THE NETHERLANDS IN SHORT - REFERENCES

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

ACCESS
Non-profit making foundation which aims to help English speakers of all nationalities to settle in and make the most of life in the Netherlands. Maintains a comprehensive database of information and a telephone information service, runs educational seminars and workshops on all manner of topics and has various publications designed to meet the needs of the English-speaking community.
Address The Hague office: Zeestraat 100, 2518 AD The Hague
Tel.: 070 346 25 25, fax: 070 356 13 32
Address Amsterdam office: Herengracht 472 2nd floor, 1017 CA Amsterdam
Tel.: 020 423 32 17, fax: 020 423 34 80
E-mail: info@access-nl.org
Internet: www.access-nl.org

OUTPOST The Hague
The center of a worldwide spouse-to-spouse network providing Shell families with practical information about living conditions in expatriate locations around the world.
Address: Carel van Bylandtlaan 16, 2596 HT The Hague
Tel.: 070 377 65 30, fax: 070 377 14 87
E-mail: outpost@shell.com  
Internet: www.outpostexpat.nl

OUTPOST Amsterdam
Address: Grasweg 31, 1031 HW Amsterdam
Tel.: 020 630 34 44
E-mail: outpost.amsterdam@shell.com  
Internet: http://countrysite.globaloutpostservices.com/amsterdam

The Outpost Assen Welcome Committee
The Information Centre for the northern part of the Netherlands.
It is part of Global Outpost Services in The Hague.
E-mail: outpost.assen@shell.com
Internet: www.outpostassen.nl

The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry in The Hague helps serve the needs of the staff of international organisations and of representatives of other countries (and their families) who have been afforded diplomatic status. Contact the Protocol Department for identity cards, Protocol Guides and further assistance:
Tel.: 070-348 6289
Fax: 070-348 5268
E-mail: dkp@minbuza.nl
Internet: www.minbuza.nl/protocol

WELCOME AND INFORMATION DESKS

The Hague Hospitality Center - Xpat Desk
The Hague City Hall, Atrium
Spui 70, 2511 BT The Hague
Tel.: 070 353 50 43
E-mail: xpatdesk@denhaag.com
Internet: www.denhaag.com

Expat Center Amsterdam Area (ECAA)
WTC Amsterdam, F tower 2nd floor
Strawinskylaan 39, 1077 XW Amsterdam
Tel.: 020 254 79 50
Internet: www.iamsterdam.com/expatcenter 

Expatdesk Rotterdam
Beursplein 37, Room 337/338
3011 AA Rotterdam
Tel.: 010 205 28 29
Fax: 010 205 28 70
E-mail: expatdesk@rotterdam.nl
Internet: www.rotterdam.nl/expatdesk

Expat Guide Holland
The website Expatguideholland.com collates all information and services that are relevant to
internationals who are going to live and work in the Southeast Netherlands. 
Expatguideholland.com answers every question you may have on the matters of formalities, housing, taxation, finance & insurance, education & careers, personal & social needs and culture & leisure. 
And, if you cannot find the answer to your question on the website, just fill in the contact form and our experts will respond to your questions within three days.
E-mail: info@expatguideholland.com  
Internet: www.expatguideholland.com
 
WELCOME FAIRS

I Am Not a Tourist Fair
Welcome fair for expats organized every October at the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
Internet: www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist

Feel at Home in The Hague
This event, organised in September by members of the international community, for the international community, is aimed to showcase the wide variety of clubs, groups and associations that exist in the Hague region.
Internet: www.feelathomeinthehague.com

RECOMMENDED READING

General

The Undutchables – 5.0
By Colin White and Laurie Boucke
Published by White - Boucke Publishing Inc.
A tongue-in-cheek observation of the Netherlands, its culture and its inhabitants.
Internet: www.undutchables.com

The Low Sky, Understanding the Dutch – second edition
By Han van der Horst
Published by Scriptum/Nuffic
The book that makes the Netherlands familiar.
A detailed exploration of the reasons for desire of the Dutch for independence, their sense of respect and their business sense
Internet: www.scriptum.nl - www.hollandbooks.nl  

At Home in Holland
Published by The American Women's Club of The Hague.
A practical guide for foreigners moving to the Netherlands. Provides up-to-date information on the Dutch people, their country and customs, plus practical information about housing, banking, driving, shopping, community and recreation.
Internet: www.awcthehague.org  

Dealing with the Dutch
By Jacob Vossestein
Published by KIT Publishers
The cultural context of business and work in the Netherlands
Internet: www.jacobvossestein.nl - www.hollandbooks.nl

Living with the Dutch
By Norean Sharpe
Published by KIT Publishers
Nurtured in the Netherlands Norean Sharpe accounts of her experiences in this amazing little country in Europe. She gives her private thoughts and comments and makes sharp and witty observations of the Dutch way of life.

The Dutch, I Presume? - Icons of the Netherlands
By Martijn de Rooi
Photography Jurjen Drenth & Friends
Published by Nilsson & Lamm Publishing
Dealing with over 40 prominent features of Holland, this book provides an instant insight in Dutch society. Ranging from Rembrandt to Cruijff, from flowers to food, or from windmills to architecture, it explains to you the soul of the Netherlands and its inhabitants. With informative and often humourous texts and over 400 quality pictures.

Only in Holland, Only the Dutch
By Marc Resch
Published by Rozenberg
An in-depth look into the culture of Holland and its people.
Internet: www.rozenbergps.com or www.hollandbooks.nl

Minding your Manners
A guide to Dutch business & social etiquette
By Magda Berman
Published by Tirion
When (temporarily) moving to another country or another part of the world it is convenient to be more or less familiar with the customs and habits in the new "home country". Becoming acquainted with the "do's and don'ts" will present the newcomer with some interesting challenges.
Internet: www.tirion.nl - www.hollandbooks.nl

How to Survive Holland
Dealing With the Dutch Before They Deal With You
By Martijn de Rooi
The author manages with quick wit, sarcasm and slightly self-deprecating humor to more than adequately convey a rather candid assessment of the Dutch people as a whole. His ability to really explain a country and its folk in such a clear context obviously has a lot to do with the fact that he is both a sociologist and a journalist.
Internet: www.dutchshop.nl or www.hollandbooks.nl

Visions of the Netherlands
Photography: Frans Lemmens
Text: Martijn de Rooi
Like a consummate Dutch old master, photographer Frans Lemmens has painted a rich and colorful portrait of this often-surprising country, the people who live in it and the places and things worth seeing.
Internet: www.dutchshop.nl - www.hollandbooks.nl

Holland Books
Features a wide range of books and travel guides on Holland: www.hollandbooks.nl

Cultural Transition

The Third Culture Kid Experience - The Experience of Growing up among Worlds
By David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken
Internet: www.interculturalpress.com 

When abroad do as local children do - Ori’s guide for young expats
By Hilly van Swol-Ulbrich and Bettina Kältenhauser
Published by XPat Media
This book reaches out to international mobile families with children between 8 and 12 years old.
The activities and assignments in the book encourage the taking of initiatives in exploring the opportunities connected with the new environment.
Internet: www.hollandbooks.nl - www.ori-and-ricki.net

A Moveable Marriage: Relocate Your Relationship without Breaking It
by Robin Pascoe
Published by Expatriate Press Ltd.
Internet: www.expatexpert.com

Homeward Bound – A Spouse’s Guide to Repatriation
By Robin Pascoe
Published by Expatriate Press Ltd.
Internet: www.expatexpert.com

Dutch Language

Dutch for Expats
By Maik Klaassen
Published by VanDorp Educatief/XPat Media
A comprehensive course book intended for adults living and working in the Netherlands who need to learn and practise the essential communication tools of the Dutch language in a limited timeframe. CD-rom included.
Internet: www.nederlandsalstweedetaal.nl

Dutch for self-study
By Hinke van Kampen
Published by Het Spectrum
This book and two cd-roms provide the basic structures of the Dutch language
Internet: www.spectrum.nl 

Totaal – Basic Course Dutch for Non-Native Speakers
By Anneke van den Broek
Basic course for non-native adults who want to learn to communicate on a daily basis in Dutch. The method involves 20 lessons and a cd-rom with more than 10 hours of listening exercises.
Internet: www.nederlandsalstweedetaal.nl

Dutch as Second Language
www.nederlandsalstweedetaal.nl

Dutch for Dummies
By Margreet Kwakernaak
Published by Pearson Education Benelux
Speak Dutch the fun and easy way. With dialogues from the book on audio CD.
Internet: www.dummies.nl

A Dictionary of Dutchness
Published by DutchNews.nl
Do you have to visit the IND, are your children doing VWO and do you live in a Vinex area?
Can you recognise BN'ers and do you know BOB? Have you got a DigiD and are you paying OZB? If this all sounds like double Dutch, then you need this book.
Internet: www.DutchNews.nl

WEBSITES

General

www.holland.com - The Holland website of the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
For useful and fun information on what's on in the Netherlands.

www.expatica.com - News and community portal for expats in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Zwitserland.

www.xpat.nl - The information platform for expatriates in the Netherlands with an event calendar, housing search and a large archive of articles and books on the Netherlands published by XPat Media

www.elynx.nl  - A directory for expats in the Netherlands.

www.outpostexpat.nl - Website of OUTPOST Expatriate Information Center with practical information about living conditions in a.o. the Netherlands.

www.ainp.nl
This virtual library contains information for anyone coming to the Netherlands from another country and wants to get to know Dutch society.
In English, Spanish, French, Russian and Turkish

The Netherlands

Dutch Government
Access to the websites of the Dutch Government Departments and Ministries. www.overheid.nl
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.: www.minbuza.nl/english
Comprehensive information on the Netherlands in many languages. Also: news, ethical issues, foreign policy and contact information for all ministries and diplomatic missions.

The Dutch Royal Family
www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english  

EVD (Netherlands Foreign Trade Agency)
www.evd.nl
www.hollandtrade.com

NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency)
www.nfia.nl

Weather Information

www.knmi.nl
www.weer.nl
www.weathernews.nl
www.buienradar.nl  

Dutch History

www.minbuza.nl/history : this website covers Dutch history from 50 BC to 2005 and is maintained by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is meant as an introduction to Dutch history for foreigners and provides a concise overview of the
highlights of Dutch history. 
Users can search within eight themes by date. Click on the 'read more' buttons for more detailed information on
each period. The site is beautifully illustrated and is available in five languages.

www.studybuddy.nl : StudyBuddy provides chronological overviews of history and historical maps organized by country and contains a concise history of Holland in English: on the map click on Europe and select The Netherlands.

More on this subject can be found in The Holland Handbook 2010 - 2011