Dutch architecture is easily recognisable, with its narrow canal houses and practical use of space. From Gothic cathedrals to sleek modern skyscrapers, architecture in the Netherlands is diverse, innovative and full of history. Let’s dive into what makes Dutch architecture so special.

Brief history of Dutch architectureDutch architecture has been shaped by the country’s geography and trading history. This, together with a lot of clever thinking to keep the country above water, and innovation to make the most of limited space, has resulted in an amalgamation of different architecture styles, from cosy canal houses to grand public buildings. 

The key styles and movements of Dutch architecture that have played the largest role in shaping the look of our cities include the Golden Age in the 17th century, Dutch Baroque and the development of modernism. Contemporary architecture from the Netherlands has also been making waves, achieving global prestige in recent years.

What makes architecture in the Netherlands unique?While there may be a shortage of Dutch housing, no one can deny that there are many interesting buildings in the Netherlands. From traditional Dutch houses in Amsterdam to contemporary structures in Rotterdam, here are some things that make Dutch architecture easily identifiable:

Water managementThe Netherlands is known for being built by reclaiming land from the sea. Without this ingenuity, not only would one-third of the country still be below sea level, but it also wouldn’t have the hundreds of canals, dykes and bridges present in the country. 

The iconic Dutch windmills that we see today in Kinderdijk and Zaanse Schans were also created to keep land dry by pumping water off of the fertile soil.  

Use of limited space The limited amount of space available in the Netherlands means that architects need to be inventive when planning a building. You can see where this has been done quite clearly with traditional Dutch houses, like the Dancing Houses in Amsterdam, which were designed during the Golden Age. A typical Dutch house is tall, with multiple floors, and narrow, so it uses as little land as possible. These narrow canal houses, built in the Golden Age, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010.

Building structures underground or on the water is another way architects in the Netherlands save space on land. To prevent buildings built on water or marshy land from sinking, thousands of poles are extended deep into the ground for support. For example, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam is built on 13.657 wooden poles.

Image credit: Jiri Vatka / Shutterstock.com 

Bike friendlinessWith cycling in the Netherlands being not just a mode of transport but a way of life, it shouldn’t be surprising that a lot of Dutch architecture and infrastructure is designed with bikes in mind. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Netherlands has more than 153.000 kilometres of paths and roads used by cyclists and they are all maintained with smooth surfaces, clear markings and lighting to make it safe for cycling.

There aren’t only ordinary bike paths in the Netherlands, though. Special bike paths, such as the Hovenring in Eindhoven, were created to make cycling easier and are visually appealing at the same time. Bike parking is another area where the Netherlands shines – in 2023, the biggest bicycle parking facility in Amsterdam was opened, housing 11.000 bikes. This parking structure was also the first in the world to be built underwater.

Use of brickSince the Middle Ages, bricks have been produced and used in the Netherlands. The abundance of clay in rivers meant that the country had a convenient resource to make the building material, which is why the Netherlands also exported bricks to neighbouring countries.

Medieval architecture in the Netherlands was influenced by French Gothic styles, but the Dutch started using bricks instead of stone – as they were readily available and increasing in popularity – and developed their own unique way of making buildings look Gothic. Despite many developments in architecture, the relationship between the Dutch and bricks remains strong as brick architecture has continued to evolve. 

Brick is still used in both traditional and experimental architectural projects. Whether bringing coherence across several buildings in a neighbourhood or reimagining the use of bricks with facade motifs, there’s little chance that you’ll walk through a Dutch city without seeing at least one building that has bricks incorporated. 

Image credit: ColorMaker / Shutterstock.com

Dutch gable roofMany Dutch houses have steep roofs to add extra space on the top floor of the dwelling. To disguise this, the decorative gable roof was introduced and was often designed in Baroque style. Soon, Dutch gable roofs were adorned with family crests, scrolls and coats of arms, and even though many houses have been upgraded over the years, the gables have been preserved. 

Another thing that you might be wondering while staring up at Dutch roofs is: why are there hooks on the buildings? These are hoisting hooks that are used to move furniture into homes that won’t fit through the front door and up steep stairs of old Dutch houses. Using a pulley system, the hoisting hook is used to lift large items of furniture, such as couches, through the window. 

Large window openingsAs many Dutch houses are tall and narrow, sharing walls with neighbours on both sides, the rooms would be dark and gloomy without the large window openings letting natural light in. This is one of the reasons that buildings in the Netherlands have such large windows. 

You might also have noticed that the Dutch often leave these wide windows uncovered, letting anyone walking by see into their homes. This is believed to foster a connection between the inside and outside, and it also fits with the Dutch culture of being open and transparent – they have nothing to hide.

Famous Dutch architectureMany talented Dutch architects helped shape the interesting Dutch architecture we see today, such as Rem Koolhaas, Gerrit Rietveld, Piet Blom and Jacob van Rijs, to name a few. Want to take a tour of the most famous architecture the Netherlands has to offer? Here are some of our top picks of Dutch buildings.

Dom TowerThe Dom Tower is just one of many buildings to see in Utrecht, but it is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, so it definitely can’t be missed. It was built between 1321 and 1382 and shows a common theme in Gothic architecture of trying to reach the heavens. The tower recently underwent a five-year restoration, and after it was completed in 2024 a big celebration was held in Utrecht to celebrate the grand reveal. 

Image credit: www.hollandfoto.net / Shutterstock.com 

The Royal PalaceAs the largest building from the 17th century in the country, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam is one of the Netherlands’ most important monuments. Built with symmetry and detail, the building shows the influence of the Renaissance on the Dutch. 

Image credit: 3DF mediaStudio / Shutterstock.com 

Rijksmuseum As the museum of the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam holds 800 years of Dutch history within its walls. There is also history within the building itself, as it is a masterpiece of Neoclassical architecture with a focus on symmetry and grandeur. 

Image credit: K I Photography / Shutterstock.com 

Rietveld Schroder HouseRepresenting the Modern Movement in architecture with its clean lines, open spaces and primary colours, the Rietveld Schroder House in Utrecht was designed to be both functional and artistic. The building designed by Gerrit Rietveld for Truus Schroder-Schrader was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. 

Image credit: Takashi Images / Shutterstock.com 

There are many other interesting buildings to see in Rotterdam, The Hague and even Haarlem, so be sure to check them out too. 

Dutch colonial architectureWhen travelling in countries such as Indonesia, the United States, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, the buildings might remind you of those seen in the Netherlands. This is because they form a part of Dutch colonial architecture.

While the buildings were designed by Dutch architects, many had to be adapted to the climate, building materials and cultural contexts of the countries where they were built. Some key features of Dutch architecture seen in the ex-colonies include pitched roofs, verandas, Dutch doors, shutters and raised foundations. 

Explore the Netherlands’ architectureNow that you can identify what makes Dutch buildings so special, keep your eyes peeled as you stroll through the Netherlands – you’ll be amazed at how much you notice.

Learning Dutch can be tricky. Albert Both from Talencoach offers some helpful ideas to take your Dutch to the next level, fast!

Have you been learning Dutch for a while and wondering how you could speak it for real? Too many people erroneously believe that if you just study and study and if you do lots of homework, then one day, miraculously, you’ll speak Dutch. Well, why not speed the process up?

Here are some ideas that can help you speak real Dutch, but there is a catch… You need to be willing to accept some new ideas, even if they seem counter-intuitive at first.

Be curiousLet’s start with the most important thing that you need if you want to speak Dutch for real. It is not rigid study and iron discipline. There is some great news, however, now that you have continued to read. It means that you could have it! What do I mean by it? Well, a magical thing called curiosity!

Here is a great secret that most people overlook: How you feel while you learn and speak Dutch makes all the difference. If you feel intrigued in a positive way, then all of a sudden, you’ll feel much more motivated to discover and thus learn new things. You acquire new talents and skills almost effortlessly. Once you are curious, it does not matter if you feel a bit tired every now and then… it is all about excitement now!

Not just a languageYou must have noticed that Dutch culture is different. Although it can be confronting at times, it is also highly fascinating and there is no faster way to learn a different culture than by speaking the language. Once you start to dive into Dutch, many more things will make sense. How people react for example, why your colleagues, friends or maybe your own Dutch-speaking partner and children express themselves in certain ways.

One thing is certain, once you understand the way of thinking of the people around you, often you’ll feel better. It is not that you always have to agree with them, but now that you know why people act in certain ways, it is a lot easier to navigate through life.

One of the greatest things to discover is your own natural ability to learn and explore, and create a Dutch version of yourself. Een nieuwe jij, a new you! That by itself could be a great adventure, right?

Give yourself enough timeLearning Dutch may seem hard for many different reasons. First of all, learning is not about studying. It is about exploring things and playing a lot. It also means that you need to give yourself enough time. Too many people try to learn Dutch after work, but when you feel tired it is no wonder that trying to speak Dutch can be extremely draining.

At first it might seem a logical idea to learn Dutch after work, because you do not have a lot of time, right? Well, paradoxically it will take much more time and frustration if you try to do it like this. If you do not have a lot of time, then learning Dutch fast is a much better idea. That is why dedicating a couple of days to your Dutch is one of the biggest time savers that you could ever imagine.

Change the way you look at the languageHere is another thing that makes all the difference, and it is one thing that most people often overlook. It is very simple. What do you believe about the Dutch language? Do you think that it is weird, complicated, illogical and even ugly? If so, chances are high that you will have a hard time learning the language.

Things will change fast, once you change some of the ideas you have about Dutch. Within a couple of days, you might discover that Dutch has many things in common with English and that although many things are different from English, there is still a simple and logical system behind it. And yes, this means that you need to develop a new way of thinking. This may be challenging for some people.

But… once you start to open your mind to new ideas and concepts, great things will start to happen. One great benefit that you might not expect is that you start to look at your own language with new eyes as well. Many things that you automatically do while you speak English or your own language, will get more of your attention and things somehow may start to get more meaningful.

Play aroundThe most important thing that you need to do if you’d like to learn Dutch fast and at a higher level, is that you simply explore things and that you play around with the language a lot. If you live in the Netherlands, you are already surrounded by the language, so there is no need to study a lot.

The most important thing is that you start to recognise certain words and specific constructions and then when you hear and read them again and again, you will understand sooner than you realise.

Speak with real people in real situationsAnother important thing that many people often overlook is that one of the most important things that you really need is to be at total ease with people while you speak Dutch. That is why learning, exploring and practising Dutch with real people is absolutely essential.

Sure, there are things that you can pick up during Zoom sessions and yet, speaking Dutch with real people in real situations is something that is far more priceless!

Start simpleWhen you speak Dutch, there are some simple principles that can also help you. First of all, start simple. Start to speak about many different subjects and then learn how to think in certain structured ways. Once you understand a relatively simple system, you can literally talk about anything that you like!

Why so serious?Another important thing is that you learn how to really have fun with it. Most people tend to use Dutch as a survival tool, so that you can ask for things that you need, but have you ever noticed that when you speak your own language, the main goal is often just entertainment? That is why it is so important that you can create your own sentences about anything that you like; that you say crazy and outrageous things and that you laugh a lot.

Too many people are too serious when they try to speak Dutch. They only say useful and polite sentences, but then the chance is too high that you will not really connect with the language. The wonderful thing is that within a couple of days, there are so many things that you can learn: some logical insights about the structure, creativity, and great discoveries about everything around you and yourself. Soon you will notice you are more confident and at ease.

One of your best experiences everLast but not least, learning a language is always a challenge, but it could be one of your best experiences ever. One thing is certain, learning Dutch is not just about learning a new language. Learning the local language can help you feel much better in a new place, so you can do anything you set your mind to!

If you want to speak Dutch for real, with real people and in real situations, you will need to know how to be flexible, how to have a sense of adventure and how to have real fun with it. If you like this idea, then a Dutch Brainwash course from Talencoach might be something for you. Within days, you’ll learn how you can bring your Dutch to a much higher level with some simple thought shifts. 

Learn Dutch with Talencoach:

Download the e-book “3 Steps to Dutch flow” Download the e-book “Why You Hate Learning Dutch and 7 Secrets to Change It” Visit the website Talencoach.nl Check out the Facebook page Watch videos on YouTube All free of charge!

Being an overprotective parent may seem like a good thing, as you are protecting your kids after all. But is it actually good? In-Mentis Integrative Psychology talks about the consequences of being an overprotective parent.

What are overprotective parents like?Overprotective parents are parents who worry a lot about their children. They have to supervise and know everything about what their kids are doing. That is when they feel calm and safe. If this is not happening, they can get nervous or cross.

If something bad happens to their children, they would feel guilty about it. As if they did something wrong or did not take good care of their children. Therefore, they would feel that they are not being a good parent. They think they are responsible for the lives and happiness of their children.

They are hypersensitive to whatever happens to their kids, often resulting in them having an overreaction. They are anxious parents which can lead to exhaustion, despair and the feeling of helplessness when things happen to their kids. They can end up suffering from depression.

How do overprotective parents behave?Overprotective parents are going to prevent their kids from doing any sort of risky activity, sport or game, in case an accident happens. But they will also warn their kids about the risks and dangers of any normal activity, encouraging them to avoid doing that activity. They will tell them what they should do, how they can do it in a better way, how they shouldn’t behave etc.

Commenting on the behaviour of your kids is normal, however, the problem begins with the number of things we are commenting on and the frequency of it. Overprotective parents tend to do almost everything for their kids when they can actually do it on their own. If their kids have any initiative to do anything on their own, they will tell them off so the kid stops, avoiding any potential danger.

PerfectionistsOverprotective parents are perfectionists, they will pinpoint any imperfection or error from their kids. For them, these “mistakes” justify them stopping their kids from doing anything on their own.

They don’t respect their kids’ opinion, tastes, preferences etc., because if they are not the same as theirs, it is not perfect and, therefore, not accepted. They will also correct the way their kids talk and that can be the reason why sometimes they don’t let them talk in certain public situations or express themselves.

There is always a ¨but…¨ when it comes to what their kids do or say, as whatever they do or say is never good enough because they want them to do better. They encourage them to do things, and they want them to be independent and have a normal life, but with this “but…” or “be careful with…” the kid receives a double message and doesn’t know what to do, or they start to be afraid of doing anything because there could be danger in everything.

All these behaviours can be very subtle and difficult to be aware of and identify, especially as the parent.

Consequences of having overprotective parentsAll these actions from parents that are not inherently super bad can actually harm the kids in a very profound manner. Especially if the children are responsible humans. Here is what having overprotective parents can do to their children:

Low self-concept and self-esteem: Children of overprotective parents often need supervision for anything they do because they are not going to do it properly. This will end in an “I am not good enough” feeling. Lack of initiative: Because they can be wrong and their actions can have bad consequences, they will no longer take the initiative on their own. Underdevelopment of self-care, independence and social skills when you compare them with their peers. Fear and anxiety of doing normal stuff and of life itself: they have learnt that the world and people are dangerous, and living a normal life can produce a lot of anxiety, stopping them from doing what other kids their age are doing. Lack of interest and concern about their own stuff: This is motivated by the lack of initiative, fear and the underdevelopment of skills for their age. People pleaser: They have been taught to think about others, and to not prioritise themselves, their thoughts, opinions or preferences. Read more about why setting boundaries is not selfish.  Hyper-responsibility: They feel responsible for almost everything in their world, like the happiness of others, their satisfaction and safety, and disappointing anyone is the worst thing that could happen to them. Not knowing who they are: Because they have always been told what to do, what to say, how to dress, how to behave, what is good or bad, they don’t know who they are. They never had the opportunity to think about what they want. Labelling and high expectations: They will have very high expectations of themselves. For example: “I have to”, “I should” be a good daughter / son, friend, behave this or that way, do this correctly (perfect, the rest is not good enough), etc. Leading again to a lack of initiative-taking and low self-esteem. AngerWhen the children are aware of the limitations they have, the disturbing emotions they had to go through, and that these are the result of how they have been treated by their parents, it can result in a lot of anger boiling to the surface. This can happen in their late adolescence or young adulthood, when they can compare themselves with their peers.

If you think that you are being overprotective of your kids and don’t want to harm them in this way, or if you think you are suffering from these consequences because of overprotective parents and want to overcome them, you can contact In-Mentis Integrative Psychology for help.

The Dutch parliament recently announced a new proposal regarding the Dutch wage tax law. The proposal includes a change in the current 30% ruling. The 30% ruling will be altered into a 27% ruling as of January 1, 2027. In this article, BDO provides insight into the fiscal consequences of the new rule.

The 30% rulingThe 30% ruling is a tax facility meant for employees who are recruited from outside of the Netherlands to work in the Netherlands (and are subject to Dutch wage tax). When the employee meets the below mentioned criteria, the employee can receive a maximum of 30% of their remuneration as a tax-free allowance. This is supposed to compensate extraterritorial costs. Extraterritorial costs are the costs that an employee may incur by working in a different country.

An employee can apply for the 30% ruling when:

The expat is recruited outside of the Netherlands. The expat has a specific expertise that is not (or hardly) found on the Dutch labour market and meets the salary criteria. Their previous place of residence(s) is at least 150 kilometres from the Dutch border for more than 16 out of the last 24 months before the first working day in the Netherlands. Announced proposalOn September 17, 2024, the Dutch government published their Budget Day proposals for 2025, which includes a revision to the 30% ruling. The proposal calls for a decrease of the percentage of remuneration. From January 1, 2027, the government aims to transform the existing ruling into a 27% ruling. This means that the maximum 30% tax-free allowance will change into a maximum 27% tax-free allowance.

Next to the decrease in the tax-free allowance, the salary criterium will be increased. For 2024, the minimum (taxable) salary should be 46.660 euros for employees older than 30 years old. From 2027, the minimum (taxable) salary will be 50.436 euros (plus the indexation for 2024, 2025 and 2026). This means that the employee has to have a salary higher than this in order to benefit from the 30% ruling (or, from 2027, the 27% ruling).

Transitional lawThe decrease in the 30% ruling will take place from January 1, 2027. There is still over two years left to plan ahead. For employees who made use of the 30% ruling before January 2024 (in 2023), in principle nothing will change. They will still benefit from the 30% ruling until the end of the granted period (if they meet the annual salary criterium, of course).

For any employee that utilises the 30% ruling after January 1, 2024, it means that they will be able to make use of the 30% ruling until the end of 2026. From 2027, it will change to 27% and the higher salary criterium will apply.

Partial non-residentAs mentioned in the tax plan of last year, the partial non-residence status for an employee with the 30% ruling will end on December 31, 2024. For an employee for whom the 30% ruling is applicable, there is an option to choose to be treated as a partial non-resident taxpayer for Dutch income tax. In short, this means that the employee is a tax resident for box 1 of the income tax but will be treated as a non-resident for the income of box 2 (income from substantial interest) and box 3 (income from savings and investments).

However, from 2025, this will no longer be possible. The partial non-resident taxation scheme will be abolished. However, there will be a transition period for people currently making use of the scheme. Employees who make use of the 30% ruling in 2023 can still opt for the partial non-resident status in the years 2025 and 2026. From 2027, nobody can opt for this status any more.

Significant tax consequencesThe proposed changes regarding the 30% ruling may have significant tax consequences for employees working in the Netherlands with a 30% ruling. The decrease in the tax-free allowance from 30% to 27% and the increase of the salary criterium by 2027 may lead to a decrease in net income for affected individuals. However, there is a transitional law in place that allows those who benefit from the 30% ruling before 2024 to continue doing so until the end of their granted period.

The abolishment of the partial non-resident taxation scheme by 2025 (or if the transitional law will apply by 2027) may result in additional tax liabilities for some expats. In case you would like to know more about the effect on your position or your employees’ positions, you can contact BDO to find out whether your tax position will change.