The Netherlands is a small, flat and densely populated country in Northern Europe, with more than 50% of its land being less than a metre above sea level. Teachers who find a TEFL job in the Netherlands will be living in a socially tolerant country with a wealth of architecture that can compete with anything else on offer around the globe, a diverse and exciting nightlife that pulls in revellers from all around Europe, and that was also the birthplace two of the world’s most famous artists, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Large areas of the land that makes up the Netherlands have been reclaimed from the sea, from as long ago as the 16th century. The dykes that hold back the water were famously portrayed in the story of a boy who stuck his finger in a hole to stop the country from being flooded. Whereas in most countries it is necessary to cope with hills and fight against the traffic when cycling, the flat terrain of the Netherlands, along with its cycle-friendly approach to transport policy, makes it the perfect place to explore on a bike. This low-lying nature of the land, though, is what helps to make its soil incredible fertile. Read More

The Netherlands is a small, flat and densely populated country in Northern Europe, with more than 50% of its land being less than a metre above sea level. Teachers who find a TEFL job in the Netherlands will be living in a socially tolerant country with a wealth of architecture that can compete with anything else on offer around the globe, a diverse and exciting nightlife that pulls in revellers from all around Europe, and that was also the birthplace two of the world’s most famous artists, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Large areas of the land that makes up the Netherlands have been reclaimed from the sea, from as long ago as the 16th century. The dykes that hold back the water were famously portrayed in the story of a boy who stuck his finger in a hole to stop the country from being flooded. Whereas in most countries it is necessary to cope with hills and fight against the traffic when cycling, the flat terrain of the Netherlands, along with its cycle-friendly approach to transport policy, makes it the perfect place to explore on a bike. This low-lying nature of the land, though, is what helps to make its soil incredible fertile.

Famous for its tulips, windmills, clogs and cheese, the Netherlands, despite its size, is actually the second-largest agricultural exporter in the world, behind only the USA. TEFL teachers who enjoy socialising and the coffee house culture will be very comfortable living in a country where it is cafes rather than pubs that are the social hubs of the villages, towns and cities. Walk out of any coffee shop in the Netherlands and you are entering into a country that probably has more architectural diversity than anywhere else in the world. Marvel at Gothic and Romanesque architecture from medieval times on one street before turning the corner to find functionalism, modernism, postmodernism and any other form of architecture you can think of.

Despite not being home to much in the way of hilly vistas, the Netherlands does actually offer plenty for nature lovers too. Cycling through the heathlands, forest and dunes whilst passing windmills can be an incredibly relaxing form of therapy for EFL teachers looking for a break. The Netherlands is home to around 20 fantastic national parks just waiting to be explored.

Most TEFL jobs in the Netherlands are taken by people already in the country, rather than by those going there specifically to teach. The excellent standard of English spoken by the Dutch generally means that there isn’t an overwhelming need for native TEFL teachers in the country, but it also means that there are few competing teachers arriving looking for work should you want to teach there.

It’s possible for native speakers to find opportunities teaching advanced classes in the big cities, teaching one of the many university courses delivered in English or with a company’s in-house business English programme. The typical salary for entry-level teachers can seem reasonable, but high taxes, rent and the cost of living can soon eat into it.