certificate is no longer their legal parent, you will need an apostilled copy of the court order by which their parental rights were terminated. This may be part of a court order of an adoption by another parent.
• Death certificate (for your spouse, or a parent of your minor child): If you are providing a marriage certificate, and your spouse has died, you should provide an apostilled copy of the spouse's death certificate. If your minor child is immigrating with you, and a legal parent or a parent who is on their birth certificate has died, you will need an apostilled copy of that parent's death certificate, unless you are providing other apostilled documentation showing that that person is no longer the legal parent of the child, such as an adoption order or a termination of parental rights.

Do I need all of these documents right away?

Sometimes some of these documents can be provided later, in a separate appointment.

You will always need your birth certificate when you register. You will also need any of the documents above that prove that your birth certificate belongs to the same person as your passport (such as a change of name or gender.) The documents may or may not be recorded at this first appointment, depending on how busy your gemeente is! If they are not recorded, then you will need to make a later appointment to provide them again. (See: bureaucracy.)

If your child is registering, then you need enough documentation to establish that they are legally your child, and that all of their living legal parents consent to their immigration. TALK TO A LAWYER if this is your situation, you really don't want this to go wrong.

You may have other documents, which establish your life history, but are not needed in order to prove the facts of your immigration. You can provide those documents later. For example:

• You have been married, and provided your marriage certificate to show why your name has changed. You have been divorced, but have not been married again, and you are not immigrating via a partner visa. You have brought a signed, notarized affidavit attesting that you are not married anymore, instead of your divorce decree. You can still provide your divorce decree at a later appointment.
• Your name has changed, but the gemeente accepted your birth certificate even though the name did not match your passport (happened to me!) You can provide your name change order later.
• You have been married, and that marriage was ended or your spouse died, but your name did not change because of this. You can provide documentation of the marriage, and of the end of the marriage or the death of your spouse, later.

To provide these documents later, schedule a separate appointment directly with your gemeente.

When do I need to order my apostilled documents?

You will give your apostilled documents to the staff at your city office (gemeente) when you register yourself as living in the Netherlands. You need to start your apostille process 6-8 weeks ahead of time in order to be sure you will have your documents ready on time. Allow another 6-8 weeks if you first need to order copies of any of these documents from a court or state office.

You will register with your gemeente and supply these documents

• AFTER you have submitted your visa application to the IND
• AFTER you visit IND for your biometrics appointment and get your IND sticker/visa extension (but you can, and should, request your scheduled appointment at the gemeente as soon as you mail in your application, because the appointment may not be available until a few weeks later.)
• WITHIN 90 DAYS of your arrival in the Schengen area
• If you are electing the 30% ruling, AFTER you accept your offer of employment from abroad. (If you are not electing the 30% ruling, ignore this!)

How do I get my apostilled documents?

Your US apostille will be done by mail, by the state where your documents were generated. Refer to your state's specific apostille process to see how to do this; it is usually done by the state Secretary of State. It is a little easier to obtain your apostille while still in the United States, because you can send and receive the mail yourself. However, if you have a lot of documents to apostille, your documents come from several different states, OR you are already living outside the USA, you should look for a reputable apostille expeditor. This expeditor will handle your sensitive documents, so be sure to read reviews and listen to recommendations before choosing your expeditor.

For apostille from other signatory countries, refer to that country's documented process to obtain your apostille.

When does a document not require apostille?

If your document originated in the Netherlands or in another EU country, it DOES NOT require an apostille.

If your document originated in a country that did not sign the Apostille Convention, you cannot obtain an apostille for that document. In this case you may need to provide an official translation, instead.

Citizenship Pathway

There is one main pathway to get Dutch citizenship as an immigrant.

Naturalization

Standard Residency Requirement: You have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. You have always extended your residence permit on time. Applicants must demonstrate A2 proficiency in the Dutch language, pass a citizenship test, declare that you are aware that the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also apply to you, prove financial self-sufficiency without state assistance, and have no serious criminal convictions. You must renounce your current nationality. https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/becoming-a-dutch-national-through-naturalisation#requirements

Accelerated Naturalization: there are some exceptions to the 5 year rule https://ind.nl/en/exceptions-to-the-5-year-term-for-naturalisation-in-the-netherlands

Citizenship by Marriage

Spouses of Dutch Citizens: Spouses and registered same-sex partners of Dutch citizens can apply for naturalization if they have been married to or in a registered partnership with a Dutch national for at least 3 years. You can prove that you have lived with your Dutch partner for at least 3 years. In these cases you would also NOT need to renounce your own nationality as being in a registered partnership with a Dutch citizen or married to a Dutch citizen prior to requesting naturalization is one of the exemptions to the rule.

Living together before marriage/registered partnership: If you lived together with your Dutch partner within the Netherlands in the time immediately before your marriage or the registration of your partnership, you can also count this time as part of your 3 years. If there is a gap in your residency in the Netherlands, or a gap in living with your partner, while you are not yet married or in a registered partnership, you will have to start your count over. You must be already married or in a registered partnership at the time when you apply for naturalization.

Community & Social Support

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

Although The Netherlands has a worldwide reputation of openness towards the LGBTQIA+ community, it is not in in the top 10 of most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Europe, and the situation doesn't seem to change for the better. This is documented by the https://rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/countries/netherlands/

The bigger cities (which by American standards are still small) will in general be quite open to trans people. But there will still be areas or neighborhoods you might want to avoid. Experiences in smaller villages, especially in the Dutch Bible Belt, may vary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Belt_(Netherlands)

Trans-Friendly Cities

• Amsterdam - The obvious choice, it has by far the largest queer community of The Netherlands. Amsterdam also has a high safety index and over 20 queer bars, clubs, and community spaces can be found on Google Maps in the city. Queer neighborhoods in Amsterdam -- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/whats-on/lgbtqi-areas-of-amsterdam. Pride festivities in Amsterdam -- https://pride.amsterdam/. This is a pretty comprehensive guide to LGBTQ+ establishments in Amsterdam -- https://www.lilywanderlust.com/blog/2022/07/lgbtq-amsterdam-city-guide
• Utrecht - main big city in the middle of the Netherlands with a large queer community due to its central location. Queer bars: Bodytalk and Cafe Kalff. Queer bookstore (with community events/flyers): Savannah Bay. Several popular queer parties like PANN and Cruise Control; annual Utrecht Pride with a canal parade and Utrecht Queer Culture Festival with a walk of love.
• Rotterdam -
• Den Haag
• Leiden - A liberal university city in South Holland. It sits on the train route to Den Haag (The Hague), Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht. It has a yearly pride event, a Rainbow Society and the university has it's own LGBT+ network.

Support Groups

Transgendernetwerk (website mostly in Dutch) They have a WhatsApp line for transgender people who have not been in the Netherlands for that long. Here everyone can inquire easily with questions about health care, discrimination, regulatory matters and meeting. You send an app to +31 20-2446558 and on working days you will receive an answer within 24 hours. You can ask your questions in Dutch, English, Spanish or French.

Further resources

• This is a list of resources and service providers in The Netherlands https://www.transgendermap.com/guidance/resources/netherlands/
• Transgender wijzer https://transgenderwegwijzer.nl/

Legal Rights & Protections (work in progress)

Anti-Discrimination Laws

• Legal Protections: Overview of protections for transgender individuals in employment, housing, and public life.
• Reporting Discrimination: How to report instances of discrimination and seek legal recourse.

Legal Gender Recognition

• Process Overview: Detailed guide on changing gender markers and names in official documents.
• Recent Legal Developments: .......................................

Workplace Rights

• Transitioning at Work: Guidance on navigating the workplace during transition.
• Legal Protections: Information on laws protecting transgender employees.

Housing & Cost of Living (work in progress)

The Netherlands is in the middle of a housing crisis and access to affordable housing is a concern for immigrants and non-immigrants alike. Housing will be most expensive and most competitive in the Randstad, but the shortage impacts all regions of the country. https://www.theguardian.com/news/article/2024/may/06/netherlands-amsterdam-next-level-housing-crisis and https://nltimes.nl/2024/07/12/dutch-housing-shortage-rises-400000-population-growth-outstrips-construction

Trans-Friendly Housing

• Finding Safe Housing: Tips on locating safe and inclusive living spaces.
• Housing Rights: Information on legal protections against housing discrimination.

Cost of Living

• Expense Comparison: Comparison of living costs between major U.S. cities and Dutch cities.

One question often asked is how expensive it is to live in The Netherlands compared to the US, this is a difficult comparison to make overall because things cost "differently".

• Salaries are generally lower in Europe than in the US, but buying power is higher due to differences in the cost of products and services.
• Healthcare is one of the biggest differences, the average monthly health insurance premiums are €157/month, with a €385/year standard deductible.
• Food is affordable, with access to plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. A budget of €500/month is reasonable for a 2 person household.
• Mobile and internet is affordable, with an unlimited 5G mobile plan costing ~€25/month, and internet between ~€30 and €60/month (€50 will get you 1gb fiber internet in many locations)
• Public transportation is widely available and (contrary to many local complaints) quite reliable. Intercity train tickets can be expensive though, with a standard 2nd class ticket from Den Haag to Amsterdam costing over €14.
• Eating out has become increasingly expensive since COVID. Dinner at a local restaurant for 2 will easily run you €50.
• Housing is by far the biggest expense, as there is currently a housing shortage in The Netherlands, especially in the Randstad area. The website Funda is the de facto website for renting or buying property in The Netherlands.

• Budgeting Tips: Advice on managing finances in The Netherlands
  • Markplaats is kind of like Craigslist meets eBay and is very useful for furnishing your apartment. https://www.marktplaats.nl/
  • There are ticket discounts for taking the train during "non-peak" hours. https://www.ns.nl/en/featured/traveling-with-discount/when-can-you-travel-with-a-discount.html
  • Shop around for insurances and utilities to make sure you're getting the best price. https://www.easyswitch.nl/compare-energy-prices/
  • Many take-out restaurants on delivery apps also offer their own delivery. Their delivery is almost always cheaper so check online to see if it's offered.

Safety Considerations

• Regional Safety: Overview of safety for transgender individuals in different regions.
• Legal Protections: Information on hate crime laws and reporting mechanisms.

Renting A House

This will vary by city, province, and housing type. In Amsterdam, the most expensive rental market in the Netherlands, a room in a house will start at $600-$1200, a studio at €900 – 1,600, and an apartment at €1,200 – 5,000 depending on location, size, and amenities. Keep in mind these are starting prices and the listings on Funda may vary.

• Social Housing vs Private Housing -- Social housing is mostly meant for people with lower incomes and comes with protections and benefits to those that qualify. It must be applied for and the waiting lists can be many years long. Assume you will not qualify for it until several years into your immigration journey. Private housing is anything that is not social housing. It has fewer protections and is more competitive/expensive to secure. https://www.iamexpat.nl/housing/netherlands-rentals/social-housing-private-free-sector
• Funda -- Funda is the most popular site for finding housing in the Netherlands. https://www.funda.nl/
• Pararius -- Pararius is a popular rental site for finding renal housing in the Netherlands. https://www.pararius.com
• Documents Required -- To rent an apartment you will probably need proof of identity, residency permit, proof of income (generally 3 months of paystubs) or proof of savings, employment contract, references/rental history, and usually a completed rental application form. Unlike in the US, the Dutch do not have a credit score system so you will not have to provide a credit report.
• Makelaars -- Makelaars are real estate agents who can help you to buy or rent a home. It is very common to hire a makelaar to help in your housing hunt. Keep in mind that makelaars work in very specific regions and if you're looking in multiple cities simultaneously you may need to hire multiple makelaars.
• Things Your House Might Not Include -- Unfurnished apartments in the Netherlands vary from those in the US. Yours may not include appliances, light fixtures, and even flooring and kitchen cabinets. This applies to rentals and units for sale. Note that if they don't need them in their new house, sometimes the previous tenant/owner will offer to sell you the old ones.
• Bills and Utilities -- These may or may not be included in your housing contract https://dutchreview.com/expat/utilities-netherlands/

Buying A House

In the third quarter of 2024, a single-family home in the Netherlands cost approximately 434,000 euros. This will vary by city, province, and the type of house. https://www.statista.com/statistics/630471/average-price-of-single-family-homes-in-the-netherlands-by-province/

• Can You Buy? -- Unlike some countries, the Netherlands does allow foreigners to buy and own houses.
• Will Buying A House Get You Residency? -- No, unlike some places, buying property will not help you with residency.
• Getting A Mortgage -- https://www.expatica.com/nl/housing/buying/your-guide-to-dutch-mortgages-101837/
• Makelaars -- Makelaars are real estate agents who can help you to buy a home. It is very common to hire a makelaar to help in your housing hunt. Keep in mind that makelaars work in very specific regions and if you're looking in multiple cities simultaneously you may need to hire multiple makelaars.
• VvE (Vereniging van Eigenaren) -- Apartment buildings will have an owners association or VvE. Understand how these work before buying a house with one. https://www.iamexpat.nl/housing/real-estate-news/dutch-homeowners-association-vve-explained
• Bills and Utilities -- https://dutchreview.com/expat/utilities-netherlands/
• Schools
  • International Schools -- Many Americans chose to put their children in International Schools. Currently there are International Schools in ten Dutch cities. https://www.international-schools-database.com/country/netherlands
  • Dutch Schools --
    • Most municipalities will have multiple small schools within their area to choose from each with their own religious affiliation (if any) and their pedagogical philosophy (like Montessori, Dalton, or Jenaplan).
    • Dutch schools are free but may ask for a voluntary contribution (ouderbijdrage) for special activities like school outings.
    • Some Dutch schools (TTO) support bilingual education (tweetalig onderwijs) with English and Dutch. This helps children English speaking kids transition into the Dutch school system gradually.
    • Children with learning disabilities are welcome in regular Dutch schools and additional support is provided to the child and the school. In the case the child need more specialized care, there are schools (speciaal onderwijs) that you can be referred to. These are also free.
• When Looking -- If you're looking to buy a house, keep in mind that the Dutch don't really flip houses so they might look a little more dated than what you'd expect in America. They assume that you'll renovate and customize it as you see fit, and assume that you'll budget for that in the price you're paying.

Culture & Integration (work in progress)

Cultural Attitudes Toward Trans People

• Societal Acceptance: Discussion on how acceptance varies across The Netherlands.
• Historical Context: Brief history of transgender rights in The Netherlands.

Bureaucracy & Paperwork

Navigating Dutch Bureaucracy

• The "3 Visit Rule" - A rule of thumb to avoid frustration when dealing with Dutch municipalities (gemeente in Dutch), is to approach any task with the assumption that it will take 3 visits to accomplish. This comes primarily due to lack of knowledge of processes, rules, and requirements by local municipality employees. Employees of the municipality will often request documentation or artifacts that are not listed on the government websites, required a follow up visit. Approaching these interactions with this assumption in mind can reduce frustration and help with planning.

• Common Challenges: Overview of potential hurdles and how to overcome them.

Animal Policies

• For information on how to import your pet to the Netherlands, see: Traveling with pets