Forums » Netherlands » Indians in the Netherlands

• serendipitysays

  

  • 6 posts
   

  February 7, 2012 9:18:28 AM CET

  Hello,

   

  My husband has been offered a job in Amsterdam,salary package of 45000 Euros P.A.We will be relocating from Singapore.We both work here in the IT field and I earn 9100 SGD (5500 Euros ) per month. I am an service delivery manager & worked in IT sectors for both IT and banking industry for 9 years. I however do not have a job offer in AMS & we will have a 6 month old baby around the time we move. Will my husbands salary be sufficent for us ? Will it be easy for me to get a job there?

   

  Happy to hear from anyone who has moved there and would really appreciate any information. I am a little scekptical about the move since I will have to forgo what I am earning here and kinda start from the scratch and everything depends on me getting a job but then again I am not sure if my husbands salary alone can sustain us for a few months until i get a job if that is easy in Amsterdam .........

• gtsreddy

  

  • 34 posts
   

  February 8, 2012 10:50:01 AM CET

  I believe 45K is a bit low in Amsterdam,
• serendipitysays

  

  • 6 posts
   

  February 10, 2012 8:14:50 AM CET

  Will the salary be sufficient to not live in amsterdam itself but somewhere in and around Amstelveen .... My husband will not have to travel to work frequently so we wont be living in the city itself .....Does that make a difference on the salary you get ....? Is it easy for one to get a job in NL ?
• idearulez

  

  • 27 posts
   

  February 10, 2012 9:34:18 PM CET

  Judging from your experience (you said you have 9 years exp) your husband must also have good amount of experience, I am not sure what kind of work he do in IT. But 45K sounds very less to me, even if he qualifies for 30% ruling, he probably can earn more in India these days, for 45K I won't suggest to make a move to Europe. If I am not wrong people on deputation in Indian IT company get even better deal (if not more).
  Amstelveen is bit expensive in terms of apartment rent.
  For you language issue for jobs (I see from few years even for IT jobs dutch language requirement is strictly followed).
  If you both have job in singapore then don't spoil it. Thats my best advice to you.
• osita

  

  • 2062 posts
   

  February 10, 2012 10:41:31 PM CET

  idearulez said:
  Judging from your experience (you said you have 9 years exp) your husband must also have good amount of experience, I am not sure what kind of work he do in IT. But 45K sounds very less to me, even if he qualifies for 30% ruling.

  He won't qualify for the 30% ruling on this amount.  It is low for an IT job here.

  Amstelveen is bit expensive in terms of apartment rent.

  Amstelveen is THE expat area, with a very large Indian expat community.  As you won't be roomsharing with a small child, expect to be paying in excess of 1000 euros per month rent (unfurnished): it's as expensive as Amsterdam, although you get more space in your apartment (or house) than you'd get for a flat in the same price range in Central A'dam.  That's not going to be easy on your husband's salary. 

  For you language issue for jobs (I see from few years even for IT jobs dutch language requirement is strictly followed).

  I don't agree. My husband also works in IT and for the first time in a couple of years, he's being offered roles that are happy to have English-only speakers.  Dutch is only a strict requirement in certain companies: even some of the Dutch banks are happy to take English only speakers, and most of the utility companies are fine with it.

  If you both have job in singapore then don't spoil it. Thats my best advice to you.

  I fully agree.  The moment they offered you 45k, they were taking advantage, thinking you'd be cheap.  They don't care if your family would exist on the poverty line, so long as they got you(r husband) here.  You will find work here if your skillset is in demand; and possibly even 4 days per week (common for mothers, as the schools shut for a 1/2 day each week): childcare might prove a challenge, or you might be lucky if you find a new daycare centre opening up that doesn't make you wait a year or three for a place.  Until you do, make no mistake, you won't be living comfortably on the wage your husband has been offered, as you'd be paying 42% tax on it also.

   

• ExpatLurker

  

  • 18 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 11:28:39 AM CET

  45K for that level of experience sounds extremely low! As osita has already stated, he won't be eligible for the 30% tax rule on that salary as well.
  
  As everyone else is stating here, "If you both have job in singapore then don't spoil it"!
• serendipitysays

  

  • 6 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 5:55:30 PM CET

  Thank you all for your reply .It indeed does make us reconsider the whole move and I do appreciate the input from all of you! We are going to try and negotiate a better salary deal with the Employer
• serendipitysays

  

  • 6 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 6:01:55 PM CET

  If I may ask what is considered a decent take home salary in NL for a family of three? some thing that we'd live comfortably on after taxes....
  Once again I do appreciate your input on this ....
• idearulez

  

  • 27 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 6:35:47 PM CET

  I can say 45K is way too less but cannot say how much will be good enough for your family of three.
  As osita pointed out to qualify for 30% ruling you should be earning > 50K (rules changed start of this year).
  May I ask you why still the move? I mean if situation is going to be bad for you in Singapore then it makes sense, in terms of career/salary hike to me it don't make sense at all.
  You are looking at loosing half of money that used to be credited as salary to your bank account every month after your move here (only one will be employed). Then personally I think dutch are bit weird and xenophobe, you have to also look for the option if you can get job. Put your resume in job sites here in NL and give some local address and see if you get anything +ve out of it.
  If its just the love of Europe then there is something called as schengen VISA just apply for it.
  Other reasons ?
• osita

  

  • 2062 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 6:47:54 PM CET

  In my humble opinion, you need to be asking for a minimum of 51k, and for an agreement that the employer applies (with your husband) for the 30% rule. If you are granted it, you would receive something between 3-3.2k each month net, rather than 2500 without the ruling. The 3 of you can live sufficiently on that amount, but I'd advise you to look at the housing corporations (http://www.rooftrack.nl) for cheaper apartments with small deposit and no finder fees, or keep checking here (the housing forum and also classified ads) as sometimes people leave NL, and need to find new tenants to take over their lease with a private landlord.
  
  If it's possible, perhaps try to find a job here while you're still in Singapore as that way, you too can ask for the 30% rule if you earn over 50000 p.a. If you're both bringing home 3000+ per month, you will be living on Easy Street :) But you need to be recruited from abroad - once you're here, you are classed as 'part of the local labour market' and you won't qualify for the allowance.
  
  
• serendipitysays

  

  • 6 posts
   

  February 12, 2012 4:30:36 AM CET

  Thanks Osita -That was might helpful and it definitely made sense .The move for us was just to explore Europe .My husband has also previously worked in amsterdam for a few months a few years before and liked the work culture ... and a few other things now that we have a baby coming ...We live in easy street here :) so unless the pros weigh far more than the con we probably wont make the move ... and I am going to contact a few local recruitment agents while my husband negotiates his paycheck :) Thanks Again for the input ......