Focus on our Members
T&A Relocation Netherlands

By Jolanda Tetteroo, T&A Relocation (Almere) Relocating to the Netherlands can be a challenge. Such a little country with so many different nationalities living together in such a small space.And yet the beautiful, historical Dutch towns and cities remain a big hit with expats and tourists alike.  What is often surprising to expats on arrival here is despite its size, the regional differences within the Netherlands are remarkable. An understanding of these local peculiarities can make a big difference when house hunting and settling-in to a new country. With the expat community still expanding, getting the right advice at the right time is imperative.    

Here at T&A Relocation we have a distinctive attitude to relocation. Our ethics are based on a personal approach and as a consequence we are not big supporters of standard packages. Understanding the needs of our clients and clarifying our own role within those requirements are skills that are inherent in our experienced team. We not only build stable relationships with our clients, but also with their relocating employees. The road to a new life is often not an easy one to cross, and it is imperative that expats and their families feel confident that their affairs are being handled optimally. We do this by making initial contact as early as possible to introduce our services, then building an awareness of the specific requirements of each individual. By the time the expat arrives in the Netherlands, even for an orientation visit, we already have a detailed understanding of their needs which enables us to provide the specific assistance and advice they require.The information exchange at this point is two-way. Arriving in the Netherlands without the correct, necessary paperwork can have adverse consequences so we ensure that the expat is suitably informed on what documents to bring. Organising these can sometimes be complicated with varied personal circumstances such as mixed nationality families, adopted children, previous marriages or even understanding how to obtain apostilles or copies of certificates. Our extensive knowledge and experience is invaluable here in providing sometimes creative solutions and advice.  

Our service level continues once the expat arrives on Dutch soil. At T&A Relocation we have a team of consultants who accompany the expat on house-hunts and appointments such as registrations, opening bank accounts as well as car inspections. We prepare well in advance of ultimate arrival of the expat and their family. In our opinion it is not only necessary to make sure all legal requirements are fulfilled, but making the arrival run as smoothly as possible makes a big difference to both employer and expat alike. Our services cover many aspects from house inspection and cleaning to arranging removals; from preparing and submitting immigration papers to arranging registration; from organising visas to residence permits; from arranging insurances to childcare; from finding appropriate schooling to sports clubs.  All this and much more. 

In addition to our broad range of  personal services, we have a professional business network of companies that can, among others, assist in (international) tax returns, HR facilities, International recruitment, mortgages and housing. T&A Relocation remains as the one-point-of–contact for this extensive range of services providing the co-ordination and overview required to reassure clientsand expats that their (personal) business is in safe hands. Besides the paperwork and appointments that need to be attended to, an expat also faces other challenges. Dutch regulations are not something to be underestimated which is one of the reasons that our assistance is readily at hand. Getting started here can be difficult. Although many Dutch people speak at least basic English, an expat will be emerged in a foreign society and not speaking the language can be daunting so that’s were we step in to assist. Dutch culture can take some getting used to and personal interaction is often different than the country of origin. The Dutch are renowned for their direct approach, their independence and their awkwardness with small talk. ‘Dropping in’ at someone’s house is unheard of without an appointment, and waiting is not one of our fortes – especially in queues! Contrary to these generalisations, our approach at T&A is to be close to the expat and to make them feel at home. Foreigners can become apprehensive of Dutch frankness, something that could bealleviated by a correct introduction to Dutch life for which we provide down toearth information in our welcome packs, and also through our cross cultureworkshops.  

Please don’t hesitate to visit us in Almere, (greater Amsterdam area).