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In this guide
This comparison is aimed at people choosing between the two destinations. It uses Dutch and Japanese official sources; where there is no official source this guide does not give a number.
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.
Quick answer: The two countries differ most in language of daily administration, in how health insurance is organised and in the visa routes. Costs depend on city and lifestyle, so compare official statistics and real listings rather than country averages.
Country Overview
The Netherlands had 18,130,208 inhabitants on 1 January 2026 (CBS).
Japan had a population of 123.05 million at the 1 October 2025 census (Statistics Bureau of Japan).
Visas and Immigration
Moving to the Netherlands
For non-EU citizens, the main routes include:
Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant). For professionals sponsored by a recognised employer. Salary thresholds in 2026: €5,942 gross per month (age 30 and over) or €4,357 (under 30). The IND’s target decision period is 2 weeks when a recognised sponsor submits a complete application (legal maximum 90 days).
Orientation Year Visa. For recent graduates of eligible universities who want to look for work.
Self-Employed Permit (Zelfstandige). For entrepreneurs who meet the IND’s criteria.
Family Reunification. For partners and children of residents.
See the IND for the current conditions.
Moving to Japan
According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA):
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP). A points-based system. Highly skilled professionals can apply for permanent residence after 3 years with 70 points or more, or after 1 year with 80 points or more, instead of the standard 10 years (ISA).
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. A common status for professional work. Check the ISA for the conditions.
Specified Skilled Worker. A status for specified sectors with labour shortages. Check the ISA for the sectors and requirements.
Working Holiday. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists working holiday arrangements with 32 countries and regions as of 1 April 2026. The Netherlands is on the list (since 2020, 200 visas a year). The applicant must be between 18 and 30 at the time of application (for some countries, 18 to 25 unless extended) and, for Dutch nationals, must be living in the Netherlands (MOFA).
Permanent residence under the standard rules requires 10 years in Japan.
Cost of Living
This guide does not give cost-of-living figures for either country, because comparable official figures per city were not available for this update. Use CBS for Dutch statistics and the Statistics Bureau of Japan for Japanese statistics, check current rental listings in your target cities, and convert at the exchange rate on the day.
In the Netherlands, basic health insurance costs €157 per month on average in 2026 (Rijksoverheid).
Healthcare
Netherlands
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out Dutch basic health insurance (zorgverzekering), no later than 4 months after arriving, with coverage from the day of arrival. You pay €157 per month on average plus the compulsory annual deductible (eigen risico) of €385. Dental care, physiotherapy and glasses need supplementary insurance if you want cover.
Japan
Japan has universal health insurance. Employees are normally enrolled in their employer’s health insurance (shakai hoken); other residents join the national health insurance run by their municipality. The Japan Pension Service notes that employers are responsible for enrolling eligible employees. Patients share part of the cost; check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the current rates.
Language support in clinics differs between places, so check the options in your city.
Work and Professional Life
Netherlands
Check the Dutch work culture guide for how Dutch workplaces operate. The 30% ruling can be a benefit for highly skilled migrants who qualify: the salary norm is €48,013 per year (excluding the tax-free allowance), see the 30% ruling guide.
Japan
Workplace language and norms depend on the employer. Many workplaces use Japanese; check the working language of the job you are offered. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare runs the Employment Service Centres for Foreigners (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka) for job-seekers (MOFA).
Language
Netherlands: Dutch is the official language and the everyday language of administration. English is widely used in many workplaces, but learning Dutch helps with integration.
Japan: Japanese is the official language and the language of most official procedures.
Climate
Netherlands: at De Bilt the long-term average (KNMI, 1991-2020) is 10.5°C a year, with average daily maximums of 6 to 7°C in December to February and 21 to 23°C in June to August, and about 855 mm of precipitation a year. See our Netherlands climate guide.
Japan: the climate varies a lot between regions, from heavy snow in the north to a subtropical climate in Okinawa. The Japan Meteorological Agency publishes climate normals for each city; check the city you are considering. Japan is also exposed to earthquakes and typhoons, so read the official disaster-preparedness information for your area.
Education
Netherlands: public schools teach in Dutch; some cities have international schools and international programmes. Fees are set by each school, so check their fee pages.
Japan: public schools teach in Japanese; international schools exist in major cities. Fees are set by each school.
Social Integration
Language, local networks and the length of your stay all affect how settled you feel, in either country. Joining clubs, sports teams or community groups is a practical way to meet people. See making friends in the Netherlands and the lonely expat guide.
Summary Table
| Factor | Netherlands | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18.13 million (1 Jan 2026, CBS) | 123.05 million (1 Oct 2025, Statistics Bureau) |
| Everyday language of administration | Dutch | Japanese |
| Health insurance | Compulsory private basic insurance, deductible €385 | Universal employer or municipal insurance |
| Skilled-worker permanent residence | See the IND for the current conditions | HSP 1 or 3 years with enough points; standard 10 years |
Banking and Money
Netherlands Banking
A BSN is not always needed to open a Dutch bank account: ABN AMRO lets you open one in its app and hand in the BSN within 120 days (Dutch address required), and ING gives non-EEA passport holders 90 days to provide BSN and Dutch address. The main expat-friendly banks are ABN AMRO, ING, and Bunq, a digital bank with an English-language app. Bunq’s paid personal plans cost Core €3.99, Pro €9.99 and Elite €18.99 per month.
For international transfers, compare the fees and exchange rates of your bank and of Wise before you send money; Wise publishes its fee calculator on its own site.
Open a Wise account — multi-currency banking for expats in the Netherlands or Japan
Japan Banking
Requirements for opening a bank account in Japan differ by bank. Ask your employer or the bank which documents they need once you have your residence card.
Who Chooses Which
People choose the Netherlands for English-language workplaces, EU residency access and the Dutch residence routes above. People choose Japan for the culture, the working holiday scheme (for eligible nationalities) or a job offer. The best choice depends on your job offer, language skills and family situation.
Practical Guide for Expats Making the Move
The First Weeks in the Netherlands
- Register at the gemeente (municipal office) with your passport and proof of address; this gives you your BSN.
- Open a Dutch bank account (see above for the BSN deadlines of ABN AMRO and ING).
- Arrange Dutch health insurance within 4 months of arriving; cover starts from the day of arrival.
- Register with a local GP (huisarts).
- If you have a 30% ruling, your employer handles the application together with you; confirm the process with HR.
- Set up DigiD for government digital services.
The First Weeks in Japan
Official sources describe the following steps:
- You must register your address at the municipal office within 14 days of finding a place to settle (MOFA, working holiday page; the same address rule applies to other residents, check with your municipal office).
- Employees are enrolled in their employer’s health insurance and pension schemes; others join the national schemes at the municipal office.
Many Japanese administrative forms are only in Japanese, so arrange help from a colleague or a support desk for your first steps.
Pensions and Long-Term Retirement Planning
Netherlands
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is insured for the state pension (AOW). The AOW builds up at 2% per year of insurance in the 50 years before your state pension age; the full AOW (50 years) is €1,662.16 per month for a single person from 1 July 2026 (SVB), so 10 years give 20% of it. State pension age is 67 until the end of 2027 (Rijksoverheid). Many employers also offer an occupational pension, often mandatory by sector.
If you leave the Netherlands, your accrued AOW is paid at state pension age wherever you live.
For investing outside the pension system: see our comparison of Meesman vs DEGIRO and best ETF platforms in the Netherlands.
Japan
Japan has a national pension system (employees’ pension insurance for employees and the National Pension for the self-employed and others). The National Pension contribution for the fiscal year April 2026 to March 2027 is JPY 17,920 per month (Japan Pension Service).
If you are not Japanese and leave Japan after a short coverage period, you can apply for a lump-sum withdrawal payment. You must apply within two years after you leave Japan, you must have been covered for at least six months, and you must no longer be covered by the Japanese pension systems. After you receive the payment, the coverage periods it was based on no longer count for future pension rights. The upper limit of the payment is being raised from five to eight years under the pension reform. See the Japan Pension Service for current rules.
Japan has social security agreements with a number of countries that let pension periods be combined; check whether your home country has one.
Internal Resources
- Netherlands vs Nigeria for Expats 2026
- Netherlands vs Philippines for Expats 2026
- Life Insurance for Expats in Netherlands 2026
- MVV Visa and Family Reunification Netherlands
- Diploma Recognition Netherlands: Expat Guide
- Lonely Expat Netherlands: Finding Community
- Retiring in the Netherlands: Expat Guide
- Best Health Insurance Add-Ons Netherlands 2026
External source: IND — Residence permits — independent information on this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Japan or the Netherlands more expensive for expats?
This guide does not give a ranking. Living costs depend on city, housing and lifestyle, and a fair comparison needs current official statistics from both countries (CBS in the Netherlands, the Statistics Bureau of Japan) and the exchange rate on the day. Compare real rental listings and your own budget for the cities you are considering.
Which is harder to integrate into, Japan or the Netherlands?
Language and local networks matter in both countries. Dutch is the everyday language in the Netherlands and Japanese in Japan, and administrative forms in both countries are mainly in the local language. Plan language learning and a local social network before you move.
Do I need to speak Japanese to live in Japan?
Many official procedures in Japan are in Japanese, and larger city offices may offer support in other languages. Plan to learn at least basic Japanese, or to have help for the first administrative steps.
Which country has better healthcare for expats, Japan or the Netherlands?
Both countries have universal health insurance. In the Netherlands you must take out basic health insurance yourself within 4 months of arriving and pay an annual deductible (eigen risico); in Japan you join your employer's insurance or the national health insurance run by your municipality. Check the cost-sharing rules of each scheme on the official sites.
Can Dutch, British or Australian citizens move to either country with a working holiday?
For Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists working holiday arrangements with 32 countries and regions as of 1 April 2026, including the Netherlands (200 visas a year since 2020), generally for ages 18 to 30; you must live in your country of nationality when you apply. The Netherlands has its own Working Holiday permit for nine nationalities, including Japan (ages 18 to 30, a maximum of 200 Japanese a year, IND). British and Australian citizens need a residence permit for the Netherlands; Australians are covered by the Dutch Working Holiday scheme.