My name is Madhu. I moved from India to The Netherlands in 2009 along with my family. To help my colleagues, I started putting in my experiences in a small blog…..from a common man’s perspective. But soon I realized it was helping a much larger audience! Feel free to leave a comment/question and I will try and answer them!
Initially I started my blog with http://indiansinnetherlands.blogspot.com. Since the comments section filled up leaving no more space and also for my own experience, I decided to go for my own website. With my programming interests, I decided to build the website ground up myself…:)
As a family we travel around Europe mainly from a sightseeing perspective. So, I added a lot of details about the 50+ places we have visited in Europe……you can see them here: http://sightseeingineurope.2migrate.com and will keep adding more!! Proud to tell you that I have a few followers that refer my travel dairies for their vacation planning 
. Out of this extensive experience, one fine day I decided to organize tours for our community in Netherlands….and as a result http://www.skandatravels.com was born….why “Skanda” — you can see me in the picture holding him!
Feel free to leave me comment/ask question….I will share my experience 🙂
Dear Madhu,
I got a confirmation for PhD at the Leiden University. Can you please tell me whether I still need to get my birth certificate apostiled/legalised ? Is this rule still in existence? Or can I produce other documents like passport etc in place of a apostiled Birth Certificate?
Thanks and Regards,
Avik
Hi, I heard the need for BC has been removed from this year…not sure about it. But if it is required, then passport and other documents are not a replacement for birth certificate. Regards.
Thank you very much for this informative website. I am not an Indian nor from India but this website is really helping people. We just moved to Eindhoven recently and we are very much in the dark and this website had shed some lights on what are the things tht we need to know. Thanks again
Thanks Yati! I’m glad it helped….does not matter Indian or not 🙂
Dear Madhu
We just came back from a holiday trip to netherlands and belgium. Wish I had seen your site before departure nevertheless I found Netherlands mostly a friendly country with great transport and not to miss the scenic beauty.
hi,
I am from pune city of India, doing the business of cng and lpg gas conversion in cars, one company inviting for training at Endhoven for week what should I bring coming in first week of November
Hi, make sure you have good warm clothing that is good for an outside temperature of about 5 degree centigrade. If your hotel accomodation has microwave or a small kitchen, you can considering bringing some ready to eat food as well.
Hi Madhu,
This is very good and your are doing great job to help people.
i am proud as an Indian your doing this.
i am working as Web Designer let me know if you need any help.
you can email me to gajulasidhu@gmail.com
Thanks
Sidd
Hello Sir,
Just read you comment. I am a recent CS Graduate from Hyderabad, planning to move to Netherlands. Can you please let me know about the how the AI/Cybersecurity Universities are in Netherlands? And any part-time jobs for IT Graduates? Please let know about more about the Tech situations in Netherlands & Jobs. Thank you!
You should probably ask in some FB group for Indian students.
Hi Madhu,
This is Rathi from Bangalore,India. Me and my husband will be travelling to NL in a few days time. First of all before I say anything, I thank you so much for this blog. It is a very encouraging blog for people absolutely new to NL 🙂
I have a few questions on the stay. We will be staying only for a couple of months. So we were thinking of a reasonably priced place to live. So I am requesting for suggestions as to whom to contact in NL for such a place. Can we do any booking for such a place from India or one should do it from NL?
The work place is Herikerberg 2. We are ok for a little bit of travel as well to and from office.
Eagerly waiting for your reply
Thanks in advance
Hi Rathi, if you are coming for short term, your employer should arrange for the accommodation. Ask your employer for it. If this is not possible, your option is to check with a housing agent. But it will be expensive because you have to pay agency fees as well. It may be cheaper to just stay in a hotel. The address you have given seems to be just street name. Normally rent is cheaper in the outskirts.
I recently got an offer in netherlands and it seems a birth certificate is required. my birth certificate has a spelling mistake with respect to mother’s name ( ee to i) . will this create a problem for work permit/ residence permit?. or is it fine if i have secondary documents such as my passport and certificate showing the correct name?
Hi Anish, while I cannot guarantee, as long as your name is correct, I don’t think there will be a problem. Your error is very minor.
Hi Madhu,
Thank you so much for sharing your Netherlands experience with all of us. This site is of tremendous help for anyone travelling to NL.
I myself is travelling in next two weeks for work assignment for a year in Amsterdam. Though I am travelling alone, my wife would join me after couple of month. I just wanted to know if Birth certificate is required for wife as well? She won’t be working there. We will have legalized Marriage certificate but her Birth certificate will take lot of time due to some court processes.
Appreciate if you suggest anything in this regard.
Thank you,
Anurag
Hi Anurag, when you single, it is not required. But for married people, there is a lot of confusion regarding the need for birth certificate. Most say it is not required, but some say it is required. I think it also depends on the city you are moving to. I would suggest to put your question in facebook group for Amsterdam. You will know the latest status.
Hi,
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience here and it’s really of great help to anyone who is looking to move to NL.
I just would like to know if you could please let me know how to apply for jobs in NL. I have completed my post graduation in UK and looking for jobs in other European countries particularly NL. Kindly help me out with your suggestions if possible.
Thanks again.
indeed.nl and monsterboard.nl are popular.
also keep checking company websites
Dear madhu, this is riaz khan cinemtographer from india, living london, we been assighn for telefilm project, mainstream network in UK, based on i need to film 40min episode in hollond, pls let me knw if you u aware of any writers who write fiction based on south asians in netherland, i have few local freinds who is helping me with cast there, but they dont aware any local author, or book,
pls let me knw if you need more details,looking forward to hear you
thnx
07404485636
london
Hi Riaz, I have no idea.
Madhu your blog has been very helpful, it sorted many things for me, still i have a question maybe difficult for you to answer, but would be grateful if you help me out.
i am a doctor in India ( MBBS), i would be shifting to Netherlands with my husband for a period of approx 4 to 5 years after which he may keep hopping countries, or even settle there.
i don’t want to be a homemaker, but its difficult to get a job in medical field there.
as per my research it start with dutch language proficiency score, then applying to many concerned authorities and also finding some senior medical faculty who will agree to be my mentor , after all that and much more i may get a residency there.
my questions are
1. how difficult is the dutch language to learn, and how much time will it take to get professional level score?
( i am fluent in English and a fast learner)
2. have you ever met any Indian doctor there? or even south east Asian? because despite all the theoretical information , i will still need someone who has done it for real help.
i am in a fix and very critical situation here, in the middle of my career and with a will to net end my career for which i worked very hard.
do answer
and i would love to be a part of the Indian community there.
1. I know Indians who speak very good Dutch….though on average they probably took 2 years. You will need to take courses.
2. None that I know who has been able to build a medical career. Try asking this on Facebook group for help from wider audience. I however know a dentist who studied Dutch, joined college and is now into research in her area.
Hello Mr. Madhu!!
I recently came across your blog through random google search and really liked the kind of information you put up here. Hence I thought of approaching you with some genuine concerns that I have at present.
I am an Indian girl and will be travelling to NL(Delft) for a 4 month semester (as a part of a 2 year Master course).
Unfortunately I havent received a scholarship and I am in real tension of managing my finances during my stint in Europe. The institute has booked some pre-reserved rooms at the student hotel (in Hague), but the costs are too high..575 euros a month..Moreover if one lives there, there will be a regular transportation cost to the institute, which is also quite high…and I dont think so I can bike for 30 minutes at 5 degree temperatures.
I would be glad if you let me know about any cheap accomodation with basic utilities for this 4 month period from October to February..The address must come with the option of registration, which is a rule of the institute.
Thank you!!!
I do not live in Delft. Your best bet is to search for a relevant facebook group from your university.
Hi Mathu,
Thanks much for this informative website. My company is transferring me to Netherlands in the near future and my daughter is studying in India -CBSE 12th class. Can you guide me on what are the UG study options in English available in Netherlands for my daughter to pursue her UG studies
Warm regards
Senthil Kumar
I know it is possible. But no further info. Check at Fontys college, Eindhoven for more information.
Hi Madhu,
First of all you are doing a great service. Thank you for such valuable information which helps people who are travelling for the first time.
I work for a MNC in Hyderabad and i would be deployed in Utrecht for more than 9 months. I got my BC legalized recently. But my Name in BC is in short form i.e due to character constraints they have considered the Initial Letters of my first and Middle name against the name provided in passport(in passport we give the whole name). So i have a doubt if this is an issue ? If So what could be the issue?
For safety reasons i have done Attestation of the BC,is this sufficient ?
Usually they are not very fussy about BC. But you can never be sure.
Hello Mr Madhu,
Thanks for so much useful information. For doctors, who have done MD in Pathology in INDIA and want to enter Netherlands / Amsterdam ,what might be the compulsion to be fluent in Dutch to practise?? My view is that pathology is NON CLINICAL ; hence Pathologists normally interact with other clinical doctors and assess the findings of the test reports.
Would be glad to hear your views. Thanks, Suresh
no idea. ask in facebook groups.
Hello Mr Madhu ,
How did you manage to start a company with you KNM visa ? Could you share some information on that . Thanks Chinmaya
go to kvk.nl and register
Dear Madhu
I came across your site and I must say you are doing a fantastic job. i am living in Portugal with my wife (Residence and Dependent Visa) and am planning to move to Netherlands (Eindhoven). My company in Eindhoven is applying for my work permit and my wife will also join me.
The company helping me with the permit has asked me to get legalized documents of marriage certificate and birth certificate and also mentioned that the documents should not be more than 6 months old. My marriage certificate is already apostilled but it is an old certificate (3 years old with an apostille done recently i.e 7 months) Do I have to reissue new Birth and marriage certificate and apostille them again?
Ideally re-apostille is needed.
Hi,
I am a Ph.D. student and would like to file my ITR (income tax return). Have you looked into this before? Any previous experience that you would share could be helpful.
No idea
Hi Madhu,
I am indian living in pune .I have received offer from Netherlands based employer and visa type would be Highly skilled Migrants . But my problem is I am living with mother , she is at age of 63 and completely dependent one me . I am the only son of her to take of her .My employer is sponsoring visa to me but not to my mother . I am really worried as should I accept this offer , but if yes how can I take my mother for stay with me for more than 90 days or longer stays . Please help .
Waiting for your reply.
Thanks,
Ranjit
Not possible as far as I know.
Hi Madhu, I really really appreciate your time, efforts to help fellow Indians to help via your blog. It helps immensely, i may be travel to Amsterdam soon if everything goes well.
It would be great if you can add a section of Current COVID-19 pandemic situation. Including Travel, Visa and house hunting and other related activities. I am sure many people would appreciate that.
COVID-19 information is very dynamic…changes very frequently. To get the real experience, Facebook groups are the best. Visa and House hunting are already in the blog under different menu items. If you have specific questions/pointers, please do let me know and I can update the blog accordingly.
Hi Madhu,
My name is Tamar Oderwald, I am a student of cultural anthropology in Utrecht, and together with my research partner Flori Visser, I will be writing a thesis on the relationship between food and identity for Indian migrants in the Netherlands. We are currently looking for people who might be open to share their knowledge on this topic with us. We came across your blog and really enjoyed reading it. We wanted to ask you if you might be open to helping us for our research, or if you know anyone who might be.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
Tamar
Hi Tamar, hope you have found suitable candidates for this already. I could help or you can also check in facebook groups.