location: the netherlands amsterdam financial centre · 2018. 8. 2. · to all major cities around...

1 supervision and licensing

Location: the Netherlands Amsterdam Financial Centre

Historically, Amsterdam has always been a centre of financial activity. Many financial innovations originated here, such as the world’s first publicly traded company, the first stock exchange, and the first European option exchange. More recently, Amsterdam has emerged as a hotbed for the Fintech sector and these developments have been acknowledged, by the European Union by naming Amsterdam as the European Capital of Innovation 2016.

As the capital city of one of the founders of the European Union and home to a strong financial industry, Amsterdam offers the perfect location for financial institutions as it provides a thriving and dynamic environment that will enable them to flourish.

Amsterdam is renowned as a top-level international financial services and business centre. It houses all major Dutch financial institutions as well as branches and subsidiaries of more than fifty prominent European and international banks. Combined with a strong legal and services sector this creates an energetic global business environment. Amsterdam’s financial district hosts outstanding real estate opportunities, able to fulfil all the requirements that an international financial services corporation might require.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has excellent connections to all major cities around the world. Additionally, the European political and financial centres of Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris, and London are also within easy reach via road, air, and rail links.

Amsterdam’s talented, multilingual, highly skilled labour force is known for its flexible attitude and healthy work ethic. The city is a cultural hotspot and hosts a vibrant international community with an excellent quality of life for expatriates. It continues to rank highly in the world’s most attractive and friendly cities for expats in which to live and work.

It has a great range of international schools in close proximity and a dedicated expat centre to help newly-arrived foreign citizens to assimilate and settle.

The Netherlands, and its capital Amsterdam, are considered to be a thriving, independent, and open-minded location at the heart of the major European economic hotspots and, as such, presents the perfect location for financial institutions.

Introduction

2 introduction

ContentsStrategic location ............................................................................................................................ 4The Netherlands: our country........................................................................................................... 5The Netherlands: accessibility .......................................................................................................... 6Efficient business travel .................................................................................................................... 7Excellent digital connections ............................................................................................................ 8

The financial and business services sector .................................................................................10The financial and business services sector ..................................................................................... 11Facts & figures ................................................................................................................................ 12

Supervision and licensing .............................................................................................................13Financial supervision and licensing ................................................................................................ 14Other relevant organisations based in the Netherlands ................................................................. 17Banking levy ................................................................................................................................... 18

Labour force ..................................................................................................................................19Multilingual labour force ................................................................................................................ 2030% facility: special tax regime for expats ..................................................................................... 21Dutch act on the remuneration policies for financial undertakings ................................................ 22Work and residence permits........................................................................................................... 23

Quality of life ................................................................................................................................24Quality of life .................................................................................................................................. 25Amsterdam: the liveable city .......................................................................................................... 26Expat friendly ................................................................................................................................. 27

Education .......................................................................................................................................28Location international schools ........................................................................................................ 29Public & private schooling in Amsterdam ...................................................................................... 30Relevant higher educational institutions ........................................................................................ 31

Office locations .............................................................................................................................32Office locations ............................................................................................................................. 33General information on relevant office locations in the Amsterdam area ...................................... 34

Leisure ...........................................................................................................................................36Cultural life in Amsterdam .............................................................................................................. 37Amsterdam & sports ....................................................................................................................... 39Cycling in Amsterdam .................................................................................................................... 40 Service amsterdam inbusiness .....................................................................................................41

3 contents


Strategic location

5 strategic location

600 miles

300 miles Denmark

Germany

Belgium

FranceSwitzerland

United Kingdom

170 244millionconsumers

millionconsumers

within 300 miles within 600 miles

Located in the centre of the three biggest economies in Europe, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, the Netherlands is a perfect place to serve all the major European markets. The Netherlands does well when it comes to conditions that support economic growth, such as economic stability, low inflation and long-term interest rates, as well as having a low budget deficit and public debt.

The Netherlands: our country• Capital: Amsterdam, the country’s largest city is also its financial and

cultural centre, home to the second-largest port in the Netherlands and Schiphol International Airport.

• Currency: euro• Surface area: 33,800 sq km• Unemployment rate: 5.5% (average 2007-2015)• Population: 17.0 million (July 2016)• GDP per capita: 38,429 euros (IMF 2015)• Moderate inflation: 1.3% (average 2007-2015)

Source: Holland Compared July 2016

The Netherlands: our country


The Netherlands: accessibility

The Netherlands offers a strategic location, being close to, and having frequent and direct connections with, London, Brussels and Frankfurt, and with very good connectivity to the rest of Europe and the rest of the world. This is due to the country’s favourable, central geographical position, top-notch accessibility, and excellent infrastructure.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol• 4th European passenger airport (58.3 million passengers)• 322 non-stop destinations in 95 countries• Time from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Amsterdam’s

‘Zuidas’ main business district: 7 minutes by direct train.

In addition to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam / The Hague Airport are also

within easy range from Amsterdam (less than 1.5 hour’s drive). Both airports also provide connections to many European destinations.

The Netherlands has an extensive road and rail network, partly due to its flat topography. The rail infrastructure provides services to all major Dutch cities and towns, and there are many high-speed rail connections to many cities and towns in adjacent countries such as Germany, Belgium and France.

Railway connectionsAmsterdam - Brussels: 01:54 hours | 202 kmAmsterdam - Frankfurt: 03:46 hours | 471 kmAmsterdam - Paris: 03:13 hours | 492 kmAmsterdam - London: 04:37 hours | 494 km

‘The location and infrastructure make it easy to travel anywhere.’Duncan Keith Genius Gluten Free The fresh gluten-free bakery brand


Efficient business travel

Non-stop flights from Schiphol 2016

Destination Frequence/Day Duration (H)London

Paris

Frankfurt

Berlin

Brussels

Rome

Madrid

New York

Singapore

Hong Kong

Beijing

58

14

12

10

5

11

9

5

2

2

2

1:10

1:15

1:10

1:15

0:45

2:10

2:35

8:20

12:25

11:00

9:15

High Speed Direct Train connections from Amsterdam Central in 2016

Destination Frequence/Day Duration (H)Brussels

Paris

London (via Brussels)

Berlin

Frankfurt

Düsseldorf

13

10

10

6

6

6

1:54

3:16

4:50

6:30

3:00

2:12



The Netherlands is a true frontrunner in Europe when it comes to digital infrastructure. It is home to the world’s largest data transport hub: the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX). The Netherlands is renowned for having one of the fastest average broadband speeds in the world, and it also has one of the highest levels of broadband penetration in Europe. In addition, the Netherlands is home to some of the world’s most reliable broadband and telecom providers. As a result, roughly one-third of European data centres (including Interxion and Equinix) are located within the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.

• Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX)- The largest internet exchange in the world, both by number of members and total traffic- Ultra-high-speed connectivity with an average peak load of over 3 Terabytes per second- More than 70 carriers present at AMS-IX locations- Diverse peering community of over 710 internet-related companies connected to the AMS-IX

grid, half of them from outside the Netherlands (e.g. Microsoft, Google, Facebook).• The Netherlands currently ranks 6th on best ICT infrastructure worldwide (The Networked

Readiness Index, World Economic Forum, 2016).• Amsterdam ranks 2nd when it comes to mobile internet speed in Europe (European Digital City

Index, 2015).• The Netherlands has one of the fastest internet speeds in Europe, with 17.9 Mb per second

average (Akamai, State of the Internet Report, Q1 2016).

Excellent digital connections Home to the world’s

largest data transport hub



Excellent digital connections

94% 90%84% 82% 78%

Netherlands UK Germany France Ireland

Amsterdam

Paris

Berlin

London

Dublin

28

24

33

5

2

Netherlands

UK

Germany

Ireland

France

25

13

26

8

417,9

14,9 14,4 13,9

9,9

Netherlands UK Ireland Germany France

Source:TheNetworkedReadinessIndex,WorldEconomicForum,2015

Source:TheNetworkedReadinessIndex,WorldEconomicForum,2015 Source:Akamai,StateoftheInternetReport,Q12016

Source:EuropeanDigitalCityIndex,2015

%ofindividuals using internet Mobile internet speed- ranking

Internetspeed– AverageMbpersecondICTInfrastructure - ranking

94% 90%84% 82% 78%


Amsterdam

Paris

Berlin

London

Dublin

28

24

33

5

2

Netherlands

UK

Germany

Ireland

France

25

13

26

8

417,9

14,9 14,4 13,9

9,9







94% 90%84% 82% 78%


Amsterdam

Paris

Berlin

London

Dublin

28

24

33

5

2

Netherlands

UK

Germany

Ireland

France

25

13

26

8

417,9

14,9 14,4 13,9

9,9







% of individuals using internet Mobile internet speed - ranking

Internet speed - Average Mb per second


The financial andbusiness services sector

The financial and business services sector

The financial and business services sector is one of thelargest key economic sectors in the Netherlands, andthe Amsterdam Metropolitan Area lies at its heart. Inaddition to major Dutch financial institutions such asABN AMRO, ING, Delta Lloyd and Rabobank, the areahouses branches of foreign banks such as ICBC, DeutscheBank, BNP Paribas, MUFG Bank (formerly known as Bankof Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ), Citibank and many others.Additionally, Amsterdam has a strong and long-established trading community, housing some of the world’s leading market-making firms, such as IMC, Flow Traders and Optiver. As a major asset management centre it is also home to one of the world’s largest asset management firms, APG. Amsterdam’s position as a financial center is further strengthened by being a major

market infrastructure hub, including trading venues such as Euronext, TOM MTF, and ICE Endex, and clearing service providers such as ABN AMRO Clearing, EuroCCP and ICE Clear.

The region houses many international law andaccountancy firms. Amsterdam plays host to the globalheadquarters of accounting firm KPMG, as well as avariety of other professional business services, such aslegal affairs, management, pensions and tax consultancy,all of which ensure that businesses are served effectively.In turn, the presence of financial and business serviceproviders has helped accelerate the growth in theestablishment of international head offices and corporatetreasuries in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.

11 the financial and business services sector

The Netherlands is home to:

53 banks and 43 branches of credit institutions

established in EU countries, and 4 branches of

credit institutions established in non-EU countries

(2016Q2)

186 life- and non-life insurance companies

(2016Q2)

298 pension funds

(2016Q2)

Dutch Financial Sector: Assets Under Management

Dutch Banks:

€2.6 trillion

Dutch Pension Fund Industry:

€1.3 trillion

Dutch Insurance Companies:

€505 billion

Dutch Investment Funds:

€767 billionSource: Dutch Central Bank

Facts & figures regarding the financial and business services industry in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

• Largest cluster in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

• 25% of the regional economy (gross domestic product of the region)

• 255,000 jobs

• 19% of the employment market

Source: 2016 Economic Outlook of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

Facts& figures


Supervision and licensing


Financial supervision and licensing

Financial market participants that would like to conduct their business from the Netherlands are welcome. The Dutch supervisory authorities are open to discuss any questions you may have prior to filing a license application.The Netherlands has a twin peaks model of supervision which is comparable to the UK supervisory model with split responsibilities between the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank – DNB) and the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten – AFM).In general, the AFM and DNB follow a risk-based supervisory approach towards financial entities. Where applicable, the supervisors work together, and they are allowed to exchange information necessary for supervision. The rules of procedure are laid down in a covenant between AFM and DNB.

AFMThe AFM carries out conduct-of-business supervision. The AFM is committed to promoting fair and transparent financial markets. As an independent market conduct authority, the AFM contributes to a sustainable financial system and prosperity in the Netherlands.In the Agenda 2016-2018, the AFM has set itself three priorities for 2016: to reduce undesirable risks in the financial markets; to strengthen and renew supervision through investment in technology and methodologies; and to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and adaptability of the organisation.

DNBDNB has the task of promoting the stability of the financial system. More particularly, DNB is responsible for the prudential supervision of financial institutions and the financial sector. It contributes to defining and implementing the single monetary policy of the countries which have introduced the euro, and promotes the smooth operation of the payment system. Furthermore, DNB is designated as National Resolution Authority.In its Supervisory Strategy 2014-2018, DNB advocates assertive European banking supervision and directs its own supervisory approach towards improvements in information provision, the quality of risk analyses and behaviour adjustment at institutions under its supervision. DNB aims to intensify the surveillance of financial sector integrity and will, within the constraints of the law, seek greater openness on its supervisory practice.

Banking UnionBeing part of the euro-area, the Netherlands is also a participating Member State in the Banking Union. This implies that all credit institutions located in the Netherlands fall under the scope of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), with all significant institutions under the direct responsibility of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Single Resolution Board (SRB). Supervision of banks is a shared responsibility of the ECB and national supervisory authorities. The SRM is made up of a network of national resolution authorities and the SRB as the central decision making body. The SRB is able to draw on the European Single Resolution Fund, to which the banks contribute.

Licensing process in the NetherlandsFinancial institutions wishing to operate in the Dutch market require an authorisation from DNB, the ECB or the AFM.

• DNB issues authorisations to institutions such as insurers, payment institutions, electronic money institutions, trust offices and clearing institutions.

• The AFM issues authorisations to institutions such as investment firms, market makers, trading venues, (management companies of) collective investment schemes (AIFMs, UCITS), custodians, depositaries, investment objects, financial services providers and credit providers.

• The ECB issues banking (i.e. credit institutions) authorisations. The authorisation application must be submitted to DNB, which will then process it in close cooperation with the ECB.

Some of the authorisation processes require a mandatory advice of DNB to the AFM and vice versa. This concerns authorisations of payment institutions, investment firms and collective investment schemes, fund managers, trading venues, central counterparties, central securities depositories and banking authorisations including investment services. However, financial institutions will only need to apply for a license at either DNB or AFM.

Banking authorisationAs set out above, the ECB issues the banking authorisations. Nevertheless, the authorisation application must be submitted to DNB, which will then process it in close cooperation with the ECB. If, following an assessment, DNB is of the opinion that the applicant meets the authorisation requirements, it will draw up a draft decision to issue an authorisation and provide it to the ECB. If DNB is of the opinion that the applicant does not meet the statutory authorisation requirements, it can reject the application without a decision from

the ECB being required. The application process starts by submitting an application form, which can be downloaded from DNB’s website. This form lists the information to be provided by the applicant. Requirements to be assessed include:

• Suitability, integrity and number of prospective directors and supervisory board members.

• Policy, organisation and integrity of operations; institutions should have controlled and sound business operations, including rules on the prevention of conflicts of interest, outsourcing and conduct of business; operational management must be geared to the nature, size, risks and complexity of the bank’s activities.

• Prudential requirements (regarding own funds, solvency and/or liquidity).

• Declarations of no objections for qualified holdings.

In the event that a bank also has the intention of providing investments services, additional requirements apply to operational management and business conduct.

Investment firm, market maker and MTF authorisation The requirements for investment firms, market makers and MTFs which are stemming from MiFID, focus on assessing the following requirements:

• Suitability and integrity of prospective directors and supervisory board members.

• Policy and organisation of operations of controlled and sound business operations, including conflicts of interest, outsourcing and conduct of business rules.

• Description of measures concerning business conduct requirements and safeguarding of client assets.

• Prudential requirements (minimum own funds, solvency and/or liquidity).

• Declarations of no objections for qualified holdings.



With regard to MiFID II, the AFM will accept applications for MiFID II licenses as of April 2017, which can be issued per 3 January 2018.

InnovationHubThe AFM and DNB have created the joint InnovationHub to support market operators that seek to market innovative financial services or products but are unsure about the rules. The Hub aims to create room for innovation in the financial sector. With the InnovationHub, the AFM and DNB have set up a single point of entry for new entrepreneurs – such as fintechs – and incumbents to submit questions about regulations directly to a supervisory authority, irrespective of whether they are currently subject to supervision. The InnovationHub can provide you with various types of support, such as:

• Detailed explanation of specific supervision rules and policies.

• Guidance in navigating the Dutch supervisory landscape.

• Information about potential supervision issues, for example if you are developing an innovative concept.

You can contact the InnovationHub via innovationhub@ afm.nl or [email protected]. The InnovationHub will respond to your question within two business days, telling you at least how to follow up on your question. In the case of a simple answer, a contact by telephone or email will suffice. Otherwise, you will be invited to discuss your question at the AFM or DNB offices.Moreover, in order to create more room for innovation in the financial sector, the AFM and DNB plan to launch a regulatory sandbox from 2017 on. The aim of the

sandbox is to enable businesses to test their innovative ideas in a live environment, under a custom regulatory framework.

Additional licensing informationDNB and the AFM decide on authorisation applications for banks and investment firms, market makers and MTFs in principle within thirteen weeks of receipt.For more licensing information on other financial institutions, please contact DNB or the AFM.All information with regard to the application can be submitted in English. Any firm wanting to move its operations (or part of it) to the Netherlands should first establish a legal entity here, then obtain a license, and subsequently transfer its business into that licensed entity. Any firm applying for a license in the Netherlands will follow the same procedure. Where possible, the supervisors can base their assessment of applications of already licensed firms on their original application or updated documentation. It is therefore expected that applicants who have already been authorised by a regulator of another EU member state (i.e. which have a license based on EU legislation) will be able to relatively efficiently provide the complete set of required information, permitting the regulators to more efficiently make their assessment. This may speed up the application process.For further information, please refer to the websites www.dnb.nl and www.afm.nl.

Other relevant organisations based in the Netherlands

‘Amsterdam is a city that is always reshaping the status quo.’Don Ginsel Holland FinTech Empowering the next generation of financial services worldwide Europe’s preferred airport

Dutch Banking AssociationThe Dutch Banking Association (NVB) consults with the regulatory authorities, the Dutch Government and many social organisations and interest groups to represent the interests of the Dutch banking community. Collective bargaining on behalf of the banking sector is also part of the NVB’s portfolio. To represent the banks’ interest on a European level, the NVB is a member of the Banking federation of the European Union. Virtually all banks operating in the Netherlands, including foreign bank branches, have a NVB membership.https://www.nvb.nl/en/ Foreign Bankers’ AssociationThe goal of the Foreign Bankers’ Association (FBA) is to protect and promote the interests of foreign banks operating in the Netherlands. The Foreign Bankers’ Association is part of the Dutch Banking Association. www.foreignbankers.nl

Holland FinTechHolland FinTech strives to create a thriving international marketplace for FinTech in the Netherlands. It brings together people and organisations who believe that creating a level playing field in the financial ecosystem will drive innovation, and that connecting mature players to innovative startups across borders, will accelerate financial innovation to its full potential.www.hollandfintech.com

Dutch Association of InsurersThe Dutch Association of Insurers represents the interests of private insurance companies operating in the Netherlands. The association is an independent organisation managed and financed by its members. https://www.verzekeraars.nl/en/

Dutch Fund and Asset Management Association (DUFAS)DUFAS promotes the collective interests of asset managers operating on and from the Dutch market, both Dutch and foreign parties. They promote the business interests of its members both on a national as an international level. On the European level this is also done through the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA). http://www.dufas.nl/en-us/


Banking levy

Like some other EU member states, the Netherlands has a bank levy. In principle all entities and branches that are allowed to carry out banking activities in the Netherlands are in scope of the Dutch bank levy. The first €20 billion in tax base is exempted, which means that smaller banks are not subject to any bank levy at all. In short, the tax is based on the consolidated commercial accounts of the top group entity in the Netherlands or, in case a foreign entity has a branch in the Netherlands, the tax base depends on the part of the stand-alone commercial accounts of the head office that can be attributed to the Dutch branch office using the methods set forth in the OECD Report on the attribution of profits. The tax base is the total balance sheet minus the amount of capital, the secured deposits under a deposit insurance scheme and the liabilities connected with insurance activities of the bank. The tax rate is 0.044% for short-term debts and 0.022% for long-term debts.


19 supervision and licensing 19

Labourforce

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam

20 labour force

Multilingual labour force

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Netherlands

Belgium

Portugal

Poland

Germany

Czech RepublicIre

landItaly

United Kingdom

SpainFrance

‘It’s easy for us to find the international talent that we need.’Pascal van Dalen DoubleDutch Startup creating mobile event apps

Language skills are meeting the needs of enterprises Executive Opinion Survey (2016) based on an index from 0 to 10

The high quality of both the labour force and the country’s educational system goes a long way toward explaining why the Netherlands is such an attractive country for international organisations to set up shop.

The Netherlands boasts a highly educated, well-motivated, and multilingual labour force, whose productivity exceeds that in most other European countries. Furthermore, the Dutch labour force consistently gets high marks from the international business community for its high percentage of advanced educational degrees and familiarity with foreign working styles and business environments.

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, but, being practical people, the Dutch realised long ago that success lies in learning other people’s languages. Today, the Netherlands is by far the most multilingual country in Europe. More to the point, the Dutch have a better working knowledge of English (around 80%) than any other nationality on the European continent. Besides English, many Dutch people are also fluent in German and French.

30% facility: special tax regime for expats

The Netherlands has a special tax regime for expatriates, the so-called ‘30% ruling’. According to this ruling, the employer may grant the employee a tax-free allowance of up to a maximum of 30% of their remuneration as an (untaxed) reimbursement of the extra costs of their stay in the Netherlands. The remuneration includes incidental and flexible forms of income such as bonus payments and stock options. Termination payments are excluded from the 30% ruling.

CriteriaIn order to qualify for the 30% ruling, the followingconditions must be met:• The employee must have specific expertise that is

not available on the Dutch labour market. Specific expertise is deemed to exist if the taxable income meets the following salary level:- Minimum taxable income of €36,889 (excluding

the 30% allowance) for regular employees- Minimum taxable income of €28,041 (excluding

the 30% remuneration) for qualifying masters (MSc) younger than 30

- No minimum income level exists for scientists and researchers at a research institute.

• The employee must be recruited from abroad.• The employer must be a Dutch wage tax-

withholding agent.• The employee has to live more than 150

kilometers outside of the Dutch border in more than 16 of the 24 months prior to the start of the employment.

Please note that the tax free allowance can also be less than 30%. Most importantly, the taxable salary should always meet the minimum salary requirement.

Standard Young MasterOriginal gross salary: € 45,000 € 36,000Tax free allowance: € 8,111 € 7,959Taxable salary: € 36,889 € 28,041 In the examples above the taxable salary equals the applicable salary requirement. The difference between the original gross salary and the salary requirement can be paid out as a tax free allowance.

Partial non-resident taxpayer statusUnder the 30% ruling, an employee can opt to be treated as a partial non-resident taxpayer. As a result, the employee will be treated as a non-resident taxpayer for box 2 and box 3. This means that, during the duration of the 30% ruling, the employee will not have to pay any tax on his savings and investments. Please note that this exemption does not apply to substantial shareholdings in a Dutch company and / or real estate in the Netherlands.

International schoolAn employer may also pay an employee a tax free allowance to cover the cost for certain international schools. Whether a school is considered a qualifying school is primarily determined by the Dutch tax authorities.

DurationThe maximum duration of the 30% ruling is 8 years. The maximum duration might be reduced in case of any previous stay or employment in the Netherlands. Limited periods of stay are not taken into account (less than 30 days per year). In addition, the maximum reference period is 25 years preceding the employment in the Netherlands.

This example shows that an expat receives €15,600 net more with the 30% ruling (based on a salary of €100,000)

Gross Income (example) € 100,000 € 100,000 30% tax ruling € 30,000

Taxable base € 70,000

Up to €19,822 - 36,5% tax & contributions € 7,235

€19,822 to €33,589 - 42% tax & contributions € 5,782

€33,589 to €57,585 - 42% € 10,078

€57,585 - 52% € 6,455

Total taxes & contributions € 29,550 € 29,550

NET INCOME (WITH 30% RULING) € 70,450

Gross Income € 100,000 € 100,000

Taxable base € 100,000

Up to €19,822 - 36,5% tax & contributions € 7,235

€19,822 to €33,589 - 42% tax & contributions € 5,782

€33,589 to €57,585 - 42% € 10,078

€57,585 - 52% € 22,055

Total taxes & contributions € 45,150 € 45,150

NET INCOME (WITHOUT 30% RULING) € 54,850

Source: Dutch Tax Authorities 2016

21 labour force

22 labour force

The Netherlands has implemented an Act on the Remuneration Policies for Financial Undertakings (or: Wbfo) per February 2015. The Act provides for several rules concerning remuneration of financial undertakings, such as a ban on guaranteed variable remuneration, a mandatory bonus claw-back clause in some specific cases, and a cap on the severance pay for members of the board. Under the act, a financial undertaking cannot pay a variable remuneration that exceeds 20% of the fixed remuneration on an annual basis. This rule applies to all persons working under the responsibility of the financial undertaking. However, under specific circumstances, exceptions to this rule may apply.

The Act applies to financial undertakings having a registered office in the Netherlands and to its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries and branches abroad). The definition of ‘financial undertaking’ includes, amongst others, banks, insurers, investment firms, fund managers, payment services providers, custodians and premium pension institutions (PPIs).

However, the bonus cap of 20% does not apply to Dutch branches of banks and investment firms that are registered in other member states. For those branches, the bonus cap is governed by the laws of that other member state. Currently, the Act also does not apply to managers of AIFs and UCITs and to certain types of investment firms1.

There are plans to restrict this exception for these types of firms, if they are included in the prudential consolidation scope of a CRD IV, Solvency II or FICO group, in which cases, a 100-200%-cap will apply.Please note that the remaining rules of the Act do apply to these companies. As mentioned above, the Act includes some exceptions to the 20% bonus cap. These are:• For employees not covered by a collective labour

agreement, the variable remuneration may exceed 20% for a single person as long as the average variable remuneration in the entire group of employees does not exceed 20%.

• For employees working mainly abroad, the variable remuneration may not exceed 100% of their fixed remuneration if they work in another member state. For employees working mainly outside of the EU, this cap may be lifted to 200% of the fixed remuneration, provided that the shareholders agree to this higher bonus cap.

• For persons employed by a Dutch holding company, from which the business of the group is mainly international, a 100% bonus cap applies.

More information can be found in the Wbfo (the Act on Remuneration Policies for Financial Undertakings).

Dutch act on the remuneration policies for financial undertakings

1 Investment firms that deal for their own account only with their own resources and capital and which have no external customers and are local firms.

Inside EU/EEAA national of the EU/EEA that is coming to the Netherlands to work, study or stay in the Netherlands does not need a visa nor a work or residence permit.

Outside EU/EEAA foreign national from outside the EU/EEA that is coming to the Netherlands to work for a period of more than three months, can apply for a residence permit for one of the following reasons:• working as a highly skilled migrant;• working as a labour migrant; or• working as a self-employed person.

Depending on the nationality, the applicant will have to apply for an authorisation for temporary stay, prior to their departure for the Netherlands.

In the event that the foreign national is coming to the Netherlands to work for a period of less than three months, they may have to apply for a business visa and/or work permit.

Highly skilled migrant permitA highly skilled migrant is any foreign employee coming to the Netherlands to work as an employee and:• earns at least €4,240.00 (excluding holiday

allowances and 13th-month salary payment) gross per month; or

• earns at least€€3,108.00 (excluding holiday allowances and 13th-month salary payment) gross per month, if under thirty years of age.

Employers wishing to employ highly skilled migrants are no longer required to also apply for work permits for those employees. They will only have to submit an application for Admission and Residence for the employee and his family at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The application procedure takes approximately three weeks. In order to obtain residency as a highly skilled migrant, an important prerequisite is that the applicant’s employer in the Netherlands must be recognised as a sponsor by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service.

A residence permit for highly skilled migrants will be granted for the duration of the intended employment, for a maximum of five years.

Family membersThe spouse, or partner, and young children of the highly skilled migrant, can also apply for the Admission and Residence Procedure at the same time as the main applicant. Upon obtaining a residence permit, the spouse or partner of a highly skilled migrant may work for any employer in the Netherlands, without requiring a work permit.

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency provides active guidance and assistance with the aforementioned procedures in cooperation with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

Work and residence permits

‘Every day, I get the chance to work with colleagues from more than 30 different countries.’Sam van der FeltzIBFDYour portal to cross-border tax expertise

23 labour force


doek muur versie 2 50%.indd 1 20-10-16 15:33

Quality of life

25 quality of life

The Netherlands has an open-minded and cosmopolitan population around 19% of whom are foreign nationals. It is a welcoming country to professionals and their families from across the globe. The main concentration of expats is located in the Randstad (Amsterdam 50,000, Rotterdam 30,000 & The Hague 27,500) however, expats also form a significant part of the population elsewhere in the Netherlands. The country boasts an affordable high standard of living in a multicultural society. At the

same time, it retains an inviting, communal atmosphere, especially in its city centres, where bikes are the main form of transportation. Open, rural land is never far away from office buildings and cities.

Combined with cultural, sporting and other spare-time activities, the Netherlands makes for an extremely attractive location for both locals and expatriates.

Quality of life

Quality of Life - Executive Opinion Survey (2016) based on an index from 0 to 10

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Netherlands

Germany

BelgiumIre

land

Czech RepublicSpain

France

United K

ingdom Italy

Portugal

Poland

Source: IMD World Competitiveness Online, 2016

‘In Amsterdam, we’ve found the city that offers the perfect work-life balance.’Taisuke Kurita ELM Europe The distributor of the disc repair machine

In addition to its picture-postcard views, Amsterdam is a favourite amongst tourists and residents alike for its huge variety of museums and unique locations, as well as the many events, festivals and other activities on offer every day. Just as important: in this compact city with extensive public transport (not to mention easy bike-ability) it is easy to get around. Essentially, in Amsterdam, you will find all the amenities of a major capital city in the intimate, accessible environment of a town.

When you zoom-out to look at the entire region, every-thing you could desire, from nature reserves to castles, to beaches, is just a short trip away by train or car. The city also benefits from a stable political environment with a focus on innovation and freedom. It is a popular city that people all over the world want to visit and explore.

Amsterdam: the liveable city

2,3 million inhabitants

180different nationalities

75museums

881,000bicycles, 58% use a bicycle daily

80bridges in the canal ring

parks40

Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

Expat friendly

Services Expat Center Amsterdam Operating globally means attracting talent from all over the world. The Expat Center Amsterdam, an initiative of the City of Amsterdam, is the official one-stop-shop service for international companies and their highly skilled migrant employees.

One-stop shop for expats:• Visa arrangements• 30% ruling applications• Valuable information source for expats, covering essential topics such as insurance,

finding schools, childcare or housing

Simplifying processes:• Meeting the needs of international companies and their expatriate employees• The Expat Center’s website contains a wealth of useful information for expats:

www.expatcenter.com

• The Dutch have an international focus• 180 nationalities in Amsterdam Metropolitan

Area• 40% of Amsterdam’s inhabitants are foreign

nationals or have a dual nationality

‘With its strong international focus, Amsterdam makes things easy for expats.’Amy HebertCelaneseA leading global technology and specialty materials company

27 quality of life


Education

The Netherlands is renowned for having a strong, well-balanced education system. This is further bolstered by a host of options for international schooling. There are a number of international schools in-and-around Amsterdam, covering a wide spectrum of learning, languages and cultures.

Location international schools

29 education

European School BergenBergen

International School Amsterdam

British School Amsterdam DENISE

Amsterdam Almere

Hilversum

Utrecht

Delft

Den HaagWassenaar Leiden

International School Almere

IPS Letterland

International School HilversumIPS Hilversum

International School Utrecht

International School Delft

British School the NetherlandsInternational School The Hague

European School The Hague

Elckerlyc International School

ICS Amsterdam

American School The Hague

Public & private schooling in Amsterdam

‘Our free spirit and innovative mindset can be found in everything we do.’Boris Veldhuijzen van ZantenThe Next WebA source for remarkable progress in technology

There are two types of international schools: independent international schools (private schools), and those partially-funded by the government, or municipality (public/private schools). The latter, called community schools, place a lot of emphasis on connecting with Dutch society. This includes Dutch language lessons and activities to promote integration. Many international schools that focus on education in English follow the standardised International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes, meaning students can receive an internationally recognised education and easily transfer to other international schools around the world.

Contact the schools online, or by phone, for an explanation of their particular education options – or, better yet, visit in person for a better sense of their facilities and offerings. Also, be sure to read their entry requirements carefully: entry to some schools requires that at least one parent holds a foreign passport.

Future expansion plansThe Amsterdam Metropolitan Area continues to attract international businesses, and many international companies that are already based here are extending their operations. This brings with it an increase in international employees living in the area, or looking to

move here – many of them with families. In addition, Amsterdam attracts other internationals, such as start-up entrepreneurs, creatives, researchers and students. As a result, demand for places at international schools has risen and continues to do so. International ‘Amsterdammers’ areimportant to the region, and high-quality international education is the number-one priority for expats with children, or those planning to start a family.

For these reasons, the municipalities of the Amsterdam area have joined forces to create the Delta Plan for International Education, which will ensure a minimum of 750 additional places at international schools within the next two years, and subsequent minimum of 750 places over the following two years.

Source: Iamexpat.nl

30 education

31 education

The area has a network of top quality universities within 1 hour of Amsterdam. Amsterdam itself is home to two universities: the University of Amsterdam (UvA), and VU University Amsterdam (VU). These universities offer a wide range of economics, business and legal courses at bachelor, master and postgraduate level.More information at www.vu.nl/en/index.aspx; www.english.uva.nl.

Amsterdam Institute of FinanceThe Amsterdam Institute of Finance (AIF) specialises in providing high-level executive education for finance professionals from around the globe. AIF selects its faculty from internationally-renowned business schools such as Berkeley, Cambridge, ESADE, INSEAD, Kellogg and NYU Stern. In addition to open enrolment and in-company programmes, AIF also provides training, in partnership with a number of Dutch and international associations, including the international CFA Institute, NYU Stern School of Business, PRMIA, the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association Hawkamah and the Netherlands Finance Development Company (FMO).www.aif.nl

TinbergenThe Tinbergen Institute (TI) is one of Europe’s leading graduate schools and research institutes in economics, econometrics and finance. TI is operated jointly by the Schools of Economics of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), University of Amsterdam (UvA) and VU University Amsterdam (VU) in the Netherlands. Tinbergen Institute offers a research master program in economics, econometrics and finance as well as PhD opportunities under expert supervision by international research fellows.www.tinbergen.nl

Relevant higher educational institutions


Office locations

The city of Amsterdam has several business areas, all with excellent public transport connections. The financial and business services sector is strongly represented at the Zuidas (South Axis) business district with, among others, the head office of ABN AMRO Bank, numerous legal firms, foreign banks and the offices of Deloitte and EY. There is a large metro-, tram- and train station with trains going to Schiphol Airport (a 7-minute ride) and excellent high-speed train connections to Brussels, Paris and Frankfurt. The Amstel Business Park houses many foreign banks, the Amsterdam office of Rabobank and the headquarters of Philips. It is nicely located on the banks of the Amstel river with the Amstel train station nearby. The Y riverbank area is an upcoming office area adjacent to Amsterdam Central Station.

Renting practice in Amsterdam Term: Any length. 5 years is standard Breaks: Options negotiableRenewals: Most 5-10-year leases have an option to extend for 5 yearsRent basis: NetFree rent: Common and negotiableEscalation: Typically indexed annuallySecurity: Typically 3 month’s rent and 3 month’s service charges, plus VATRight to sub-let: NegotiableTransparency: Fairly high

Office locations

33 office locations

General information on relevant office locations in the Amsterdam area

Source: - Jones Lang LaSalle, 2015

Amsterdam South

Type of sectorLegal, financial and business services sector

Key data• Current office stock approx.: 850,673 m2 • Vacancy rate: 9.2%

Rental level• €280 - €350 / m2 / year• Incentive level: 10% - 15%• Average €315

Amsterdam South East

Type of sector presentLogistics, trade, finance and commercial sector

Key data• Current office stock approx.: 259,835 m2

• Vacancy rate: 8%


Zuidas (South Axis) Business District Amstel Business Park

34 office locations

35 office locations

Amsterdam City Centre

Type of sectorCommercial services, fashion and media sector


• Vacancy rate: 6.7%


Amsterdam City Centre

Type of sector presentAdministration, creative and legal sector


• Vacancy rate: 3%


Y River Banks City Centre


Leisure

Safest city in the world

#5

ArtArt is deeply embedded in the Dutch culture – from Rembrandt and the Old Masters, through Van Gogh, and all the way to an exciting contemporary art scene. Amsterdam is home to a large variety of world-famous museums. Dive into the artistic wealth of the17th-century Golden Age at the Rijksmuseum and the Rembrandt House Museum. The Van Gogh Museum houses a beautiful and touching 19th-century collection of the works of one of the Netherlands’ most famous painters, whilst at the Stedelijk Museum you can explore the past 150 years of modern and contemporary art, design and architecture.

Next to that, the up-and-coming art scene is bustling. Beyond Amsterdam’s many art galleries, art fairs such as the Amsterdam Art Fair, the Affordable Art Fair, ‘Realisme’ and ‘Art in Redlight’ offer the opportunity to discover the newest names in the Dutch and international art scenes.

Classical & Contemporary MusicWith outstanding performances, Amsterdam strikes all the right notes with classical music lovers, who will find everything from symphony orchestras, choral music and ensembles to chamber music and opera in inspiring venues of all sizes.

The Royal Concertgebouw is renowned for its acoustics and grand halls hosting world-class orchestras and performers, as well as its very own Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, with its spectacular jazz-focused Bimhuis wing, is a striking waterside building with an innovative and diverse contemporary programme. Opera lovers will want to secure a ticket to one of the productions of the Dutch National Opera, which also

collaborates with leading international companies. In addition, there is an abundance of smaller venues and churches regularly hosting classical concerts. The annual Grachtenfestival is another fantastic opportunity to enjoy classical music, with its programme of concerts by, and on, the canals.

Theatre & DanceAmsterdam is packed with options for theatre lovers – even those who don’t speak Dutch. The first port of call should be the Stadsschouwburg, home to Holland’s most revered theatre productions, often shown with English subtitles. Amsterdam’s main theatre also hosts international productions and festivals, such as the annual Holland Festival, which (despite its name) draws international artists. The city is also a playground for experts in the field of contemporary dance – see especially the productions of the Nederlands Dans Theater and the Rosa Ensemble. In addition, Amsterdam’s opera and ballet talents are renowned across Europe.

Pop, Rock & JazzLegendary venues such as Paradiso and Melkweg make Amsterdam a popular stop for almost all major touring pop and rock groups and musicians, but the city actually offers a wide variety of venues, from intimate clubs to big arenas such as Heineken Music Hall and Ziggo Dome. The Dutch also have a clear passion for jazz, world and blues music, as evidenced by the world-class international players who repeatedly return to Amsterdam and its variety of jazz venues, from the huge Bimhuis to the more intimate North Sea Jazz Club.

FilmAmsterdam has a thriving film festival scene, hosting a huge variety of events, including the Imagine Film Festival, Cinekid, the KLIK! Amsterdam Animation

Cultural life in Amsterdam

37 leisure

Festival, the Roze Filmdagen, the World Cinema Amsterdam festival and the acclaimed International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). The city also offers a wealth of both mainstream and independent cinemas – the most architecturally-spectacular are the historic Pathé Tuschinski and the strikingly modern EYE Film Museum. With an extensive summer programme of open-air screenings as well, Amsterdam is truly a city of film all year round. PhotographyThe city is home to several premier photography museums and galleries, including FOAM and Huis Marseille, both of which exhibit all genres of photography in beautiful canal-side settings. Photography lovers should also watch out for the city’s regular fairs and exhibitions, such as the Unseen Photo Fair and World Press Photo.

ComedyFrom its intimate comedy theatres dedicated to the art of improvisation and stand-up, to the grand arena productions of touring comics, you are never far from a good laugh in Amsterdam. A number of the city’s clubs and performance groups specialise in English-language

comedy, while Amsterdam has also gained recognition as an essential stop on major stand-up tours.

FestivalsAmsterdam’s festival agenda spans all tastes and genres, with more than 300 festivals every year. The festival calendar is packed with everything from outdoor film events to (multi-day) dance parties, from kids’ festivals to art and fashion events, and from culinary fêtes to chamber music in Golden Age canal houses.

Cultural policyThe City of Amsterdam values the arts as a way to bind communities together, and thus contributes to stimulating cultural development. The city’s cultural policy not only preserves and presents the city’s rich past, but also supports current cultural developments, and the city grants subsidies and funding to museums, theatres, concert halls and other cultural establishments. The arts sector provides employment for more than 12,000 people in Amsterdam; at least 2,000 artists live in the city, and more than 3,000 students come here to study at the art and music academies.

‘Amsterdam is exceptionally rich in culture.’Axel Rüger Van Gogh Museum The largest collection of Van Gogh’s works in the world

38 leisure

39 leisure

Amsterdam & sports

The people in Amsterdam (‘Amsterdammers’) love to be active. Gyms are always packed, and even in the rain and occasional snow, you will see joggers running around in the Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s most popular park. Likewise, most locals prefer to persevere on their bikes in poor weather rather than resort to public transport (however convenient that is). The Dutch are also huge sports fans. When it is match-time, thousands of football fanatics can be found packed into pubs, watching the game at home on TV or, of course, at the Amsterdam ArenA watching the game live.

Ajax AmsterdamAmsterdam Football Club (AFC) Ajax was founded in March 1900 and is one of the most successful clubs in the world – it is one of just five clubs which have earned the right to keep the European Cup after winning it multiple times. True fans can take the World of Ajax tour and visit the Ajax Museum at the stadium to see this ‘holy grail’.

Other optionsSports lovers looking for a different spectator experience will find other popular sports, such as field hockey, cycling, ice hockey and swim-ming. Field hockey is popular in the Nether-

lands, and visitors can experience the excite-ment at Wagenerstadion in Amstelveen. One can also get swept up in the speed and fury of track cycling at the Velodrome Amsterdam. Ice hockey fans can satisfy their craving at the Jaap Eden Ice Rink, and swimming or water polo aficionados will find regular competitions at the Sloterparkbad. Get in the GameAttend an event, then keep the ball rolling by getting active in Amsterdam’s many parks, or during a public event. The Vondelpark is a favourite space to explore by rollerblading, jog-ging or cycling. Rollerbladers can also join the Friday Night Skate, a roller-skating procession departing from the park every Friday evening. Cruising Amsterdam on a bicycle will help you feel like a local, but you can also kick it up a gear and head to the city’s forested park, the Amsterdamse Bos, for a more sporty cycling experience. Runners are also spoilt for choice in Amsterdam, with regular events of various sizes being held throughout the year.

Cycling in AmsterdamAmsterdam is known for its street scenes of countless cyclists heading to- or from work, transporting young children to school, or carrying anything from groceries, or house pets, to impressively tricky artefacts like ladders, or even bulky furniture. Most visitors are shocked by the vast numbers of bicycles and the wide variety of cyclists: from students to police officers, and from bank staffers to couriers, cycling is the most egalitarian mode of transport. The Mayor of Amsterdam and the city’s alderpersons also cycle. Even King Willem-Alexander cycles regularly with his family.

Bicycle Facts & FiguresNumber of bikes

Number of kilometres cycled by Amsterdammers each day

Percentage of Amsterdammers that cycle daily

Number of pedal boats/canal bikes

Total lenght of cycle paths and bike lanes (Amsterdam Bicycle Network)

Dedicated cycle paths

Two-way cycle paths

One-way cycle paths

Bicycle shops

Bicycle parking spots around Amsterdam Central Station

Secured bicycle parking garages

Number of bicycle racks

Number of bicycle-hire businesses

881,000

2 million km

58% over age 12

120

767 km

513 km

275 km

236 km

140

10,000

25 (including 8 free bicycle garages)

200,000-225,000

29‘My office, my home and my children’s school are all a five-minute bike ride apart.’Gemma BroekhuisMilestone CardsThe world’s favourite baby gift

40 leisure

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amsterdam inbusiness assists foreign companies with establishing and expanding their operations in Amsterdam and beyond. We can help you create a convincing business case for setting up offices in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area – and it’s all free, strictly confidential and without a hidden agenda.

How can amsterdam inbusiness help?amsterdam inbusiness is the official foreign investment agency of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. By combining your data with ours, we can provide relevant information for your organisation. And our commitment does not end once you have set up a business in the Amsterdam Area: we strive to build a long-term relationship and are supportive in any phase of the development of your company.

Contact our teamAre you considering setting up your business in the Amsterdam Area? Don’t hesitate to contact one of our team members if you have a specific question related to your industry or country.

amsterdam inbusinessMrs. Reiniera van PallandtSenior manager financial and business services E: [email protected]: +31 6 2323 2794

Netherlands Foreign Investment AgencyMr. Ronald GertsenSenior Coordinator Financial sector E: [email protected]: + 31 6 525 24 374

Service amsterdam inbusiness

‘The city is always there to help us get to the next level.’Johan Lofstrom Chartboost The world’s largest technology platform for mobile games

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