In Amsterdam, the low interest in European, American and Chinese expats for life in that city is a serious ground for concern. The economic capital of the Netherlands and its surroundings account for about 1,830 foreign businesses employing 135,000 people, many of whom are expats. According to the Association of Amsterdam Employers (Oram), the city is loosing ground compared with Barcelona, Madrid and Munich, and not because of the Dutch language – difficult to learn – traffic jams or expensive rent, but simply because “it can feel very lonely.” The city – cosmopolitan, bilingual and full of open spaces – ranked 13th in the Mercer quality of living survey, behind Zurich, Vienna, Geneva, Vancouver (Canada) and Auckland (Australia). The town and its inhabitants have to make efforts, according to International Crossings, a new partnership between Oram, the Expat Center and the Chamber of Commerce of Amsterdam. The new mayor, Eberhardt van der Laan, former Minister for Housing and Integration, needs to take measures… but which? The former director of a large French company in the Netherlands, who left after one year, says that, even Amsterdam is a very pleasant city, Dutch employees’ attitude at work was tough: “Individualism is important and they have no idea of what common interest is. As soon as my back was turned, my financial manager would disappear, pretending to work from home.”
ar, says that, even Amsterdam is a very pleasant city, Dutch employees’ attitude at work was tough: “Individualism is important and they have no idea of what common interest is. As soon as my back was turned, my financial manager would disappear, pretending to work from home.”
Planet Labor, July 7, 2010, No. 100546 – www.planetlabor.com
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