Job Discussion Forums

tomjones7 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 44

I am a non-EU resident. However i have extensive experience teaching business english. Is it difficult/impossible to get work in Holland without an EU passport? Would experience help overcome this barrier ?
Any help appreciated.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Holland (Netherlands) is one of the MOST difficult countries to get legal work in. I moved to Nederlands for my spouse's job, with BA, TEFL, 300 hours of additional training, references, and six years of teaching experience. The local university wanted to hire me, and were willing to go to court at Den Haag to petition for an exception to the EU-only hiring laws on my behalf. They were told not to bother; the court would never grant such an exception. I was eventually able to get a permit because my spouse's international company made a contract with the government to cover non-EU spouses - but only the pull of the big business got me through!
Illegal work; maybe in bigger cities. But Nederlands is very tightly run and I'd say it's likely that you could have problems.

tomjones7 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 44

Thanks for the info. I have a friend in Amsterdam who works for a training company, so maybe I can get a break. But it sounds like an uphill battle. I'll see how i go.
Thanks again and good luck in Holland (Low Lands).

Ilja · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 23 Location: Taichung

Hello...I have a similar situation as you...I have a Canadian citizen ship, a BA and extensive TESOL experience. I even speak fluent Dutch.. I just arrived in Den Haag and am now battling the Dutch gov't to stay and get a work permit. I am told there is no way, a little unsettling. You could perhaps work illegally, but I'm not sure how successful that will be.
How is your story going here in Nederland?
Ilja

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

Just found this online:
http://www.workpermit.com/netherlands/employer4.htm

"Does The Candidate Qualify for a Netherlands Work Permit?
To qualify for a Netherlands work permit, the candidate should be a professional and have the skill set and qualifications necessary to fill a position that has already been unsuccessfully advertised in the Netherlands, or which is subject to recognised shortages. There is a legal requirement that the candidate is between 18 and 45 years of age, although it is unlikely that a candidate under the age of 23 would have the relevant experience or skills necessary to fill a professional position."