Let’s clear something up first, because half the internet gets it wrong: the Netherlands does not have a digital nomad visa. There is no permit you can apply for on the strength of a laptop and a foreign salary. Sites that sell you a “Netherlands digital nomad visa” are describing one of the routes below and giving it a catchier name.
Here is what actually exists, from the easiest to the hardest.
If you hold an EU, EEA or Swiss passport
You need nothing. Move here, register at the municipality (in The Hague that means an appointment at Spui 70 or Leyweg 813, see our registration guide), get your BSN, and work for whoever you like, wherever they are. Your tax situation changes once you are resident, so read the Dutch tax guide next.
If you are a US citizen: the DAFT route
The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty lets Americans get a self-employed residence permit with far lighter conditions than everyone else. You register a Dutch business (usually an eenmanszaak at the KVK), put at least €4,500 into its business account, and apply to the IND. Freelancing for your existing US clients from The Hague is exactly what this permit is for. It is renewable and counts toward permanent residence.
If you have a job offer: the highly skilled migrant permit
This is the standard route for employees. A Dutch employer registered as a recognised sponsor with the IND applies for you. The salary thresholds for 2026 are €5,942 gross per month if you are 30 or older and €4,357 if you are under 30. Your foreign employer can also use an Employer of Record in the Netherlands to hire you locally, which is how a lot of “remote” jobs are made legal here.
If you just graduated: the orientation year
Graduates of a Dutch university, or of a top-200 world university within the last three years, can get a one-year search permit with no salary requirement. You can freelance or work for anyone during that year. Many people use it to line up a highly skilled migrant sponsor.
If you are self-employed and not American
The regular self-employed permit exists, but it is assessed on a points system for “essential Dutch interest” and needs a business plan, proof of funds and a KVK registration. It is doable for people with a real business and Dutch clients. It is not a nomad visa.
What about staying as a tourist and working remotely?
Non-EU visitors can stay 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area. Working for a Dutch employer on that stay is not allowed. Working for a foreign employer while visiting sits in a grey zone that the IND does not endorse; if you are counting on it for longer than a holiday, talk to an immigration lawyer before you book the flat.
The tax reality nobody mentions
Whichever route you take, once you live here for more than about six months you are a Dutch tax resident, and your worldwide income is taxed in the Netherlands. Your home country may have a treaty that avoids double taxation, but you will still file here. Budget for a tax advisor in your first year; Hague-based expat advisors charge roughly €200 to €500 for a first return.
Official sources: IND, residence permits for work · Business.gov.nl, DAFT · IND, income requirements
Last verified: 1 September 2026. Salary thresholds are indexed every January; the IND page above always has the current numbers. This is general information, not legal advice.
