Support in the Northern Netherlands to hire internationals
The Northern Netherlands offers a phenomenal support network, both for companies interested in hiring internationals, and to help you welcome your new international employee.
The Northern Netherlands (Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe) is absolutely unique in how well public and private organisations work together to make it easier for companies to hire the talent they need. In particular through the International Welcome Center North, our expat center.
What is the International Welcome Center North?
The IWCN - which happens to be one of Make it in the North's major founders! - is the one-stop shop for internationals in the North, and for Northern Dutch companies that wish to hire internationals. The center offers 3 types of services:
- government formalities (residence permits and municipal registration)
- information (practical information and referrals to reliable service providers)
- events (a chance to start building a social and/or business network during events)
This means the IWCN arranges things like your employee's work visa and residence permit, and is available to assist with all aspects related to starting to live in a new country - from helping with insurances to directing your new employee's kids to the local international school.
This creates the space for you and your employee to focus on what brought you together: the job!
Since 2015, IWCN has already arranged visa formalities for 15.000 internationals and 360 Northern Dutch companies
![Martinehoofd]()
Martine Millet Business manager at International Welcome Center North
What does the whole network for internationals look like?
Besides the IWCN, the following organisations are able to serve you and your employee in a variety of ways. The most important thing these projects share, is that they show how much is going in the North in English, so that internationals can join in on what's happening here from the moment they arrive. By being immediately inclusive, we can more easily make the North a welcoming place where your new employee can build their home.
- Make it in the North: makes you and your jobs visible for jobseekers through website and events
- The Northern Times: news from Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe in English
- Here & Now: comprehensive event calendar - cultural, community, educational - in English
- Founded in Friesland and Founded in Groningen: startup ecosystems
- International Groningen: portal with all possible info in English for internationals in Groningen
- Het Noorden Werkt Door and WerkInZicht: support for hiring permitholders and other jobseekers with distance to the job market
- The Language Center of the University of Groningen offers both Dutch language classes for your international employee and English for HR professionals for your Dutch HR professionals
Yes! There is no need to apply for a working permit or residence permit if your future employee is a European citizen, or if they are from Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland.
Read more at Rijksoverheid.nlNow we’re dealing with some formalities! Thankfully, the IWCN can assist you, no matter which country your future employee is from.
If you wish to hire a non-EU worker, you will need to become a recognized sponsor through the IND. It is relatively easy, fast and worth it, because the future application processes for work permits and residence permits will be done much faster for a new employee coming from outside the EU. You can also make use of the streamlined formalities services through the International Welcome Center North!
Streamlined formalities through IWCNIf you hire a non-EU international, there are certain salary requirements involved. You may have heard that you have to pay a very high salary regardless of work experience, but this is not always the case!
- International students (so an international on a study visa) must receive Dutch minimum wage
- An international on an orientation-year visa (a visa that internationals are eligible to if they studied at a Dutch or world top 500 university) must receive at least €2,801 gross per month, excluding vacation pay.
- An international who is hired during their orientation year visa, and then continues to work for you under a highly skilled migrant permit, still has a reduced salary vs. a standard highly skilled migrant! In 2024, this reduced salary is €2,801 per month, excluding vacation pay.
- An international hired directly as a highly skilled migrant, who is not eligible for the orientation year permit must receive:
a. Over 30 years old: €5,331 gross per month, excluding vacation pay
b. Under 30 years old: €3,909 gross per month, excluding vacation pay
There are reduced salary requirements for various professions in the arts, for researchers, and some other professions.
Remember in salary negotiations: the 30% tax ruling gives you some space.
The reason for the higher salary requirement for the highly skilled migrant permit is motivated by the idea that you are hiring a highly-skilled person from outside of the EU for a job you are unable to find local talent for.
All salary requirements (through IND)
