Netherlands Job Search

 

Do not call the Netherlands ‘Holland’, since this refers to a region within this country.

There are many positions that require professionals who are fluent in English and who can speak Dutch at the business conversation level. Not speaking Dutch will not necessarily hurt you.

Although Dutch language is not essential, a sound working knowledge of the language is considered necessary to cope with daily office life and life outside work. Many Dutch companies use English as their corporate language. English is accepted in interviews and business meetings.

Netherlands Basic Data

Background: The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Ethnic groups: Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

Languages: Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)

Economy - overview: The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget position, and is moving toward the EU 3% limit.

Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3% (2002 est.)

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Currency: euro (EUR)

Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

Internet country code: .nl

Netherlands Job Search Info

Now to finalize your job search, if your cover letter and CV are ready, you may email them through our international job search engine to recruiters and executive headhunters.

In addition, on netherlands cover letter, netherlands CV and netherlands job interview pages, you will find useful tips.

Good luck with your Netherlands job search!