Yes, inheritance in the Netherlands is taxed. Spouses get €804,698 tax-free; children get €25,490. Above that: 10-40% tax. Here's how to reduce it.
Tips & Guides
Showing 15 of 492 blogs
Teaching abroad requires bachelor degree plus 120-hour TEFL certification in most countries. Savings potential ranges from $0-$500/month (Spain, Thailand) to $2,000-$4,000/month (Saudi Arabia, UAE). No local language needed for teaching but helps with daily life. Best country depends on priorities: savings vs culture vs adventure.
Dutch inheritance tax: 10-20% for partners/children, 30-40% for others. Tax-free allowances include €756K for partners, €23K for children. Strategic gifting allows €6,633 annually tax-free, €29K once to children 18-40. Applies if deceased or heir is Dutch resident. International assets may face multiple jurisdictions.
Belgian schools have 100 days annual holidays: 9 weeks summer (July-August), 2 weeks Christmas, 2 weeks Easter, 1 week autumn, 1 week carnival, plus public holidays. Summer break July 1-August 31. Minor calendar variations between Flemish/Francophone regions. Municipalities offer plaines de jeux childcare programs €50-€150/week.
Swiss life insurance costs CHF 300-800/year for healthy 35-year-old with CHF 500K coverage (term), CHF 3,000-8,000 for whole life. Not mandatory but required by mortgage lenders. Expats with B/C permits eligible; coverage ends if leaving Switzerland. Recommend 5-10x annual income coverage. Smokers pay 50-100% higher premiums.
Japanese citizenship requires 5 years residence (3 if married to Japanese citizen) plus 6-12 months processing. Must renounce original citizenship as Japan prohibits dual nationality for naturalized citizens. Need JLPT N2 level Japanese for interviews and documents. Total timeline 6-8 years from arrival to citizenship.
UK car insurance averages £500-£800/year for experienced drivers, £1,200-£2,500+ for young drivers (17-25). Comprehensive often cheaper than third-party due to risk profiling. Foreigners pay 30-100% premium increase initially; bring proof of foreign no-claims history. Breakdown cover separate (AA/RAC £50-£200/year). London costs 30-50% more than rural areas.
ZZP (sole proprietor) vs DGA (BV owner): ZZP simpler but unlimited liability; DGA offers liability protection and tax optimization for earnings over €200K. Must work 1,225+ hours annually to claim €5,030+ self-employed deduction. Home office deduction: €2.35/sqm (simplified) or actual percentage (detailed) for dedicated workspace. VAR declaration proves self-employment status.
Italian renovations require CILA for ordinary maintenance, SCIA for major work. Costs €800-€1,500/sqm for full renovations; Tuscany/Rome 20-30% pricier. Tax deductions offer 50-90% reimbursement over 4-10 years via Superbonus and standard detrazioni. Simple bathrooms take 4-8 weeks; full apartments 4-8 months plus 30-90 days permit approval.
Dutch freelancers pay 36.9-49.5% income tax on profits but claim €5,030+ self-employed deduction plus business expenses. Effective rates 25-40%. VAT registration required above €20K revenue. Must arrange private pension and mandatory health insurance (€120-€180/month). Deduct workspace, equipment, travel (€0.21/km), and professional development.
French property tax (taxe foncière) averages €500-€3,000 annually for typical homes, calculated on cadastral value. Second homes still pay taxe habitation €300-€2,500. Foreigners pay same rates as citizens. Transaction costs very high: 7-8% notaire fees on older properties, 2-3% on new. Total acquisition costs 10-15% of purchase price.
Canadian public healthcare is free for citizens/permanent residents after waiting periods (3 months in most provinces). Private insurance costs $50-$150/month (individual) to $600-$1,500/month (family comprehensive). Public plans exclude prescriptions, dental, and vision. Visitors need insurance; medical costs extremely high without coverage.
Austrian people value tradition, family, punctuality, and fairness. Population 8.95M (98% German-speaking), 73% employment rate, strong work-life balance. Vienna houses 1.8M residents (33% of population). Expect formal etiquette, environmental consciousness.
Foreigners get Portuguese mortgages at 70-80% LTV (vs 80-90% for residents) with 0.5-1.5% higher rates. Current rates 3.5-5.5% variable, 4-6% fixed. Maximum borrowing based on 30-35% debt-to-income ratio. Fees total 2-4% of loan amount plus 0.6% stamp duty. Need NIF, income proof, and bank statements.
Wise, OFX, HSBC, and Citibank offer SGD accounts in Australia. Ideal for Singapore salary/pension recipients, property owners, or frequent travelers. Wise charges 0.4-0.6% conversion with no monthly fees. Traditional banks charge A$10-$25/month plus 2-3% exchange margins. ASIC-regulated providers offer protection.