Netherlands

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 insurances 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.

Immigration (work in progress)

The most likely routes are:

• Self employment (DAFT): https://inls.nl/daft/ Netherlands-DAFT
  • if you think you will make more than 60.000 euros a year you might want to set up a B.V. (Limited) because that can give you several benefits. If you think you will make less than 60.000 euros a year you will probably want an 'eenmanszaak'. B.V. or eenmanszaak?
• Skilled immigration: https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/highly-skilled-migrant
  • you need a job at a company listed here: https://ind.nl/en/public-register-recognised-sponsors/public-register-regular-labour-and-highly-skilled-migrants
  • expat scheme (tax advantage, formerly known as 30% ruling): 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/
• 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
• Asylum options (afaik NL did not accept American asylum seekers so far, so only as last resort): https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/asylum/apply-for-asylum-in-the-netherlands#process-and-costs

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

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.

Community & Social Support

LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

Although The Netherlands has a worldwide reputation of opennes 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/

In the bigger cities (which to American standards are still small) will in general be quite open to trans people but there, too, there will be areas you'd better avoid.

Trans-Friendly Cities (descending in popularity)

• 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 and clubs can be found on Google Maps in the city.
• Utrecht -
• Rotterdam -

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/

Ideas for additional topics:

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)

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.
• Budgeting Tips: Advice on managing finances in The Netherlands.

Safety Considerations

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

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.+

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Help american trans people escape the US and find refugee in europe, specifically the netherlands.

There are 2 ways of emigrating to the Netherlands.

• DAFT - Dutch American Friendship for Trans

• Immigrate with a job visa

what is DAFT

general information over DAFT:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DAFT

https://dutchamericanfriendship.com/

Further second source information: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/comments/wvskkg/my_experience_with_the_dutchamerican_friendship/ https://www.reddit.com/r/IWantOut/comments/95rzk9/dutch_american_friendship_treaty_guide_to_getting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/comments/thw5jx/update_on_daft_visa_process/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1399449486904859/

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dutch+american+friendship+treaty

DAFT form https://ind.nl/en/forms/7524.pdf

BV vs Eenmanszaak (link tbd)

30% ruling (link tbd) - not for self employed people, only for people picking up a tech job or people starting a BV. Employer needs to make some important steps.

Transgendernetwerk (mostly Dutch) From April 20, you can contact the Trans in NL advice line of the Transgender Network with these and other questions. You send an app to 020-2446558 and on working days you will receive an answer within 24 hours. You can ask your questions in Dutch, English, Spanish or French.

You can contact the Trans in NL advice line of the Transgender Network with these and other questions. You send an app to 020-2446558 and on working days you will receive an answer within 24 hours. You can ask your questions in Dutch, English, Spanish or French. https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/nieuws/trans-in-nl-advice-line-nieuwe-whatsapplijn-voor-transgender-migranten/

Living in The Netherlands as a transgender expat https://www.expatfocus.com/netherlands/articles/living-in-the-netherlands-as-a-transgender-expat-5006

Netherlands transgender resources https://www.transgendermap.com/guidance/resources/netherlands/

Transgender wijzer https://transgenderwegwijzer.nl/

Process/steps DAFT (to be reviewed)

- check if you can/will meet the requirements -> list of requirements

- collect documents (like marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc) and have them apostilled (https://www.usa.gov/authenticate-us-document)

- make sure you have a mailing address (this can be a correspondence address, an existing address of a person or institution) https://www.government.nl/topics/municipalities/question-and-answer/correspondence-address

- make an appointment to register at the municipality of your choice to register in the Personal Records Database (https://www.government.nl/topics/personal-data/personal-records-database-brp)

- fly to the NL

- register at the municipality of your choice within 5 days of arrival (https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/personal-records-database-brp/when-register) After you register you will get a citizen service number (BSN) sent to you by mail. You will need this for a lot of things. When using a correspondence address you will need to register this first at the municipality of your choice

- call IND (Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst) to see if you need to make an appointment and request a permit for your stay until the paperwork is done https://ind.nl/en/service-contact/contact-with-ind/call-the-ind

- after receiving your BSN: apply for a DigiD https://www.digid.nl/en/apply-and-activate/apply-digid/

- after receiving your DigiD: make an appointment with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) to register your eenmanszaak (or B.V.) https://www.kvk.nl/en/registration/registering-a-dutch-eenmanszaak-and-making-an-appointment/ (you will need your DigiD for this) At the end of the appointment, request an official extract of your registration. Cost of registration 65 euro

- set up a bank account for your business (https://dutchreview.com/expat/how-to-set-up-a-dutch-bank-account/)

- put the required amount in the bank account (currently that is 4.500 euro)

- get your opening balance sheet verified and signed off by an “External Expert”. This basically means that you must have someone who is a certified tax professional, accountant, or financial advisor verify that you have the required capital investment of €4500 in a business bank account.

- fill in the DAFT form https://ind.nl/en/forms/7524.pdf and send it with all the required documents to the IND (cost of request 405 euro)

- wait and keep an eye on your snail mail because the IND does everything by post