Cost of Living and Employment Opportunities in Rotterdam
The city of Rotterdam is an often overlooked destination for buying a house there. It is a sprawling city that offers great deals on homes, a wide selection of housing possibilities, good transport connections, and most importantly, a much lower cost of living. Hence it can be a great decision for expats to buy Rotterdam houses for sale due to the great work opportunities and low cost of living, which we will see in more detail in this post.
The Netherlands is known for its English proficiency. Rotterdam has the world’s highest standard of non-native English speaking people, which is above the capital Amsterdam. Hence, Rotterdam can be a very welcoming place for expats as there are plenty of job opportunities in this city for English speakers. You can easily get a secure, well-paid job in the city if you have great English skills and are a skilled expat. However, you must have a structured approach and the right to work in the Netherlands. It is better for you to know about the work opportunities and employment before you buy Rotterdam houses for sale.
If you are an EU national, you can work and live anywhere. But non-EU nationals have to apply for a work visa and residence permit. Remember that personal recommendations and personal contacts can fill many jobs. So make sure you reach out to any contacts you may have that can suggest or let you know if a vacancy is available. You may also search online for jobs that match your educational background and experience. It would help if you remained active for extra visibility.
Many agencies offer jobs for English speakers in Rotterdam. While some are specialized in this, others will include the jobs in their regular listing. Agencies in Rotterdam, like Hays, Adams Recruitment, Blue Lynx, and Unique Multilingual, specialize in jobs for English speakers.
Remember that hiring is a time-consuming and expensive business. Many companies are eager to find young and bright candidates, which can be time-consuming and costly. Once you find a suitable looking job, you may send your application.
Send your CV
Sending an open application to a company can be a great sign to the company that you are registered. Many companies are delighted when someone applies for a job before they have posted an ad, especially for niche industries and skills that are rare. However, you need to make sure that you follow the guidelines and write an impressive motivation letter. Rotterdam always has job adverts for English speakers, often written in English. Remember that the Dutch normally expect a short CV and a cover letter no longer than a single sheet. The letter is an important part of your application as it will decide whether they read your CV.
What kinds of jobs are available for expats?
Rotterdam has numerous companies based in the city and international companies with English as their main language in the office. So expats will not struggle to find jobs in this city. Many Dutch companies have English-speaking or bilingual workplaces that make it easy for everyone to get along. Jobs such as sales and customer relationship management specifically require English skills. Many other jobs in all sectors and specialties require English-speaking candidates.
Cost of living in Rotterdam
The cost of living in Rotterdam is way less than that of Amsterdam. Most of your running costs will be about 5% lower than in Amsterdam, but there may be situations when you can expect your heating costs to be slightly higher. This is because not many houses were built before good modern insulation and other energy-saving systems were mainstream. However, new apartments will have better insulation systems, but these can be 7 Euros more expensive per month if the house is less modern.
Properties in the ‘free sector’ will be up-to-date and come with lower running costs. The city also benefits from modern housing developments providing comfortable living and accessible amenities. The biggest difference between Rotterdam and Amsterdam is in the prices of the small luxuries. In Rotterdam, they are about 20% cheaper. These luxuries may include drinks in a restaurant or cafe, childcare, gym membership, etc. There is a much lower demand for these facilities in Rotterdam. Moreover, the overall price range for housing in Rotterdam is 20-30% cheaper if you are renting and 40% more affordable if you are buying a property.
Wrapping up
The city of Rotterdam is a vibrant place and well-connected to the rest of Europe with its far-reaching Metro and public transport infrastructure. Living here can give you a great base for working across a wider area, thus offering more opportunities. Although there are fewer jobs here than in Amsterdam, you can still find jobs that will suit you and your sector. Your money can take you much further in this city. You will find many different suburbs and neighborhoods that offer a great selection of housing facilities that will suit every budget.