Housing & Rental Contracts
The Dutch rental market has specific rules on deposits, notice periods, and the split between temporary and indefinite contracts that catch many newcomers by surprise. A contract that looks standard can contain clauses that are not enforceable under Dutch tenancy law — or omit protections a tenant is entitled to. Reviewing an agreement before signing, or resolving a dispute with a landlord after moving in, is one of the most common legal needs in an expat’s first year.
Employment Contracts & Workplace Rights
Dutch employment law includes mandatory protections that apply even to foreign employees on Dutch contracts — notice periods, probationary clauses, non-compete restrictions, and the rules on fixed-term contracts becoming permanent. For sponsored employees there is an added layer: a change in employment status can directly affect residence status. Understanding both sides before signing, or before agreeing to a settlement on termination, protects both the job and the right to remain.
Family Law for International Families
Families who relocate to the Netherlands, or who are formed while living here, sometimes face family law questions with a cross-border element: which country’s law applies to a divorce, how child arrangements are recognised across borders, or how a marriage or partnership registered abroad is treated under Dutch law. These matters are more complex than a purely domestic case and benefit from advice that takes the international dimension into account from the outset.
Tax Considerations
Many expats qualify for specific Dutch tax arrangements in their first years of residence, and tax questions come up frequently alongside immigration and employment matters. While tax filing itself is handled by tax advisers, we regularly coordinate with tax specialists where an immigration, employment, or family law matter has tax implications — so that advice in one area doesn’t create an unexpected problem in another.