The first thing people ask about the Netherlands is the same: Amsterdam, of course. The second is: is there anywhere else? There is, and the answer depends on where your work is, what you can find to live in, and what kind of daily life you want. This is a guide to the best places to live in the Netherlands for a European newcomer, without pretending that one city wins for everyone.
How should you choose where to live in the Netherlands?
Start with three questions, in this order.
- Where is the job? Dutch commuting is easy by train and bike, but a long commute eats evenings. Many people live in a neighbouring town rather than the city their employer is in.
- What can you actually find? The statistical housing shortage is about 384,000 homes in 2026 (4.6% of the stock, Volkshuisvesting Nederland). Every big city feels it. Check renting in the Netherlands before you fall in love with a neighbourhood.
- What daily life do you want? Canals and crowds, a harbour and a bold skyline, a government quarter with embassies, a student city with a compact centre, or a technology campus with room to park?
Everything below is a general profile, not a ranking. For prices and rents, the useful official tool is the CBS price index, which differs by municipality and quarter.
Is Amsterdam the best place to live for expats?
Amsterdam is the capital and the largest city, with 941,873 inhabitants on 1 January 2026 according to the city's own research office. It has the widest choice of international employers and the most visible expat community, and the city has an official welcome service, IN Amsterdam, for international newcomers whose employer is a recognised sponsor.
The cost of that choice is housing pressure. Competition for rentals is intense and the city is the one where newcomers most often start in a temporary solution. If you work in Amsterdam, look also at the towns around it. The city's pages say you must register at a City Office within five days of arriving, and they list the documents to bring, so check them before you go.
What is it like to live in Rotterdam?
Rotterdam is the country's great port city, rebuilt after the war with modern architecture and a no-nonsense character. Logistics, shipping, engineering and the creative sector are strong. Housing is tight here too, as everywhere in the country, so compare actual listings rather than reputations. The official Rotterdam International Center helps with immigration and registration for employees of registered organisations.
Why do people choose The Hague?
The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, though not the capital, and it hosts international courts and organisations, which is why it has a large international and diplomatic community. It sits on the coast, with a beach district close to the centre. If you work for an embassy, an international body, a ministry or a law firm, it is a natural choice. The Hague International Centre is the official expat desk for international staff.
Is Utrecht a good place to live?
Utrecht is small in size but central in every sense. Its railway station is the main hub of the national network, which makes it easy to work in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or The Hague while living in a compact, student-heavy city with a medieval canal centre. The trade-off is that housing is as hard to find here as in the other big cities. The local official welcome service is called Utrecht International Center in recent directories.
Why look at Eindhoven?
Eindhoven is the centre of the Dutch technology and design industry. If you work in engineering, semiconductors or product design, there may be little reason to look at the big four. The Holland Expat Center South serves Eindhoven and the surrounding region, including Breda and Tilburg. Eindhoven suits people who want a quieter city with easy access to work and a different pace from the Randstad.
If your job is in one city but you are weighing a commuter town for housing, or your partner works elsewhere, or you are not sure whether your employer's relocation package covers an official expat centre, Moovy can help you sort the questions and send you to the right official page. It cannot search listings for you.
What do the official expat centres do?
An expat centre is a public service that helps international employees and their families with the paperwork on arrival, including registration in the population register and, where relevant, immigration procedures. Most centres require an appointment, and each decides for itself what it charges. The official expat centres list warns you to be careful with private companies that use the name "Expatcenter" but are not official centres.
The centres typically serve employees of organisations that are registered with them, so ask your employer first. If yours is not, you register at your municipality in the normal way; see residence in the Netherlands for EU citizens.
How do the cities compare for work and housing?
| City | What it is known for | Official welcome service |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Capital, largest city, most international employers | IN Amsterdam |
| Rotterdam | Port, logistics, engineering | Rotterdam International Center |
| The Hague | Government, courts, international organisations | The Hague International Centre |
| Utrecht | Central rail hub, universities | Utrecht International Center |
| Eindhoven | Technology and design industry | Holland Expat Center South |
None of these is the "best" for everyone. Pick on your job, then on what you can find to rent.
What do official house-price figures say about the best places to live in the Netherlands?
The CBS measures price changes of existing homes. In the first quarter of 2026, prices were 5.2% higher than a year earlier nationally. By city: Amsterdam +1.9%, Rotterdam +4.6%, The Hague +4.3%, Utrecht +3.2% and Eindhoven +4.2% (the CBS used a different method for the first four cities than for the others). These are price changes, not price levels, and they describe the purchase market, not rents. But they show that no big city is standing still, and that a quieter city is not necessarily cheaper to buy in. For rents, the rules on points and caps apply everywhere; see renting in the Netherlands.
What should you look at when choosing among the best places to live in the Netherlands?
Make a short list of what you cannot compromise on. A realistic commute, a school with a free place, a home that fits your budget and rules for registering at the address. Visit at a weekday rush hour and on a Saturday afternoon. Ask your employer what relocation help exists, and whether it works through an official expat centre. And keep the money in view: our cost of living in the Netherlands article lists the official figures.
What about smaller towns?
The Netherlands is a small country with a dense rail system, and a lot of people live between cities rather than in them. If your employer allows hybrid work, ask about the days in the office before you commit to a rent. If you have children, check the school situation too, because popular schools can have waiting lists; see schools in the Netherlands.
For a view of the money, see cost of living in the Netherlands. And if you are still in the planning stage, moving to the Netherlands puts the first weeks in order.