Netherlands vs China for Expats 2026

Comparing the Netherlands and China as expat destinations is not a simple ranking exercise. These are profoundly different environments that suit profoundly different people and situations. I have met expats who thrived in Shanghai for a decade and found moving back to Europe a genuine loss. I have also met people who lasted six months in Beijing and left with lasting respect for internet access and grey Dutch skies.

This comparison is honest about both. It is aimed at professionals weighing an international assignment or voluntary relocation between these two destinations — or people who have been offered a choice and are genuinely trying to decide.

Quick Overview

Visas and Getting to Each Country

The Netherlands: Kennismigrant

As covered in detail elsewhere on this site, the Dutch Kennismigrant permit requires employer sponsorship from a recognised IND sponsor company, a salary above EUR 46,107 (2026), and processes in 2–4 weeks. It gives you full Schengen area travel rights and leads to permanent residency after 5 years.

The system is efficient, predictable, and employer-friendly — which is part of why the Netherlands attracts so many international companies and their staff.

China: Z-Visa and Work Residence Permit

To work legally in China, you need a Z-visa (work visa), which converts to a Residence Permit for Work (工作类居留许可) once inside the country.

Requirements (2026):

• A job offer from a registered Chinese employer
• A work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources (the employer applies)
• Minimum age 18, usually maximum 65 for most categories
• Clean criminal record
• Physical examination at a designated hospital
• Degree verification

Talent visa tiers (as of recent reform): China has restructured its visa system into talent categories:

• Category A: High-end talent, senior executives, specific experts
• Category B: Professional foreigners in listed skill areas
• Category C: General foreign workers

The practical paperwork is substantial and varies by city (Shanghai and Beijing have efficient processes for international companies; other cities can be more bureaucratic). Renewal every 1–3 years is standard. Long-term residency (green card / permanent residence permit) in China has historically been very difficult to obtain and is only granted to a small number of expats per year.

Practical comparison: For predictability, speed, and resulting rights, the Dutch Kennismigrant is significantly simpler. The Chinese system works, but it involves more documentation, more frequent renewals, and more employer dependency.

Salaries and Compensation

The Expat Package Model in China

Historically, Western expats in China were offered “expatriate packages” including housing allowance, international school fees, home leave flights, and premium health insurance on top of salary. This model still exists for senior assignments but has become less common for locally-hired international professionals.

Senior assigned expat (multinational company): Salary CNY 500,000–1,500,000+ plus housing, schooling, insurance — total cost to employer can be EUR 150,000–300,000+ Locally hired professional expat (Shanghai/Beijing): CNY 200,000–600,000 gross (~EUR 25,000–75,000), typically no housing or schooling allowance

Netherlands: EUR 55,000–110,000 gross for professional roles, plus the 30% ruling for qualifying expats which dramatically improves effective net pay.

The comparison: A fully-packaged senior assignment in China can be financially exceptional. A locally-hired expat contract in China, especially without housing and school allowances, often looks less competitive once you factor in the cost of international schooling, expat-standard housing, and international healthcare in Shanghai or Beijing.

For most professional expats comparing like-for-like (locally hired, professional role), the Netherlands competes well especially with the 30% ruling applied.

Tax in Each Country

China income tax (Individual Income Tax — IIT): China uses a progressive system with rates from 3% to 45% for employment income. A CNY 500,000 (approx. EUR 63,000) salary faces an effective rate of around 25–30%. There are deductions available for housing, children’s education, and other items.

Key China tax note for expats: The 183-day rule determines tax residency. If you spend 183+ days in China in a tax year, you are a Chinese tax resident and taxed on global income. China has tax treaties with many countries to avoid double taxation, but the details are complex and professional tax advice is worthwhile.

Netherlands: Progressive rates of 36.97% (up to EUR 38,441) and 49.5% above — high in headline terms but the 30% ruling for qualifying expats reduces the effective rate significantly (see our dedicated 30% ruling guide).

Cost of Living

Housing

Shanghai (1-bedroom in a Western-standard compound, central): CNY 8,000–18,000/month (~EUR 1,000–2,250) Shanghai (local market standard, central): CNY 5,000–10,000/month (~EUR 625–1,250) Beijing (similar range): slightly lower than Shanghai

Amsterdam (1-bedroom, city centre): EUR 1,600–2,400/month Rotterdam / Utrecht: EUR 1,200–1,800/month

On face value, Shanghai is cheaper than Amsterdam for housing — but this comparison is partly misleading. Expat-standard housing in Shanghai (with gym, security, Western appliances, air filtration systems) costs significantly more than local market housing. Many expats find they need to pay for air purifiers and premium housing to maintain standards they consider acceptable.

Groceries and Food

Local Chinese food (restaurants, street food, supermarkets): significantly cheaper than the Netherlands. A local restaurant meal in Shanghai: CNY 20–60 (EUR 2.50–7.50). A café coffee: CNY 30–50 (EUR 4–6).

Imported Western food: expensive. Cheese, wine, certain meats, Western breakfast cereal — all cost more in China than in the Netherlands due to import duties and distribution costs.

Netherlands: Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl — well-priced by Western European standards. Dining out is moderate.

Schools

International schooling in Shanghai or Beijing: EUR 15,000–30,000+ per child per year. For a family with two school-age children, this is EUR 30,000–60,000/year.

Netherlands: State schools (Dutch language) are free. International schools: EUR 10,000–25,000/year. Many expat children eventually attend Dutch state schools, which are excellent.

This is a major difference for families. If your employer does not cover international school fees in China, the cost of raising school-age children there is substantially higher than in the Netherlands.

Internet Freedom and the Great Firewall

This deserves a dedicated section because it affects daily life more significantly than most expats anticipate before arriving in China.

What is Blocked in China

The Great Firewall blocks (as of 2026):

• Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive, Meet, YouTube, all services)
• Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)
• Twitter/X
• Telegram
• Zoom (periodically)
• BBC News, New York Times, many international news sites
• Wikipedia (periodically)
• Dropbox, many cloud services
• Thousands of other sites and services

For professional expats who use Google Workspace, this means your work email, calendar, documents, and video calls may be inaccessible without a VPN. This is genuinely disruptive and not a minor inconvenience — it requires active management.

Using a VPN in China

Most expats use a VPN to access blocked services. This is technically illegal in China (use of unauthorised VPNs), though in practice it is generally tolerated for foreigners in daily use. The risk is not zero, but prosecution of ordinary expats for personal VPN use is extremely rare.

The challenge: China’s authorities actively detect and block VPN protocols. Standard VPN connections often stop working during politically sensitive periods (national holidays, party congresses) or after updates to the Great Firewall. VPNs that use obfuscation — disguising VPN traffic to look like normal HTTPS — are significantly more reliable.

NordVPN has obfuscated server capability and is used by many expats in China as part of their setup. The key practical advice is:

1. Download and install your VPN before arriving in China — VPN provider websites are often blocked inside the country
2. Set up obfuscated servers in your VPN settings
3. Have a backup VPN as a second option
4. Accept that no VPN works 100% of the time in China

Get NordVPN — reliable obfuscated servers for use in restricted internet environments

In the Netherlands, there is no internet censorship. You can access everything. This sounds obvious but becomes very noticeable as a contrast if you have lived in China.

Healthcare

The Netherlands

Mandatory basisverzekering covering GP, hospital, mental health, and most medicines. EUR 145–175/month plus EUR 385 annual excess. High quality, well-organised, good English support at most facilities.

China

Healthcare in China has two distinct tiers:

Local public hospitals: Very cheap, technically competent for many procedures, but often overcrowded, with limited English language support, and standards of comfort and communication that many Western expats find difficult.

International/private hospitals and clinics: Available in Shanghai, Beijing, and other major cities (United Family Hospital, Parkway Health, SinoUnited Health). Excellent quality with English-speaking doctors, Western medical standards, and short waiting times — but very expensive. A GP consultation: CNY 500–1,500 (~EUR 60–190). Insurance at international standard costs CNY 20,000–60,000+/year (~EUR 2,500–7,500/year) for individual coverage.

Air quality consideration: Northern China cities (Beijing, Xi’an, Harbin) have significant air quality issues, with annual PM2.5 averages well above WHO guidelines. Long-term exposure has documented health impacts. Shanghai is better but still exceeds WHO guidelines regularly. Many expats with respiratory conditions, young children, or health concerns factor this into their decisions.

Work Culture

Chinese Workplaces

Work culture varies dramatically between a multinational company operating in China and a domestic Chinese company.

Multinational companies in China (operating international standards): typically similar work culture to a European or American equivalent, though Chinese colleagues may work longer hours and communication styles differ.

Domestic Chinese companies: The ‘996’ culture (9am–9pm, 6 days/week) has been documented and publicised. While it is being challenged by younger Chinese workers and some recent regulatory attention, it remains a reality in many tech and e-commerce companies. Hierarchy is explicit and important — addressing seniors appropriately matters. Decisions flow through seniority structures more than in flat Dutch organisations.

Guanxi (relationships): Business relationships in China are deeply personal. Trust is built through face-to-face time, meals, and mutual obligation. Purely transactional, email-based working relationships do not function as well in the Chinese context as in a Dutch office.

Dutch Workplaces

The Netherlands is famous for flat hierarchy, direct communication, and work-life balance. Leaving work at 5pm is normal and culturally acceptable. Part-time working — even at professional levels — is common and not career-damaging. Consensus (polder model) is genuinely important in decision-making: managers will consult their teams, and ignoring team input is culturally unusual.

If you value clear working hours, direct feedback, and flat organisational structures, the Dutch environment suits that style well.

Safety and Legal Environment

Netherlands

Rule of law in the EU sense. Clear legal protections for residents regardless of nationality. Low crime rates in major cities. Air quality is fine.

China

Physical street safety in major cities is genuinely good — lower street crime rates than most Western comparably-sized cities. Traffic is chaotic and pedestrian/cyclist accidents are a real risk.

The more significant consideration is the legal environment:

• China’s National Security Law is broad and has been applied in ways that differ significantly from Western legal frameworks
• Data security laws affect how businesses and individuals handle data — relevant for professionals with access to sensitive information
• Dual nationality is not recognised by China — if you hold Chinese and another nationality, China considers you Chinese when in China
• There are cases of expats being detained during legal disputes, including in the context of business conflicts — the concept of “exit bans” exists in China (preventing individuals from leaving while legal matters are pending)

For most ordinary professional expats working in multinational companies, these risks are manageable and in practice rarely relevant. But the legal environment is materially different from the Netherlands and from what most Western expats are used to.

Summary: Which Destination Suits You?

Choose the Netherlands if you:

• Value unrestricted internet access and free speech protections
• Have school-age children and cannot rely on an employer school allowance
• Want EU legal protections and predictable residency rules
• Prioritise work-life balance, cycling infrastructure, and a compact lifestyle
• Prefer a clear, flat workplace culture with direct communication
• Are in professional fields well-served by the Dutch market (tech, finance, logistics, international organisations)

Consider China if you:

• Are offered a senior assigned expatriate package with full housing, schooling, and insurance benefits
• Have a specific professional or cultural interest in China (Mandarin speakers, people with existing guanxi, those building a China-specific career)
• Are genuinely interested in the energy, scale, and pace of China’s major cities
• Can handle the internet restrictions with a reliable VPN setup
• Are adaptable to a significantly different cultural and legal environment
• Are based in Shanghai or Beijing where the international community is large and well-supported

Further Reading on ExpatNetherlandsHub

• Netherlands vs Australia for expats
• How to find a job in the Netherlands
• Best Dutch health insurance plans compared
• Short-stay furnished housing in the Netherlands
• Dutch trains and transport guide
• Crypto tax in the Netherlands for expats
• Buying second-hand in the Netherlands
• Retiring in the Netherlands: full guide

FAQ

Can expats use their normal apps and websites in China?

No. China maintains what is commonly called the Great Firewall — a system of internet censorship that blocks Google (all services), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, YouTube, Twitter/X, many news websites, and thousands of other platforms. Accessing these services requires a VPN. Not all VPNs work reliably in China — the authorities actively detect and block VPN traffic, and many consumer VPN apps stop functioning during politically sensitive periods. Expats in China who need reliable access to Google Workspace, international news, and communication apps consistently find that a high-quality, obfuscated VPN is a non-negotiable part of daily life.

How does the cost of living in China compare to the Netherlands for expats?

China is cheaper for many daily expenses — food in local restaurants, public transport, domestic services, and consumer electronics are significantly cheaper than in the Netherlands. However, the cost of living that matters most to Western expats often looks different: international school fees (EUR 15,000–30,000/year per child), expat-standard housing in Shanghai or Beijing CBD areas, imported food products, and international healthcare at Western-standard clinics in China can be extremely expensive. An expat package in Shanghai covering housing, schooling, and international healthcare can cost an employer EUR 100,000–200,000 on top of the salary. The Netherlands is expensive for housing and healthcare but more uniformly so — there is less of the two-tier economy that expats encounter in China.

Is it safe for expats to live in China in 2026?

Physical safety in China’s major cities is generally very good — street crime rates in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen are low. Traffic is more chaotic than Western standards, which is a genuine risk. The more significant safety concern for many expats is political and legal. China has laws relating to data security, national security, and speech that are broad and sometimes applied to foreigners. Dual nationals (China does not recognise dual nationality) can face complications. Journalists and some activists have been detained. For most professional expats working in multinational companies, these risks are manageable but the legal environment is meaningfully different from both the Netherlands and most Western countries.

What is the work culture like in China compared to the Netherlands?

Chinese workplace culture, particularly in domestic companies and startups, often involves long hours — the ‘996’ culture (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) is well-documented in Chinese tech, though enforcement varies and is increasingly challenged by younger workers. Hierarchy is important; seniority is respected. Relationships (guanxi) matter enormously for business outcomes. The Netherlands, by contrast, has one of the strongest work-life balance cultures in the world — part-time working is very common, leaving at 5pm is normal and unremarkable, and flat hierarchy is the norm. For someone who values clear boundaries between work and personal life, the adjustment to Chinese domestic workplace culture can be significant.

Which country is easier for expats to get a residence and work permit — Netherlands or China?

The Netherlands Kennismigrant permit is employer-sponsored, processes in 2–4 weeks, and gives you full freedom of movement within the Schengen area. China’s work visa system (typically a Z-visa leading to a Residence Permit for Work) also requires employer sponsorship and has become more structured since the Foreign Talent Visa category introduced in recent years. Processing times and required documentation can be extensive in China. Renewal processes, visa runs, and documentation requirements in China are generally more administratively demanding than in the Netherlands. Both require employer sponsorship, but the Dutch system is faster and the resulting residency is more predictable to manage.

Do I need a VPN in China and which ones work?

Most expats living or working in China use a VPN to access blocked services. The challenge is that China actively blocks VPN traffic, and not all VPNs work consistently. VPNs with obfuscation technology — which disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic — are generally more reliable in China than standard VPN protocols. NordVPN includes obfuscated servers and is used by many expats in China as part of their toolkit. Download and configure your VPN before arriving in China — once you are inside the country, downloading VPN software itself can be difficult because many VPN provider websites are also blocked.

Related Expat Guides

March 18, 2026

Dutch Bureaucracy: Expat Survival Guide 2026

March 18, 2026

Dutch Culture & Humor Explained for Expats

March 18, 2026

Moving to NL from UK Post-Brexit 2026