Monthly Round up - Popular Posts in October

Here is a recap of the most popular posts on Orangesplaash, in October :

• How to get a BSN (Burgerservicenummer) in the Netherlands : The first part of the recently started Netherlands Expat Guide series explains everything you need to know about getting a BSN number for expats in the Netherlands.

• Interview with an Expat Entrepreneur - Vinita Salome : Vinita, a life-style photographer based in Gouda, describes her experiences of living and working in the Netherlands as an expat entrepreneur. 

• How to open a (Dutch) bank account in the Netherlands : Are you looking forward to opening a bank account in the one of the Dutch banks? Read on this guide that explains the entire process along with the documentation required.

This month (in fact this week) saw the launch of the Orangesplaash expat e-book titled "7 powerful tips for a fulfilling expat life". The e-book contains tips and suggestions to make your expat life a fulfilling experience. You can download a free copy of the e-book by filling in the subscription form on the top of this page. 

When you subscribe, you will also get free access to the monthly newsletters from Orangesplaash, focusing on expat and travel articles, news, resources, upcoming events, workshops and other free stuff.  We have had a great response to the e-book so far. Thank you all for your love and support!

The results for the October expat poll are as below. The question was "Do you attend expat workshops/fairs?" and we got a total of 19 votes. 

Yes, always. I love them - 4 Votes 

Yes, occasionally - 12 votes 

No, do not find them useful - 0 votes

Is there any such thing? - 3 vote

Lastly, do not forget to join the Orangesplaash facebook fanpage, if you haven't already. The page is constantly updated with latest expat and travel news, articles, and Dutch language learning resources.

Wish you all a productive November!

[Photo Credit - ednl]

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The Netherlands Expat Guide (Part II) - How to open a (Dutch) bank account in the Netherlands?

In continuation with the Netherlands Expat Guide series, today we will discuss "How to open a bank account in the Netherlands". For the first part of this series, click on How to get a BSN (Burgerservicenummer) in the Netherlands.

Why do you need a Dutch bank account?

A Dutch bank account becomes important if you are going to stay in the Netherlands for some time. You will need the account to receive salary besides paying utility bills, getting a phone line and so on. 

The main Dutch banks as below. Almost all these bank provide English language services along with the facilities of online banking.

• ABN AMRO (has a separate expat services division)
• Fortis Bank
• ING Bank
• Rabo Bank
• SNS

The usual bank timings are -

Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00, though some banks open as late as 10:00 on a Monday morning. On Saturdays, the banks are open from 10:00 to 13:00

How to open a Dutch bank account?

A Dutch bank account can be opened in your name, or you may open a joint account with your partner. In the latter case, an identity document for the partner also has to be provided. You can open a current account (betaalrekening) as well as a savings account (spaarrekening). 

Walk into any of the above bank branches (preferably after fixing an appointment), with the following documents :

Documents required for opening a Dutch bank account (for EU citizens) :-

• Identity documents: Passport. ID cards from some EU countries may also be acceptable.
• BSN Number
• Address proof: One of these - Utility Bills, house rental/purchase agreement, account statement from another bank, salary slip, Extract from the municipal register (bevolkingsregister) or a Dutch driving license.
• Income Proof : Employment contract or three consecutive salary slips. 

Documents required for opening a Dutch bank account (for non-EU citizens) :-

• In addition to the above documents, non-EU citizens need to provide their residence permit and sometimes a proof of registration with the foreign police.

It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for your bank account to be opened. After that, the account details will be mailed to you.

What are the usual bank charges?

Most of the banks levy a monthly account maintenance charge, and a quarterly charge for the debit card. The exact amount depends on the bank, your account type and payment method.

However, there is no charge on ATM withdrawals.

Note :- 

• Your Dutch bank account is guaranteed up to €100,000 by the Dutch central bank. 
• Postbank is no longer state owned. The bank has been privatised and is now owned by the ING bank.

In the third part of this series, we will discuss the payment methods in the Netherlands - debit cards, pin pas, accept giro and others.


Disclaimer : Every effort has been made to ensure the information included in this post is up-to-date and accurate. However, it is possible I might have missed some information. Please consult the respective bank websites for more details.

[Photo Credit - Bogdan]

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Free Expat e-book:7 powerful tips for a fulfilling expat life

I am so happy about sharing the "7 powerful tips for a fulfilling expat life" with all of you, through this e-book. I still remember the day when we relocated to the Netherlands. Amidst wishes from family and friends, and loaded with luggage mostly comprising of Indian spices, we set out for an unknown adventure. Two years down the line, it gives me immense pleasure to accept that the journey has been really wonderful so far. There have been a few bad days, but the smiles outweigh the tears, hands down.

The 7 tips in this e-book stem from my own experiences, as well as what I have learnt from other expats out there. I hope you will enjoy reading this e-book as much as I loved writing it for you.

To all of my subscribers, followers and friends out there, old and new, thank you for the gift of your support. I only hope this free guide can help me repay you for the time and attention that you have given me.

How Do You Get This FREE e-book?

This is really easy. All you have to do is type in your name and email in the form below and the e-book will be delivered straight to your inbox.

Additionally, when you submit your details in the form below, you will be automatically subscribed to receive our FREE monthly newsletter containing expat and travel tips, articles, news, resources and upcoming events.

Subscribe to get Free Instant Access to the e-book " 7 powerful tips for a fulfilling expat life". In addition, you will receive a monthly newsletter from Orangesplaash - full of expat and travel tips, resources and inspiration.

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If you enjoy the book, please recommend it to your friends. Feel free to share your views in the comment section below.

Here’s to you and your continued success!

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Delft Blue Pottery and more!

It is that time of the month again..Here are some of my latest articles that I (Arwa Lokhandwala) have written for publications in the last couple of weeks (excuse me for the self promotion). I hope you will enjoy reading them, when you find the time.

Also, do hop over to Orangesplaash Facebook Fanpage and share your views on today's question : Which is your favourite shopping place/shopping store/shopping mall in the Netherlands? The replies will be featured in a blog post on Orangesplaash. Have fun!

• Museums in Rotterdam : Here is a list of some of the most fascinating and engaging museums in Rotterdam, in a downloadable pdf format (free). Put on your tennis shoes and get ready for this thrilling time travel.

• Typical Dutch Food  – The Oliebollen : Traveling to a new country includes not only visiting the tourist spots and off-the-beaten-paths, but traveling also provides a chance to understand and appreciate the local culture, customs and food habits. Read on to get familiar with the mouth watering Dutch Oliebollen.

• Delft Blue Pottery – The perfect Dutch Souvenir : Planning a trip to the Netherlands? Confused about what to get back as a souvenir from the land of tulips, windmills, cheese and clogs? But what if you could get all of them and much more, dripping in the very own unique flavour of the low lands? 

• Why I love the Netherlands : Having lived in the Netherlands for quite some time now, and having visited its various tourist and the not-so-tourist destinations, my love for this beautiful country increases with every passing day. Read about some of the reasons why I love the Netherlands.

• Visiting the Zandvoort beach in the Netherlands : Situated in the province of North Holland, Zandvoort is famous for its Circuit Zandvoort (automobile racing circuit) besides being one of the major coastal resorts in the Netherlands. Read on to find out why.

• Have you visited the Petrusse Valley in Luxembourg City? : Luxembourg City is the capital of one of the smallest countries of Europe – the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, with a total population of over half a million. A number of attractions offer an opportunity to delve deeper into the city’s culture and lifestyle but what sets it apart from the other cities in Europe is its location.

• My favourite piazza in Rome – Piazza Navona : Rome, situated on the Tiber river, is truly the Eternal City with the city’s history spanning over two and a half thousand years. When we visited Rome for the first time, we not only enjoyed the sheer brilliance and beauty of the Colosseum and the Vatican, but were also mystified by the very many piazzas in Rome. But my all time favourite piazza has to be the Piazza Navona.

• Gift etiquette around the world : When do you give gifts in your country? Do you choose a different gift depending on the occasion? And if you receive a gift is it polite to open it straight away or wait until later? Find out about the different gift etiquettes across the countries of the world in this collaborative post on PocketCultures.

• Rotterdam’s Open Market : One place that showcases the multi-cultural outlook of Rotterdam is the open market (open markt) situated in Binnenrotte, next to the Blaak railway station. Every Tuesday and Saturday, the Dutch as well as the city’s expat population head towards the market for their weekly shopping.

[Photo Credit - Orangesplaash]

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Interview with an Expat Entrepreneur - Vinita Salome

It always feels great to come across other expats living and working in the Netherlands, and elsewhere - inspiring and guiding with their successful careers abroad. Recently, I got a chance to interact with Vinita Salome, a freelance photographer based in Gouda, the Netherlands. Having lived in Japan and India, before moving to the Netherlands with her husband, Vinita specializes in natural light, on location life-style photography and enjoys capturing the special moments between children, families, and artists which are most likely the expressions that you see the most in one another every day. 

Vinita is an easy to go person, and we struck a good rapport in the very first meeting. I then suggested to do an interview to know more about her, and the photography business. Here are excerpts from the interview :

OS: When did you start your photography business in the Netherlands?

VS : I first set up Vinita Salome Photography in 2005 but did not focus on it till my son turned  one. I am now in my 2nd year of business, and I now have the time and energy to devote to my business and it’s growing at just the pace that works for my family and me.

OS : How did you think of starting the business, and did you face any challenges?

VS: It’s a combination of the entrepreneurial spirit I adopted from my father and the desire to spend time at home with my son. There were many challenges primarily the lack of self-belief. Accentuated by my inexperience within the dutch market.

OS: What segment of the photography market do you cater to and in what geographic locations?

VS: I’m a natural light contemporary life style photographer. My business is based in Gouda, but I'm happy to travel within the Netherlands and internationally too.

OS: Why does professional photography cost more?

VS: Custom Portrait Photography costs more mainly because there is a lot of time and preparation involved in a photo session. For example, before a shoot I have an initial consultation with a client,  to get an insight into the clients needs, for example, what they love and what they absolutely do not want. Prior to the shoot there is in depth research done on the location. The shoot itself can take anything from 1 to 2 hours. Then begins the post processing of the images. So, as you can see, there are many hidden hours that go into 1 shoot. With a custom portrait photographer, he or she will go through great lengths to get the perfect shot.

If you would like to know more on why Custom Photography costs more, read here.

OS: What kind of services do you offer?

VS: I specialize in lifestyle portrait photography for families and children. Session fees are  €140 - this includes an initial consultation, time to capture and individually edit the images, and an online password-protected web gallery to share with your near and dear ones. One 20x30 print and two 13x19 prints are included. High resolution digital images as well as prints on paper and canvas are available for purchase. I also take on business portraits and weddings.

Please feel free to contact me for a detailed price list of my collections.

OS: Any other information you would like to share with Orangesplaash readers?

VS: Drop me a line on my blog and make sure you subscribe for upcoming news and promotions. Connect with me on facebook or twitter.

[Photo Credits - Vinita Salome Photography]

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The Netherlands Expat Guide (Part I) - How to get a BSN (Burgerservicenummer) in the Netherlands?

Starting today, Orangesplaash will feature the Netherlands Expat Guide. This guide will focus on issues faced by expats moving to the Netherlands, including the documentation phase, and will also aim to explain in detail other aspects of living life as an expat in the Netherlands (also read 30% ruling for the highly skilled expats in the Netherlands).

I look forward to sharing as much information as possible and sincerely hope this guide (with many more parts to come) proves useful to my dear readers and other expats out there, as well as people looking forward to travel to the Netherlands. The other posts will continue on Orangesplaash as usual. 

We start today with the BSN (Burgerservicenummer) : -

 What is the BSN (Burgerservicenummer)?

The BSN is a Dutch personal identification number also known as the Citizen Service Number. The BSN, a 9 digit number unique to every person living in the Netherlands was introduced on November 26, 2007. Before that, the Sofi nummer (Social Fiscal Number) was used for all interactions with the Dutch authorities. The Sofi number has replaced the BSN in practically all cases and is numerically the same as the BSN for any individual living in the Netherlands.

Why do you need a BSN?

BSN is important for people living and working in the Netherlands since it facilitates communication with the Dutch authorities and is required for many purposes like - getting a job, opening a bank account, applying for benefits and allowances, social security contributions  as well as registering for health insurance and so on.

How do you get a BSN?

In order to get a BSN, you need to register yourself with the Dutch Municipality (town  hall) or the Dutch Tax administration (Belastingdienst).

Documents required for obtaining a BSN (for non-EU citizens) :-

• Proof of Identity (the passport and not the driving license)
• Proof of local address (a rental contract or purchase agreement).
• Employment Contract.
• Residence Permit/ Work Permit.
• Proof of registration with the Gemeente (local town hall).

Documents required for obtaining a BSN (for EU citizens) :-

• Proof of identity 
• Proof of local address.

In case you have an accompanying partner or children, additional documents like marriage certificate, birth certificates of the persons accompanying etc are also required. 

Note :- 

• If your stay in the Netherlands will not be for more than 4 months, you will not receive a BSN. In this situation, you can apply for the Sofi number with the Belastingdienst.
• The BSN number does not automatically imply that you may stay or work in the Netherlands. Related documents like Residence Permit and Work Permit are required for establishing rights for the same. 

Disclaimer : Every effort has been made to ensure the information included in this post is up-to-date and accurate. However, it is possible I might have missed some information. Please consult the official BSN website for more details.

[Photo Credit - Mike McHolm]

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PocketCultures Book - Children’s games writing contest

Our PocketCultures children's games book project is in the content phase right now, with PocketCultures contributors across the world writing about the games played in their countries.

Here is your chance to get involved in this exciting project!

We have come up with a children's games writing contest and entries are welcome from all over the world. The rules are as follows: 

• You need to write about a game played by children in your country.
• Your entry should contain information on how the game is played, the rules, a little history, how the game fits into your country/culture, and if the game is still played by children.
• Games which don’t need equipment are the best.

What if your game is selected : 

• Your game will be included in our book of children’s games around the world.
• You will be profiled on the author page of the book.
• You will receive a free copy of the completed ebook.

Ready to go :

• Submit your entry in the comment section below or post it on your own blog (with a link to this post. Also leave a comment below mentioning the link where you have posted your entry).
• Submissions should be less than 500 words.
• The contest ends on Saturday, the 23rd of October, 2010.

All the entries will be summarized with links to all the online ones in a post on PocketCultures after the competition closes. 

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Monthly Round up - Popular Posts in September

A new month, a new hope, new dreams and new aspirations. The perfect time for a recap of the most popular posts in September on Orangesplaash. 

• Cycling in the Netherlands  [Photo Tour] : One of the most popular posts of all times - provides insights into the famous Dutch cycling culture with reasons that have made the country a cycling paradise, complete with a wide range of photos.

• Top 12 signs You've Integrated Successfully as an Expat : A practical list of 12 pointers indicating if you have embraced your expat life fully. Read the list and see how many you resonate with.

• Festivals in Netherlands in September : A guide to the most popular and creative festivals in the Netherlands, held in the month of September. 

• What is your favorite Dutch word? : An open post in which the dear readers of Orangesplaash share their favorite Dutch words. 

Last month also saw the launch of the Orangesplaash monthly newsletter. The newsletter contains expat and travel related articles, news, resources, upcoming events, workshops and free stuff. If you have not subscribed to the newsletter yet, do so here. This is a monthly newsletter and will be published during the second week of every month. 

The results for the September expat poll are as below. The question was "Majority of your friends in the new country are : " 

Locals (2 votes)

Other Expats (6 votes)

Expats from your own country (6 votes)

I do not have friends (1 vote)

This month's expat poll questions "Do you attend expat workshops/fairs"? Have your say in the poll by casting your vote in the side bar.

[Photo Credit - Kevinzhengli] 

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