It’s safe to say that some of the best cities to live in Europe are located in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area

Benefit from being in one of the best cities to live in Europe

A place to call home

Quality of life may not be the primary criterium for choosing a location for your business, but it makes sense to make it part of the equation. After all, happy employees make engaged employees. And being in one of the best cities to live in Europe helps attract top talent from abroad.

Blend right in

Our small country’s long heritage of trade and innovation has directed our outlook towards the opportunities awaiting in the global sphere. That’s also why most of us speak English fluently. If you want to operate in one of the best cities to live in Europe, we happily introduce you to the key factors that make our region so attractive to live in.

International vibe in Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft & Leiden

Benefit from being in one of the best cities to live in Europe

A place to call home

Quality of life may not be the primary criterium for choosing a location for your business, but it makes sense to make it part of the equation. After all, happy employees make engaged employees. And being in one of the best cities to live in Europe helps attract top talent from abroad.

Blend right in

Our small country’s long heritage of trade and innovation has directed our outlook towards the opportunities awaiting in the global sphere. That’s also why most of us speak English fluently. If you want to operate in one of the best cities to live in Europe, we happily introduce you to the key factors that make our region so attractive to live in.

International community

The greater Rotterdam – The Hague area cherishes a long international history, housing many international organisations and their workforces. As a result, the expat services industry is advanced, and local communities are invested in facilitating expats.

Expats’ favourites

Our local expat centres provide hands-on information about housing, international schools and communities, and more. Expats have expressed their appreciation of our region by putting Rotterdam at the top of the Dispatches Europe list of best cities to live for Expats and The Hague at #3 on the ECA international most liveable cities for expats.

Housing

Our region is highly urbanised and offers a great variety of neighbourhoods with their own unique atmosphere and infrastructure. The metropolitan cities of Rotterdam and the Hague have a vibrant, internationally oriented, multicultural atmosphere. The historic canal cities of Leiden and Delft, on the other hand, provide a calmer, smaller scale setting. Surrounding these cities are spacious suburban areas with more natural recreation space. All of the mentioned points above make that we have some of the best cities to live in Europe.

Finding your dream home

Depending on your situation, either renting or buying will be the best option for you. The expat centre in your region or your real estate agent will be able to explain the pro’s and con’s of renting and buying and give you personalised advice according to your needs.

Healthcare

The Netherlands is the only country which has consistently been among the top three in the ranking of any European Index of the Health Consumer Powerhouse. Because of the large international community in our region, there are various medical centres where information and communication is available English.

Health Insurance

Every person who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard health insurance to cover the cost of consulting a general practitioner, hospital treatment and prescription medication. You may also opt to take out additional insurance to cover costs not included in the standard package. Read more about Dutch health insurance

Doctors & General practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for healthcare in the Netherlands, as they provide referrals to specialists and hospitals.

A referral from the GP is necessary to get insurance coverage for treatment by a specialist in one of the 120 hospitals in the Netherlands, of which 20 are located in the greater Rotterdam-The Hague area.

Prescription medicines are only available from an apotheek or pharmacy. You will need to register with your local pharmacy to fill prescriptions

Dentistry is privatised in the Netherlands and not covered by basic insurance policies (except for children under 18 and specialist dental care, such as surgery).

Settling in with your family

Family life

There is no better place to raise children than the Netherlands. Dutch children are the happiest in the world and parents in the Netherlands experience the best work-life balance.

International schools

Our region enjoys a growing concentration of international primary and secondary schools. English – speaking daycare is also widely available and the three universities in our region have international (exchange) programmes and an international student base.

Family life

There is no better place to raise children than the Netherlands. Dutch children are the happiest in the world and parents in the Netherlands experience the best work-life balance.

International schools

Our region enjoys a growing concentration of international primary and secondary schools. English – speaking daycare is also widely available and the three universities in our region have international (exchange) programmes and an international student base.

Culture

While the picturesque canal cities of Leiden and Delft take you back to past times when artists like Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer called this area home, the metropolitan cities of Rotterdam and The Hague have the entrepreneurial vibe and vibrant nightlife. Our region is populated by numerous renowned museums, historic as well as celebrated modern architecture, theatres and concert halls. Regarding culture our region has some of the best cities to live in Europe.

Nature

Located directly by the sea, long stretches of beach and dune areas provide a rich diversity of opportunities for outdoor leisure and sports. The various city parks are also a popular destination for our local communities looking for a taste of nature.

Why our region has some of the best cities to live in Europe

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Interested in other industries in our region?

Maritime & Port
Our region is renowned for our maritime expertise and excellent port infrastructure. In order to maintain our position at the forefront of the world’s trade and logistics rankings, the community is focused on digitisation and becomming more sustainable.
Horticulture
Our region is home to the largest high-tech greenhouse area in Europe, known for its highly innovative community with an excellent knowledge infrastructure and efficient logistics.
Aerospace
Our region is home to a unique aerospace cluster, including the complete chain of academic research – knowledge applications – OEM’s – first, second & third tier suppliers and end users.
High Tech
Dominant sectors in the region, such as horticulture, maritime, space and life sciences are increasingly dependent on technology, providing opportunities for suppliers of high-tech solutions.
Life Sciences & Health
We’ve got our pharma hotbed at Leiden Bio Science Park, the entrepreneurial medtech community around Rotterdam’s Erasmus MC, and our Delft high-tech heart beating in between.
Cyber Security
The Hague Security Delta, with ties to our national government, military and intelligence agencies as well as international organisations, provides access to markets, innovation, talent, knowledge and capital.
Digital Technology
Our region is recognized for its innovative capabilities in digital technology and has a strong track record developing world-class technology businesses. The leading sectors in the region are adopting the latest cutting-edge technologies at a fast pace.
Sustainable Energy
The Dutch government has defined ambitious goals related to transitioning towards renewable energy. These ambitions create numerous opportunities for international cleantech businesses.
Biobased economy
The presence of a large industrial cluster, world-leading logistics, the availability of feedstock, testing facilities and an extensive knowledge base in our region make a perfect mix that acts like a trampoline for biotech companies developing and growing their businesses.