Newcomer’s Guide Useful information for adjusting to your new life and getting settled in Utrecht Index 1. Welcome to Utrecht Region 3 2. Utrecht Region at a glance 6 3. Housing – finding a place to call home 10 4. Formalities 16 5. Financial matters 20 6. How do I get around 24 7. Your health 34 8. Childcare & Dutch educational system 38 9. University level studying in Utrecht 44 10. Learning the Dutch Language 47 11. Finding a job 53 12. Finding your Dutch way 55 This guide has been published by the International Talent 13. Explore Utrecht Region and beyond 59 Community (ITC) Utrecht Region and Utrecht Marketing. 14. Get connected 66 2nd edition, September 2018 www.utrechtregion.com 15. Essential Contacts And Resources 71 Created with the help of: Danielle Ziermans & Tessa Wapstra, 16. Partners 74 Economic Board Utrecht (content), Ardi Eleveld, Utrecht Marketing (content), Today (design), Paul Smith (copywriter), Jo Hayman (editor), Juri Hiensch, Marisa Broekhuizen, Kostas Brejaart & Ramon Mosterd (photography). Many thanks to all of ITC's partners and stakeholders who have devoted their valuable time and energy to make this edition more informative than the first. 1. Welcome to Utrecht Region Arriving in a new country can be both Nesrine Lee: “Hummus comes in more exhilarating and an overwhelming flavours here than in Lebanon.” challenge, and you will likely have a number of questions that need to be Paul & Vanessa Smith: “It was Utrecht's answered right away. This Newcomer's child-friendliness that had a magnetic appeal Guide features essential information to for us. That we felt safe leaving our door help new residents like yourself settle open nearly the whole summer says a lot into our beautiful region with as much about the safety we feel living here. Children ease and confidence as possible. have so many options to play, learn and grow." Utrecht Region offers the best of all worlds. The region has a long and Chitra Natjaran: “My husband was offered rich cultural history, reflected in its a job here. We arrived on a very cold architecture and overall ambiance. and dark winter day, with no one outside. Take a stroll along the lively canals in one My immediate reaction was where have of our beautiful cities and you’ll discover we landed? Who would have thought countless monuments and world heritage at that time we would voluntarily stay sites. If you prefer nature, grab a bike here for 10 years?” and you can soon be cycling along rivers and through woods, surprised Amanda Laguna: “Living in the Utrecht by the impressive number of citadels, Region is wonderful. You should be able forts, castles you are likely to pass. to become Dutch, embrace and be proud. So be prepared for Sinterklaas, bread for Don’t just take our word for it. Here is lunch, the rain, biking, making appointments, what those who discovered the Utrecht questions about money and train delays.” Region before you have to say: Vishwaraj Jadeja: “I love being able to bike around the center and in the countryside without the risk of hitting a car. Cars actually stop when I am riding my bike. On my racing bike, I never have to worry about being hit. The respect for bikers is huge. It is special.” 2 3 About us Catherine Berthiaume: “Finding a place The Newcomer’s Guide Utrecht Region training, survival Dutch and a Q & A about of my own and feeling at home was is a product of a close cooperation housing options in the region (check if difficult at the beginning. Fortunately, I between Utrecht Marketing and the your employer offers this programme). gradually built up my own group International Talent Community. The 6. Welcome programme - To make of friends and that helped me a lot in Newcomers Guide was produced with newcomers feel at home we annually finding my place here in the Utrecht the input and suggestions of many organise a Royal Welcome Event Region.” internationals and partners who we on King’s Day. Get acquainted with this would like to thank for their contribution. Dutch tradition and other newcomers Bright O Richards: “Crime rates are low at the same time. in the Utrecht Region and you can clearly Utrecht Marketing and the International 7. MAG - This is your guide to finding all see Utrecht is a city full of students. Talent Community aim to help newcomers the cultural events happening in Utrecht So it’s a young city and it stays young and feel at home in our friendly, welcoming Region. Find more information: fresh. I love that! I also like the cultural and connected region. To do so, we have www.magutrecht.com. sector of Utrecht with Tivoli and the set up several services, campaigns and Schouwburg, the city theatre which has programmes that also might be of interest a wonderful program.” to you. Nadja Linthorst: “I thoroughly enjoy 1. Utrechtregion.com - For more running in the vicinity of Rhijnauwen, information about living, working and with all its greenery, and yet close studying in Utrecht Region you can go to to the city of Utrecht. Running along talent.utrechtregion.com. the canal is also highly recommendable. 2. Talent Event Utrecht Region – Expand You definitely discover lots of Utrecht your network and find your dream job at by bicycling, running or just strolling the Talent Event Utrecht Region. around.” 3. Expat Center Utrecht Region – Here you can arrange formalities such as We invite you to discover Utrecht Region registration but also ask questions at just like Nesrine, Paul & Vanessa, Chitra, the information desk. Amanda, Vishwaraj, Catherine, Bright 4. Socialisation programme – Meet up and Nadja did. with other internationals during one of our social events, see when the next one is happening at talent.utrechtregion.com. 5. Introduction programme – A quick way to get started here, consists of an introductory course, cultural awareness 4 5 2. Utrecht Region Utrecht: Capital city of the province of Utrecht Population: 347.000 Utrecht is the youngest, fastest growing at a glance and most highly educated city in the Netherlands. On top of that, Utrecht is Utrecht Region considered one of the happiest cities Utrecht Region is conveniently located in the centre of the Netherlands, only 30 in the world, according to the United minutes from Amsterdam by train. The Utrecht Railway station is the largest of the Nations. Utrecht has a welcoming Netherlands, processing as many passengers as Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. character with an increasing number of internationals calling Utrecht Fun Facts about the Region: home. As well as a significant amount • Utrecht Region: 1,2 million inhabitants of international students, Utrecht • More than 1.000 foreign companies University is the largest university of • Utrecht is the 2nd most bike friendly city on the planet the Netherlands. With many squares, • The 'Miffy' (Nijntje, to the locals) rabbit cartoon character for children was created restaurants of all kinds, cinemas and by Dutchman Dick Bruna who was born in the city of Utrecht. See if you can spot theatres, the city of Utrecht has much the Nijntje crossing signal downtown! to offer. Living in the Utrecht Region; a few cities highlighted Amersfoort Population: 155.000 Founded more than 800 years ago, Amersfoort is now a modern and very liveable city around a beautiful historic city centre. Amersfoort has been awarded ‘Best Dutch large city to live and work in’ for three consecutive years. Amersfoort’s population is a good mix of singles, couples and families with kids. 6 7 Zeist Population: 63.000 Zeist is nestled in the woody area of Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Zeist municipality is predominately green, with its share of lakes, canals and other waters, both in the village and outside. Utrecht Nieuwegein Population: 62.000 Region: Nieuwegein is close to both the city of Utrecht and the countryside, offering affordable housing in an economically strong area. The municipality came into its own in the 70s, as it rapidly began to develop to meet the increasing demand for family housing near Utrecht. Because of this, Nieuwegein is at its core a very young and thriving city. 1,2 Stichtse Vecht (Breukelen, miLlion Maarssen, Loenen) Population: 65.000 The Stichtse Vecht municipality lies between the cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht, where you can find inhabitants picturesque villages, copious lakes, two castles and the prestigious Nyenrode Business University. Visit talent.utrechtregion.com for more information. 8 9 3. Housing – Finding a place Also make sure to ask the rental agency Useful websites include: if they charge a mediation fee. Many SSH student housing: www.sshxl.nl/en to call home agencies already receive a fee from the Holland2Stay: owner for listing the home, so they should www.holland2stay.com/utrecht Whether you are looking for an outdoor lifestyle, not receive an additional fee from the Room rentals: www.kamernet.nl a place in the heart of a historic city or a family home tenant in the process. Tenancy rights with room for the kids to run around, you’ll find it Useful websites include: In the Netherlands, an independent here. Your options range from suburban homes to rural www.pararius.nl organisation deals with problems www.funda.nl between tenants and landlords: the Rent living, apartments, flats and townhouses. www.rooftrack.nl/en Rooftrack is an Tribunal (huurcommissie). Further initiative from WoningNet and offers a information (in Dutch) can be found at wide range of available properties in the www.huurcommissie.nl; because this site Renting non-subsidised rental market. Rooftrack’s is not offered in English, we encourage If you’re planning a short-term stay through an international agency), or have website displays rental properties in the you to view the url in a Chrome browser in Utrecht Region (less than 3 years, a professional consultant who can cities of Amsterdam, Almere, Haarlem which will automatically translate it for according to our experts at Expat translate the Dutch rental contract and Utrecht.