The Hague is preferred by foreigners in the Netherlands above Amsterdam
Quality of Life (public transport, healthcare, crime, etc)
Ease of Settling In (culture, local friendliness, etc)
Working Abroad (salaries, jobs, work culture, etc)
Personal Finance
Expat Essentials (housing, language, bureaucracy, etc)
Within each of these categories, there were 16 sub-categories that collectively covered 56 characteristics of urban living. Participants in the poll were tasked with rating their city on each of the various factors on a scale from one to seven.
Valencia beat over Kuala Lumpur to be awarded the best city for expat living this year, which saw a number of changes in the top and bottom 10. Numerous European towns are included in the ranking, and some, like Lisbon and Basel, even make it into the top 10. At the other end of the spectrum, Johannesburg has dropped a few spots to win the title of worst city for expats, with two German cities taking up positions in the bottom six.
Which Dutch city is most favored by foreigners?
Only Amsterdam and The Hague made the cut this year, as opposed to four Dutch cities appearing in the Expat City Ranking last year. Unfortunately, neither made it into the top 10; fortunately, they weren't included in the bottom 10. How did they fare then? And which city do foreign nationals who reside in the Netherlands favor?
No. 26. The Hague
The Hague has slipped a little from 2021, but it has nevertheless managed to maintain its position as the highest-ranking city in the Netherlands for the fourth consecutive year, placing 26th overall. All five indices gave the city respectable marks, but it excelled in the Expat Essentials and Working Abroad subcategories, finishing just outside the top 10 to take 11th place in both. The Personal Finance Index score for The Hague was the lowest (31st).
According to the findings, The Hague is generally regarded by expats as an excellent place to work but an expensive place to live. Respondents praised the city for its infrastructure and green spaces. Others, however, did criticize the city for its unfavorable climate, and one stated that it had been difficult for them to become friends with residents, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic: "I am working from home alone all week and never see other people, and I have been unable to make a single friend."
Amsterdam 30
Amsterdam, which was ranked 31st in 2021, has managed to move up one spot from that position this year, unlike The Hague. The Working Abroad Index was the only area in which Amsterdam outperformed The Hague, greatly raising the city's total average. Amsterdam placed in eighth position overall. Indeed, respondents had positive things to say about Amsterdam, praising the city's infrastructure and bike culture as well as its multicultural atmosphere.
The fact that Amsterdam ranked 34th in the Ease of Settling In ranking and respondents complained about the rudeness of locals is probably not a surprise. "The Dutch are generally friendly, yet they are chilly and aloof with foreigners, "According to a Bulgarian expat. "They frequently strike me as being prejudiced toward others when they inquire about their social lives and origins. The Dutch healthcare system and the housing market's accessibility were both criticized by respondents.
The best cities for expats in 2022
According to the results of the 2022 Expat Insider Survey, the top 10 cities around the world for expats are:
- Valencia
- Dubai
- Mexico City
- Lisbon
- Madrid
- Bangkok
- Basel
- Melbourne
- Abu Dhabi
- Singapore
The worst cities for expats in 2022
From worst to best, the cities found to be the worst places for expats to settle in 2022 are:
