In this guide
This page collects figures about life in the Netherlands for newcomers. Every figure names its source: CBS (Statistics Netherlands), the Belastingdienst, Rijksoverheid, IND, DUO and other official bodies. Figures were last checked against their sources in October 2026. Where a number changes during the year, the date or year it applies to is shown. We leave out figures we cannot trace to an official source.
Journalists, researchers and bloggers: you are free to cite any figure from this page. See the citation section at the bottom.
Foreign residents
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total population, 1 January 2026 | 18,130,208 | CBS table 85510NED |
| Residents born outside the Netherlands, 1 January 2026 | 3,124,728 (17.2% of the population) | CBS table 85371NED |
| of whom born elsewhere in Europe | 1,125,144 | CBS table 85371NED |
| of whom born outside Europe | 1,999,584 | CBS table 85371NED |
| Residents with a non-Dutch nationality, 1 January 2026 | 1,681,718 (9.3%) | CBS table 85510NED |
| of whom nationals of other EU countries | 790,375 | CBS table 85510NED |
“Born abroad” and “non-Dutch nationality” are different groups: more than 1.4 million people born abroad hold Dutch nationality (3,124,728 born abroad against 1,681,718 non-Dutch nationals), for example after naturalisation, and CBS counts anyone who has Dutch nationality as Dutch, even if they also have another nationality. These CBS tables have no “expat” category, so we do not publish an expat headcount.
Selected non-Dutch nationalities (1 January 2026, CBS table 85510NED):
| Nationality | Residents |
|---|---|
| Polish | 196,975 |
| Turkish | 93,926 |
| German | 84,245 |
| Indian | 54,511 |
| Chinese | 50,680 |
| British | 43,142 |
| Moroccan | 30,002 |
| American | 27,530 |
This is a selection, not a ranking of all nationalities: Ukrainian (137,666) and Syrian (104,597) residents, for example, are not in the table. See our city guides: Amsterdam · Rotterdam · The Hague · Eindhoven · Utrecht
Cost of living
We do not publish average rents or grocery budgets here, because we have no official source for single figures. For amounts that are set by law or by an official body, see the sections below. For a personalised estimate use our Cost of Living Calculator, and see Cost of Living Netherlands 2026.
Known fixed amounts for 2026:
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average basic health insurance premium | €157 per month | Rijksoverheid |
| GVB Vrij monthly pass (Amsterdam city transport, adults 19+) | €129 per month | GVB |
Rental regulation
The upper limit of the regulated mid-rent segment (186 points) is €1,228.07 per month for 2026 and €1,263.32 for contracts starting on or after 1 January 2027. The Affordable Rent Act (Wet betaalbare huur) took effect on 1 July 2024. A landlord may ask a deposit of at most 2 months of base rent for contracts signed from 1 July 2023 (Rijksoverheid).
Related guides: Finding Housing in the Netherlands · Funda vs Pararius · Rental Scams to Avoid
Salaries and tax
Minimum wage 2026
| Category | Hourly gross from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adults (21 and older) | €14.99 |
| Age 20 | €11.99 |
| Age 18 | €7.50 |
Since 2024 there are no fixed monthly minimum wages, only hourly amounts (Rijksoverheid).
Tax brackets 2026 (box 1, below AOW age)
| Income bracket | Tax rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to EUR 38,883 | 35.75% | 8.10% income tax plus 27.65% national insurance premiums |
| EUR 38,883 to EUR 78,426 | 37.56% | |
| Above EUR 78,426 | 49.50% |
Source: Belastingdienst, box 1 rates 2026. The first bracket includes the premiums for the national insurance schemes.
30% ruling (expat scheme)
| Parameter | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Salary norm: taxable salary must be more than (under 30 with a qualifying master’s) | €36,497 taxable per year (about EUR 52,139 gross) |
| Salary norm: taxable salary must be more than (30 and older) | €48,013 taxable per year (about EUR 68,590 gross) |
| Maximum tax-free percentage | 30% in 2026; 27% from 1 January 2027 |
| Salary cap | €262,000, so at most EUR 78,600 tax-free per year |
| Maximum duration | 5 years |
| Processing | Belastingdienst says it informs you within 8 weeks of receiving the request, which you complete together with your employer |
The salary norms apply to taxable salary, which is the salary left after the tax-free allowance is deducted, so the gross salary needed is the norm divided by 0.7 (EUR 48,013 / 0.7 = EUR 68,590; EUR 36,497 / 0.7 = about EUR 52,139). From 1 January 2027 the maximum falls to 27% and a higher salary norm applies, with a transitional rule for employees who already used the scheme in 2023 (Rijksoverheid).
Full details: 30% Ruling Netherlands, Complete Guide · 30% Ruling Calculator
Other tax data
| Tax | Rate or figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| VAT, standard rate | 21% | Belastingdienst |
| VAT, reduced rate (food and some services, among others) | 9% | Belastingdienst |
| Corporate tax up to EUR 200,000 profit | 19.0% | Belastingdienst |
| Corporate tax above EUR 200,000 | 25.8% | Belastingdienst |
| Dividend withholding tax | 15% | Belastingdienst |
| Box 3 deemed return, bank balances (provisional) | 1.28% | Belastingdienst |
| Box 3 deemed return, other assets | 6.00% | Belastingdienst |
Related: Dutch Tax System for Expats · How to File a Dutch Tax Return · Salary Checker Tool
Buying a home
We do not publish average house prices or mortgage rates: they change monthly and we have no single official figure for the year.
Transfer tax and mortgage limits 2026
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax, home you will live in | 2% | Belastingdienst |
| Transfer tax, first-time buyers aged 18 to 34, home worth at most EUR 555,000 | 0% (starter exemption) | Belastingdienst |
| Transfer tax, home you will not live in yourself (second home, rental) | 8% | Belastingdienst |
| Transfer tax, other property (business premises, land) | 10.4% | Belastingdienst |
| NHG limit (National Mortgage Guarantee) | EUR 470,000 | NHG |
| Mortgage interest deduction, maximum rate | 37.56% | Belastingdienst |
Related: Buying vs. Renting in the Netherlands · Expat Mortgage Options · Dutch Mortgage Explained · Housing Budget Checker
Healthcare
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basic health insurance | Mandatory for residents | Rijksoverheid |
| Average basic premium 2026 | €157 per month | Rijksoverheid |
| Mandatory deductible (eigen risico) 2026 | €385 per year | Rijksoverheid |
| Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), maximum for a single person | €129 per month | Belastingdienst |
| Zorgtoeslag income limit, single person | €40,857 per year | Belastingdienst |
| Zorgtoeslag income limit, with a partner | €51,142 per year | Belastingdienst |
Premiums differ per insurer and per policy. The deductible does not apply to GP (huisarts) care, among other things. We do not publish waiting times or treatment prices, because we have no official source for single figures.
Related: Dutch Health Insurance Guide for Expats · Zilveren Kruis vs. CZ Compared · Zorgtoeslag and Huurtoeslag Guide · Health Insurance Wizard · Best Expat Insurance Netherlands 2026 · Mental Health Support for Expats
Work and employment
Labour market (CBS)
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employed people aged 15 to 74, 2025 | 9.83 million | CBS table 85264NED |
| Unemployment rate, 2025 | 3.9% | CBS table 85264NED |
| Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) | 4.0% | CBS table 80590NED |
| Net labour participation, 2025 | 73.2% | CBS table 85264NED |
| Share of employed people working part-time (under 35 hours), 2025 | 48.6% (men 30.1%, women 69.3%) | CBS table 85264NED |
Employment rights
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday allowance (vakantiegeld) | At least 8% of the gross annual salary of the year before | Rijksoverheid |
| Statutory holiday days | 4 times the number of hours you work per week | Ondernemersplein (government) |
| Sick pay | Employer pays at least 70% of your salary for up to 2 years (in the first year at least the minimum wage) | Rijksoverheid |
| Partner’s birth leave | 1 times your weekly hours, fully paid; plus up to 5 times your weekly hours at up to 70% of daily wage via UWV, within 6 months of the birth | Rijksoverheid |
| Transition payment on dismissal | 1/3 of a monthly salary per full year of service from the first working day; maximum EUR 102,000 gross in 2026, or one gross annual salary if that is higher | Rijksoverheid |
| WW (unemployment benefit) duration | at least three months and at most two years | UWV |
Self-employment (ZZP)
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed without staff (zzp), 2025 | 1.2 million, about 12% of employed people | CBS table 85264NED |
| KvK one-time registration fee, 2026 | €85.15 | KvK |
| Self-employed deduction (zelfstandigenaftrek), 2026 | EUR 1,200 (tax benefit calculated at 37.56%) | Belastingdienst |
| SME profit exemption (MKB-winstvrijstelling), 2026 | 12.7% of profit after entrepreneur deductions | Belastingdienst |
Related: Freelancer / ZZP Guide Netherlands · Dutch Employment Contract Explained · Dutch Work Culture Guide
Education and childcare
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory tuition fee, higher education (HBO and university), academic year 2026-2027 | EUR 2,694 | DUO |
| Maximum hourly rate for childcare allowance, daycare (dagopvang), 2026 | €11.23 | Belastingdienst |
| Maximum hourly rate for childcare allowance, after-school care (BSO), 2026 | €9.98 | Belastingdienst |
The statutory fee applies to students who meet the conditions; institutions can charge a higher institutional fee (instellingscollegegeld) to students who do not (DUO). The hourly rates are the maximum the allowance is based on; providers may charge more.
Related: Dutch Childcare Guide for Expats · International Schools Netherlands 2026
Transport
We do not publish national averages for public transport costs here. Use the operators’ own price pages for your route. The GVB Vrij pass is listed in the cost-of-living section above.
Related: OV-chipkaart Guide for Expats · Cycling in the Netherlands, Expat Guide
Immigration and legal
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Decision period, highly skilled migrant application | Only an employer recognised by the IND can apply. Legal decision period of 90 days, which the IND can extend, for example if the application is not complete; for applications from recognised sponsors the IND tries to decide within 2 weeks (in some cases 7 weeks, for example if a work permit is needed) | IND |
| Permanent residence permit | Valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years, main residence in the Netherlands throughout, and the other requirements | IND |
| Registration in the municipality (BRP) | Within 5 days of arrival if you stay more than 4 months; you then get your BSN | Rijksoverheid |
Related: Highly Skilled Migrant Visa Guide · BSN Registration Guide · DigiD Guide for Expats · Visa and Permit Finder
Language
Related: Best Dutch Language Courses 2026 · Babbel vs. Duolingo for Learning Dutch · Inburgeringsexamen Preparation Guide
We do not publish language statistics on this page. English proficiency rankings and civic integration rules differ by source and year, so check the current official pages (DUO for civic integration).
Banking and finance
Related: Best International Money Transfers Netherlands · Bunq vs. N26 for Expats · Bank Account Chooser Tool
Bank fees and savings rates change often, so we do not list averages here. Compare the banks’ own price lists.
Quick reference: key numbers
| Topic | Key figure |
|---|---|
| Residents born abroad (1 January 2026) | 3.1 million (17.2%) |
| Health insurance premium | €157 per month (average) |
| Eigen risico | €385 per year |
| 30% ruling salary norm (30 and older; taxable salary must be more than this) | €48,013 taxable per year (about EUR 68,590 gross) |
| Income tax, first two brackets | 35.75% up to EUR 38,883; 37.56% up to EUR 78,426 |
| Minimum wage (21+) | €14.99 per hour gross from 1 July 2026 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% (September 2026, seasonally adjusted, CBS) |
| Transfer tax, own home | 2% |
Data sources
- CBS (Statistics Netherlands), www.cbs.nl: population, nationality, birth country, labour market (StatLine tables 85510NED, 85371NED, 85264NED, 80590NED)
- IND, ind.nl: decision periods, permanent residence
- Belastingdienst, www.belastingdienst.nl: tax rates, transfer tax, allowances
- Rijksoverheid, www.rijksoverheid.nl: employment rights, health insurance, rent rules, BRP registration
- UWV, www.uwv.nl: unemployment benefit, additional birth leave
- Volkshuisvesting Nederland, www.volkshuisvestingnederland.nl: rent limits
- DUO, www.duo.nl: tuition fees
- NHG, www.nhg.nl: mortgage guarantee limit
- KvK, www.kvk.nl: registration fee
All figures were last checked against their sources in October 2026. Rates and limits can change on 1 January or 1 July, so check the source for the current figure before you rely on it.
Cite this page
You are free to use any statistics from this page. We ask that you include a link to this page as your source:
ExpatNetherlandsHub.com, Expat Statistics Netherlands 2026 https://expatnetherlandshub.com/statistics/
Last updated: 31 October 2026
Have a statistic that needs updating? Contact us via the contact page.