'Don't come with empty pockets': Indian IT consultant in the Netherlands decodes salary, rent, growth prospects and visa issues in the European country

Moving abroad for work can look glamorous from the outside, but the reality can be very different once the excitement of relocation wears off. An Indian techie named Ashwini recently opened up about her four-year journey in the Netherlands, sharing the challenges of finding accommodation, navigating workplace culture, managing money and building a career away from home.

In her vlog, Ashwini recalled arriving in the Netherlands four years ago with just two suitcases, plenty of anxiety and what she described as a big dream. She said she had no European contacts, wealthy relatives or money to spend on a consultancy. Like many others looking for opportunities abroad, she spent hours scrolling through LinkedIn hoping to find the right job.

Four years later, Ashwini said she has spent the entire period working in Dutch corporate life. She decided to share the "good, the bad and the incredibly windy" side of her experience, including her salary progression, job-hunting timeline, mistakes she encountered and the practical realities of settling in the country.

From India to the Netherlands

Ashwini said she was working in India as a techno-functional consultant at a service-based company in 2021. Her journey eventually led to a job opportunity in the Netherlands, and by the end of January 2022, she had moved there.

She described getting the job as an "aha moment" after several ups and downs and having to convince her family about the move. She also highlighted the importance of understanding which companies offer visa sponsorship for professionals planning to work in the Netherlands.

According to Ashwini, once a job offer is secured, the sponsoring company can facilitate the fast-track visa process. However, arriving in the country is only the beginning.

The first month can be chaotic

Ashwini said her first 30 days in the Netherlands were a "total blur and chaos". New arrivals have to complete several practical tasks, including obtaining a BSN, opening a bank account and finding accommodation. Housing, in particular, proved to be one of her biggest challenges.

She revealed that she spent her first month living in an expensive hotel arranged by her company. Although the accommodation was subsidised, she still had to pay around 750 to 800 euros. She warned that not every employer provides accommodation and described finding a rental apartment as being almost like having "a second full-time job".

For people planning to move, Ashwini advised them not to arrive without preparation. She suggested asking employers about accommodation support and being prepared for the possibility that finding a permanent rental could take more than a month.

Why emergency savings matter

Ashwini also pointed out that opening a bank account can sometimes be difficult after arriving in the Netherlands. This can create another problem because an employee may need a bank account before receiving their salary.

Because of this, she stressed the importance of having emergency savings available when relocating. The initial period can involve unexpected accommodation and other expenses before everything is properly set up.

Dutch workplace culture was another shock

Ashwini currently works as a solution and adoption consultant, which she described as essentially a business IT consulting role. One of the biggest cultural differences she noticed was Dutch directness. She explained that employees in the Netherlands can be much more direct with their managers. If a manager does something wrong, she said, an employee can straightforwardly point it out without necessarily being viewed negatively.

This was different from what she had experienced in India, where openly challenging corporate leadership can sometimes be viewed as harmful to one's career.

Her salary grew only 11% in four years

While moving abroad can often be associated with rapid financial growth, Ashwini said her experience has been quite different. She revealed that her salary has increased by only 11% over the past four years. She has also remained with the same company since moving to the Netherlands. According to Ashwini, career growth in the country can be "incredibly flat" compared with India. She said employees may not be able to climb the corporate ladder as quickly and that professional growth can be much slower.

However, she said the 30% ruling has helped her save money. Ashwini advised people who already have a job offer in the Netherlands to speak with their HR teams about whether they qualify for the tax benefit.

Life abroad is not always like social media

Ashwini also challenged the idealised image of life in the Netherlands that people often see online. She pointed out that life there is not simply about "tulips, bicycles and sunshine". Summers can be extremely hot, while winters can be grey, windy and marked by long nights.

She clarified that she was not complaining about living in the country but wanted to offer a realistic picture to people considering a similar move.

Is moving to the Netherlands worth it for money?

For Ashwini, one of the biggest questions is whether relocating to the Netherlands purely for financial reasons makes sense. She urged prospective migrants to look beyond the headline salary and examine the complete financial picture.

That includes asking the employer about accommodation, taxes and the actual amount that will reach their bank account each month.

Ashwini pointed out that someone earning Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh in India could potentially find that moving abroad does not automatically translate into greater savings if the salary offered in the Netherlands is not sufficiently higher.

Her advice is to compare the complete package before making the decision rather than simply comparing salaries between the two countries.

A journey that was far from flawless

Looking back, Ashwini acknowledged that her journey from India to the Netherlands was not flawless. From navigating the first chaotic month and finding housing to adapting to a different workplace culture and experiencing slower salary growth, she said she learned many lessons after making the move.